Skip to main content

Chinese tunnel projects discussed

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Wen Jiabao, Premier of the People’s Republic of China, recently visited the Herrenknecht plant in Guangzhou as part of her trip to China. The delegation included, among others, 20 high-level representatives of German industry, and Dr Martin Herrenknecht, chairman of Herrenknecht, presented the company to Chancellor Merkel and Premier Wen, and talked about important Chinese and international reference projects.
May 14, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
Seen in front of the Herrenknecht EPB Shield being used for the Metro in Dongguan are visitors to the company's plant including (second from left) Dr Martin Herrenknecht; Dr Angela Merkel (third from left) and Wen Jiabao (fourth from left)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Wen Jiabao, Premier of the People’s Republic of China, recently visited the 2592 Herrenknecht plant in Guangzhou as part of her trip to China.

The delegation included, among others, 20 high-level representatives of German industry, and Dr Martin Herrenknecht, chairman of Herrenknecht, presented the company to Chancellor Merkel and Premier Wen, and talked about important Chinese and international reference projects.

In addition, he introduced a tunnel boring machine (TBM), an Earth Pressure Balance Shield with a diameter of 6.95m, which is being used to construct the Metro Line 2 in Dongguan.

Herrenknecht has been represented on the Chinese growth market since the delivery of the first machines for the construction of the Beijing metro in 2000, and the company generates around 20% of its group sales in China.

The huge economic growth and increasing urbanisation result in a high demand for efficient underground traffic and supply infrastructures, and to date Herrenknecht technology has been used in 275 projects, mostly for inner-city tunnel construction. Some 480km of tunnel tubes have been built using its technology, while a further 200km are being planned.

Among the most important projects is the construction of two double-storey traffic tunnels in Shanghai to connect Changxing river island with the mainland, work carried out using two of the world’s biggest TBMs with diameters of 15.43m each.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Chinese firm Shantui is developing a long term business strategy for growth
    January 6, 2017
    Chinese manufacturer Shantui is expanding its operations with a more diverse range of products – Mike Woof reports Chinese manufacturer Shantui is reorganising its operations to cope with the current tough market conditions, taking a long term view that is geared for future growth. The firm has expanded its operations significantly, broadening its product line away from its reliance on the bulldozer business where it has its origins. Demand for concrete equipment has been strong in China and the firm saw t
  • BICES invests in a new venue and a new time slot for its 2015 show
    January 6, 2017
    BICES 2015, China’s biennial international construction equipment show has made a series of step-changes by moving the venue to the New China International Exhibition Center (NCIEC) in Beijing, by bringing the timing forward from mid-October to September 22-25 2015 and by re-emphasising that the event continues to be run by the industry for the industry. Dressta vice president Howard Dale welcomed the initiatives saying it was right to hold the event where “many of China’s state-owned companies are headquar
  • BICES invests in a new venue and a new time slot for its 2015 show
    April 21, 2015
    BICES 2015, China’s biennial international construction equipment show has made a series of step-changes by moving the venue to the New China International Exhibition Center (NCIEC) in Beijing, by bringing the timing forward from mid-October to September 22-25 2015 and by re-emphasising that the event continues to be run by the industry for the industry. Dressta vice president Howard Dale welcomed the initiatives saying it was right to hold the event where “many of China’s state-owned companies are headquar
  • Work begins on Stockholm’s new bypass
    August 22, 2016
    The first tunnels are being excavated for the huge bypass tunnel in Sweden’s capital Stockholm – Adrian Greeman writes. After years of preparation and design, blasting and rock moving for Sweden's largest infrastructure project began south of the city this year. It sets in train a decade-long project that will create a new half-ring dual three-lane motorway for the city, 20km long. With most of it deep underground, it will also be one of Europe's largest ever road tunnels. The scheme is aimed at transformin