Recently, China Railway Engineering Equipment Group Co., Ltd. (CREG), the largest manufacturer of tunnel boring machines (TBMs) in China, has completed customer acceptance for its latest TBM model, the "CREG 1238", which will soon be deployed to the construction site of Phase I of Singapore's Cross Island Line, known as the CR116 project.
The "CREG 1238", with a diameter of 7.72 meters, exemplifies CREG's innovation power, even though it is not the largest or tallest TBM in CREG's lineup.
Given the challenging application requirements, CREG optimized the TBM's length to 60 meters, significantly shorter than the typical length (over 100 meters) for TBMs of the same diameter. This adjustment perfectly aligns with the narrow space constraints of the construction site.
Furthermore, to ensure that the "CREG1238" effectively navigates through four underground turnaround operations and meets assembly and disassembly requirements within confined tunnel space, CREG has implemented a modular integrated design. A pioneering integral pipeline support system has been developed to modularize and integrate mud and hydraulic fluid pipelines. This design enhances efficiency during underground assembly and disassembly operations, thereby ensuring seamless project progress.
It is worth noting that the "CREG 1238" features an innovative double-layer shield structure. During underground excavation, engineers can retract the TBM through the starting shaft, leaving the outer shell of the shield as permanent tunnel support. The inner shell can be reused for future tunneling operations or projects. Inspired by nature's molting process, akin to a cicada shedding its exoskeleton, this design effectively addresses the inefficiency of traditional tunneling, where the shield structure is discarded after single-use, effectively optimizing resources and reducing waste.
In addition, a notable featureis the shaft pipeline extension device. Unlike traditional methods where mud and water pipelines are transported into the tunnel using shuttle trains and manually installed, this innovative system enables automatic extension of the shaft pipeline during excavation. This enhancement not only improves the efficiency of the excavation, but safeguards the well-being of construction personnel.
Currently, CREG has exported nearly 30 TBMs to Singapore, with over 10 more machines scheduled for imminent delivery, capturing about one-third of Singapore's LTA (Land Transport Authority) market share. Throughout the years, CREG has been adhering to the strategy of innovation-driven development, successfully developing a series of pioneering products including the world's first horseshoe-shaped TBM and the globally largest sectional rectangular TBM. These achievements have filled industry gaps both domestically and internationally. Additionally, CREG has achieved significant milestones in core technology research and development, including independent development and application of core components such as main bearings, high-capacity hydraulic pumps, rubber seals, and frequency converters.
To date, CREG has received orders for over 1,700 TBMs, amassing a total tunneling distance that surpasses 5,000 kilometers. Its products are exported to more than 30 countries and regions, including Germany, France, Italy, Denmark, Poland, Australia, and Singapore. Holding the top global sales position for six consecutive years, CREG stands as a prominent representative of China's high-end equipment manufacturing industry. (Reporter: Yang Jiaxin and Zhang Yahan Proofreader: Ding Lan)
