TBM in Mumbai achieves record production rate

21 November 2013


A Robbins 6.25m diameter mean beam TBM excavating the 8.3km Mumbai Water Tunnel has achieved a record-breaking rate for tunnelling in India, the company announced late last week.

The hard rock machine, for the joint venture contractor Unity-IVRCL, turned in 870.16m in October 2013. The Robbins machine achieved the advance rate in the size class of 6-7m TBMs. The rate overturned a previous record at Kishanganga for a SELI TBM that advanced 816m in November last year.

Leif Schmidt, Robbins field service site manager, said: "We have a great machine and a great client that is making every effort to do daily maintenance and cutter inspection on the TBM, with a dedicated four-hour shift per day."