Search Results: 'Robbins'

Which ever way you slice it
27 December, 2012
It is easy to get ‘tunnel vision’ in examining the possible methods of excavation. If engineers were happy with that then disc and roller cutters for hard-rock TBMs would never have been developed as an alternative to drill and blast. Maurice Jones asks what has been tried before and what might still be valid

Look back to move forward
27 December, 2012
Last month the world’s oldest working digital computer was rebooted after three years of painstaking rebuilding. The machine was found in a storeroom where it had been left abandoned for 15 years. In its prime in the 1950s the computer had been used by the UK’s atomic energy research programme. The 2.5t machine will now take pride of place at Bletchley Park, the site of the English code breaking efforts during World War II.

On the cutting edge
27 December, 2012
The process of mechanical excavation through dry ground, whether hard or soft, is pretty well understood. For ‘mixed’ ground, of whatever form, it is a different matter, especially if it is deep under groundwater. Maurice Jones reports that there is a consequent rush of TBM cutter development activities to gain the best competitive, and cutting, edge

EPBs get ready for Moscow metro project
23 November, 2012
Three Robbins EPBs and one refurbished machine are ready to excavate two 1.8km long tunnels for Moscow's metro development scheme, it was announced last week.

Mexico City's gold metro line opens
08 November, 2012
Mexico City metro Line 12, the Gold Line, opened on 30 October 2012, it was announced recently. The 15.5 mile (25km), 20 station subway line will add an estimated 380,000 daily passengers to the system.

Contract awarded for Swedish motorway
31 October, 2012
Sweden's Transport Administration has awarded Norwegian firm Veidekke Construction a SEK 540M (81.5M) contract to build a four-lane motorway on road 40 between Borås and Ulricehamn.

High pressure sea crossing
18 October, 2012
A slurry TBM is cutting through the sands deep under Zhanjiang Bay, China, to provide a crucial water link to and island steelworks. A tight schedule and a 42m head of water are upping the pressure on the project. Tunnels editor Jon Young visits the site

Getting the girls
15 October, 2012
Autumn is upon us, the morning rush hour is once again full of SUVs on the school run and summer researchers are beginning to report back their ¬findings. The most outstanding of which is the revelation that nearly half of England’s state schools do not send any girls on to study physics at a higher level.

Robbins celebrates 60 Years of tunnelling
10 October, 2012
This summer Robbins celebrated its landmark 60th anniversary with an event following the North American Tunneling (NAT) Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, the company announced earlier this month.

Three TBMS to excavate Texas waterway tunnel
27 September, 2012
The 10.5km Jollyville transmission main project is being excavated using three TBMs, it was announced yesterday. The Southland/Mole JV is building the pipeline, which is due to be completed in 2013.

TBM gets ready for Singapore's Downtown Line
12 September, 2012
The first of six 6.65m diameter Robbins EPBs is set for a massive undertaking for Singapore's Downtown Line, excavating contract C927 running between Bedok Park and Bedok Reservoir. The 62t cutterhead for the machine was lowered in August and the TBM is scheduled to begin excavation this month, Robbins recently announced.

At home in the Hoghouse
31 August, 2012
Working on New York’s mega-projects, one Sandhog, Bradley Gill, local 147, shares his experience ‘Shaping’ and helping to build the nation’s largest subway tunnels. Nicole Robinson reportsive

Turkish TBM boom
29 August, 2012
With challenging ground and a fast-growing economy, Turkey is poised to host the world’s toughest tunnel projects. Desiree Willis, technical writer for TBM manufacturer Robbins reports

TBMs advance on mines
15 August, 2012
The Stillwater Mine in Montana is preparing to launch its latest TBM drive. Desiree Willis, technical writer for Robbins, explores the use of TBMs in mining and the upcoming launch

Austin attracts the industry
13 August, 2012
The Southwest and the Rocky Mountain regions aren’t booming with potential for major tunnelling projects. But water scarcity keeps the industry working underground, reports Nicole Robinson

Double shield TBM begins Kargi Kizilirmak hydropower expansion
08 August, 2012
A 10m diameter double shield TBM, launched in central Turkey in Spring 2012, has advanced over 400m despite difficult ground including unexpected fault zones and inflows of water and mud, Robbins announced yesterday.

TBM arrives in Malta
01 August, 2012
The TBM that will excavate a 5km cable tunnel to link Malta to the European grid, has arrived on its assembly location, it was reported earlier this week.

Tunnelling begins in Mumbai
11 July, 2012
Excavation of India's 8.3km Mumbai Water Tunnel began last month. The TBM has bored over 320m as of 4 July 2012.

From point A to point B
11 June, 2012
One of the most significant challenges of some projects starts long before the first bucket of earth has been shovelled. Hauling hundreds of tonnes of TBM components to a remote jobsite can make or break a project. Robbins technical writer Desiree Willis reports

High population, low cover
17 May, 2012
In March, Mexico’s sinking capital finished tunnelling its first new metro line in a decade. Robbins technical writer Desiree Willis reports