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

  • CECE equipment manufacturer’s conference in Berlin looks ahead for construction market growth
    October 29, 2012
    The construction equipment market has been hit hard in Europe and further afield, with economic uncertainty slowing orders. But there is light on the horizon. A range of key industry speakers made presentations at the recent Committee for European Construction Equipment (CECE) congress in Berlin, outlining prospects for the next few years in Europe as well as around the world.
  • Construction equipment market to grow - CEA report
    February 29, 2012
    The UK’s Construction Equipment Association attracted a large audience for its annual general meeting.
  • Germany to cut red tape for bridge construction up to 2027
    October 5, 2017
    The German federal government has set aside €4.5 billion for refurbishment of 400 bridges in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia up to 2027. Hendrik Wüst, North Rhine-Westphalia transport minister, made the announcement which included around €200 million for road maintenance. The Federal German government also plans to fast-track planning for infrastructure projects. Bonuses to contractors for improved performance to reduce down-time on construction sites as well as the possibily of a six-day working
  • Construction machine sales to grow worldwide?
    October 28, 2016
    A slow but steady recovery in machine sales worldwide is likely in the next few years, with India being one of the key growth markets for the future. However, this comes after the construction equipment sector has seen significant downturns as well as other major changes worldwide in the last few years, according to David Phillips, managing director of Off Highway Research. He said, “The industry structure has really changed.” Global sales of construction machines were worth around US$93 billion in 2014