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

  • Russia seeks outside investment in road building
    November 6, 2012
    The Russian road building industry is on the verge of big changes as it bids to improve quality and speed of construction says Eugene Gerden The Russian road building industry is on the verge of big changes as the national government considers creating conditions to attract foreign companies to build roads in the country. According to a recent order of President Vladimir Putin, due to poor quality and high cost of road construction, there is a need for the development of a mechanism to attract foreign compa
  • A new report highlights China’s future economic growth
    November 15, 2012
    A new report from consultancy firm Frost & Sullivan says that China will benefit from unparalleled urban growth. According to the report, China will become the world’s leading economy by 2025, surpassing that of the US. Urban growth and infrastructure investment will see China having 13 mega-cities, four mega-regions and six mega-corridors by 2025. This growth will be fuelled by strong urbanisation, a favourable corporate environment, huge infrastructure investment and the largest working age population. Th
  • Doka wins Fehmarnbelt Tunnel formwork deal
    November 17, 2022
    When completed in 2029, the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel between Denmark and Germany will accommodate a four-lane highway, as well as a two-track electrified rail line.
  • The upcoming bauma 2013 construction equipment show will be the largest ever
    October 16, 2012
    The bauma 2013 construction equipment exhibition in Munich is set to be the largest event in the show’s history. Organised by Messe München, this will be the 30th bauma exhibition in Munich and will run from the 15th-21st April 2013, with the show covering some 570,000m2 and attracting 3,300 exhibitors. Some 450,000 visitors are expected to attend and Dr Wolf-Dietrich Müller, chief representative and senior executive officers of capital goods shows for the Messe München said, “We are able to increase our ca