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Author: Robbins
BTS 2021
Event Name: BTS Conference and Exhibition
Dates: September 30-October 1
Location: London, UK
Venue: QEII Conference Centre
Stand: B26
Register for the British Tunnelling Society’s upcoming conference and learn about the industry’s latest trends with 800+ other tunneling professionals. Debate and analyze the latest trends and topics in underground construction, and be sure to check out the lecture by Robbins President Lok Home. Stop by our stand B26 to talk about the latest Robbins products and projects with our team of international experts.
Robbins Lecture Description
Thursday September 30
Session 3 – Innovation in Action
2:00 – 2:20 PM
Non-Circular Tunnelling: A New Way Forward – Lok Home, Robbins President
When a flat roadbed is needed, is a circular TBM the best way to go? In this exclusive presentation, Robbins President Lok Home will discuss methods and equipment currently being used in the mining industry for flat inverts, and its increasing potential for use in civil tunneling. Home will look at case studies in both mining and civil tunneling industries to demonstrate that by using non-circular TBMs, a flat invert can be safely and economically created in one pass.
The Green Alternative: Small Hydro Machines for Clean Energy
When you’re faced with a hard rock tunnel on your next small hydro project, which tunneling method works best? Intake tunnels can be at diameters as small as 2 meters and at steep grades of up to 45 degrees. Compared with the conventionally used method of Drill & Blast, small diameter tunneling machines offer increased production rates and reduction in cross section, among other benefits. The uniquely designed machines are engineered to take on steep gradients, and can bore tunnels kilometers long with minimal impacts to the surrounding environment.
In this complimentary, 60-minute webinar we discuss the use of small diameter tunneling machines on projects throughout Norway, where their popularity is increasing, as well as the method’s suitability on projects worldwide. Listen in on our conversation with Robbins Norway General Manager and Civil Engineer Sindre Log as we discuss recommendations for small hydro tunnels in hard rock. Join us for a live Q&A session at the end to get a thorough answer from our expert speaker.
Watch the Recording
China’s Largest Robbins Crossover TBM launches on Intercity Railway
A crew member inspects the cutterhead of the Robbins Crossover XRE TBM during assembly in Guangzhou.
The largest ever Crossover (XRE) TBM in China launched in late March 2021 in Guangzhou for contractors Sichuan Jinshi Heavy Equipment Leasing Co., Ltd and CREC Bureau 2. Onsite First Time Assembly (OFTA) was utilized to build the 9.16 m (30 ft) diameter Robbins TBM, taking just five months from the start of assembly to machine launch. The hybrid machine is boring the 2.5 km (1.6 mi) long Pazhou Line Lot PZH-1 of the Pearl River Delta Intercity Railway Project, which will offer better commutes for Guangzhou residents traveling to and from University City.
The machine will encounter various ground types during its bore, from moderately to strongly weathered argillaceous shales and sandstone to mixed face conditions. Much of the rock is fractured, while the quartz content is as high as 50 percent. “Not only are there poor ground conditions such as soft to hard uneven, fractured zones and full-face hard rock, but these sections appear to alternate frequently, which is the biggest challenge of the project. It will be a test of performance and tunneling efficiency for the machine,” said Yongsheng Qi, Project Manager for Robbins China. The tunnel is also expected to cross under rivers and other bodies of water with a cover of 20 to 31 m (65 to 100 ft). The ground strata connects to the river and is highly permeable, resulting in expected water pressures above 7 bar. The project’s success lies in stabilizing the water pressure at the face while ensuring acceptable advance rates and construction safety.
Onsite First Time Assembly (OFTA) of the Crossover XRE took just five months from start of assembly to launch.
The Crossover TBM features both hard rock and EPB modes and is optimized for the rapidly changing ground found on the project. An adaptable cutterhead design and two-speed gear reducers known as the Robbins Torque-Shift system enable efficient tunneling in hard, mixed, and soft ground. An adaptable screw conveyor can be mounted in the center or bottom of the mixing chamber depending on the mode. To combat high water pressures the machine is fitted with high pressure seals and can statically hold up to 30 bar. The XRE TBM began its excavation in EPB mode and will shift to hard rock mode to continue excavation after 1.5 km (0.9 mi) has been bored.
The unique project is one of several mixed ground operations using Robbins Crossover TBMs in China. Two 6.91 m (22.6 ft) diameter XRE machines are currently boring sections of the Chongqing Metro Phase 2 in ground conditions ranging from weathered mixed granite to weathered pegmatite and adamellite. The project is under the same contractors as the Pearl River Delta bore. “At the Chongqing Metro project, we won the trust of the contractor with the performance of the Crossover machines; to date the highest monthly advance rate in Chongqing is 365 m (1,197 ft). This is one of the main reasons the contractor again selected a Robbins Crossover TBM for the Pearl River Delta project,” observed Qi.
With rates at Chongqing Metro as a precedent, the Pearl River Delta tunnel is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2021 and put into operation in 2023.
Robbins enters a New Chapter
Global TBM Company, newly established by industry veteran Lok Home, is proud to announce the recent purchase of substantially all the assets of The Robbins Company. The company will operate as Robbins and with Mr. Home as the President and CEO. The acquisition will result in a seamless transition for a number of ongoing projects throughout the world, as Robbins renews its commitment to service, quality underground equipment, and top-notch support that its customers have come to expect. For a brief message from Lok Home, view the video here.
Home said the company has a bright future as a result of the transaction. We are starting off the new year with a respectable backlog of orders,” he noted. “In 2021 and beyond, our clients can depend on Robbins to deliver high quality machines, and technically superior machines for very difficult projects,” said Home. “That’s where Robbins really stands out.”
Home went on to say that Robbins is starting 2021 with no significant bank or institutional debt. “We have many projects to look forward to,” he continued. “Robbins is currently delivering Crossover machines and TBMs equipped for challenging geological conditions in many countries including the U.S., Norway, India, China and Canada.” The company’s conveyor and small boring machine divisions will also continue to deliver equipment worldwide.
Home emphasized that Robbins has always been focused on building the best and strongest machines. He pledged that they will continue to do that. “We still have our strong engineering team and we plan to continue our many industry involvements including the International Tunneling Association (ITA) and its associate member organizations. We’re glad to be a part of this community and this industry,” Home added.
The company expects to continue with exciting new developments as well, including a soon-to-be-unveiled non-circular rock boring machine. Robbins remains focused on creativity and innovation to solve the industry’s greatest challenges.
About Robbins
Robbins is one of the world’s foremost developers and manufacturers of advanced, underground construction machinery. Headquartered in Solon, Ohio, USA, Robbins is a total supply firm offering customized Tunnel Boring Machines, conveyors, cutters, and more, as well as knowledgeable field service personnel and technical support. The company has been an active industry participant and innovator for nearly 70 years.
From the first modern Tunnel Boring Machine built in 1952 to recent innovations such as the Crossover TBM for varied ground conditions, Robbins engineering and innovations have made a success of the world’s most difficult tunneling projects.
MINExpo 2021
Event Name: MINExpo International
Dates: September 13-15
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Venue: Las Vegas Convention Center
Booth: 24729, South Hall 1
Come join us in Las Vegas, Nevada at MINExpo International, the largest mining show in the U.S., and found out more about our mechanized innovations for underground mining. Stop by our booth 24729 to speak with our knowledgeable sales staff and learn more with our ten-minute booth talks that will be happening throughout the show.
Robbins Ten-Minute Talks
Presented inside the Robbins booth
September 13
11:45 AM – Get to First Ore Quicker: Rethinking Underground Mine Development
3:30 PM – Shaft Boring Machines that work in the Most Challenging Conditions
September 14
10:00 AM – Light, Mobile Tunnel Boring Machines for Underground Mining
1:30 PM – Non-Circular Tunnel Boring: A Case Study at Fresnillo Mine
September 15
10:00 AM – The Future is Mechanized Mining: Using Customized TBMs to Honeycomb Mine the Ore body
1:00 PM – Continuous Conveyors paired with TBMs for Underground Mine Development and Operation
RETC 2021
Event Name: RETC 2021
Dates: June 13-16
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Venue: Caesar’s Palace
Booth Location: Augustus Ballroom, Level 4
Booth No: 506
The Rapid Excavation and Tunneling Conference (RETC) is sponsored by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME). The show focuses on developments, technology, trends, and innovations that directly affect the tunneling and underground construction industry through a wide variety of technical presentations. Stop by the Robbins booth #506 to meet with our expert staff and found out the latest about our products and projects. Be sure to check out our technical presentation as well:
Monday June 14
8:30 AM Session – Difficult Ground
Rock Tunnels at High Water Pressure: Non-Continuous Pressurized TBMs vs. Slurry
Presented by Brad Grothen, Robbins Technical Director & Lok Home, Robbins President
BTS Evening Meeting
Event Name: BTS Evening Meeting with Lok Home
Location: Virtual Event
Attend the upcoming BTS Evening Meeting, a complimentary event for members and non-members alike. The talk and Q&A will be streamed live on YouTube.
Meeting Info
Three Great Challenges: Experiences from TBM Tunneling in Difficult Ground
When boring through the earth, even extensive Geotechnical Baseline Reports can miss fault lines, water inflows, squeezing ground, mixed face conditions, rock bursting and other geological challenges. That reality is compounded when tunnels are extremely long, in remote locations, or under high cover.
In this lecture, Robbins’ President Lok Home will discuss three of the most challenging projects in recent memory: The 43.5 km long AMR Water Tunnel, the geologically diverse Sleemanabad Carrier Canal (both in India), and China’s Yin Han Ji Wei project in challenging rock bursting conditions.
Encountering Caverns in France: TBM Tunneling in Karst Conditions
France’s recently completed Galerie des Janots featured some unexpected challenges: Karst cavities large and small were found throughout the bore as well as two large, uncharted caverns. During excavation with a Main Beam TBM, crews encountered an 8,000 cubic meter cavern studded with stalagmites and a 4,500 cubic meter cavity directly below the bore path. How did the crew overcome the conditions and continue past the voids?
NASTT No-Dig
Event Name: NASTT No-Dig
Dates: April 5-June 30
Location: Virtual Event
Booth: 2015
Come join us for some (virtual) fun in the sun at NASTT No-Dig’s virtual exhibit hall. Stop by the Robbins booth to meet with our expert staff and found out the latest about our SBU products and projects.
ITA Tunnelling Awards
Event Name: ITA Tunnelling Awards
Dates: December 3-4
Location: Virtual Event
Register for the ITA Tunnelling Awards, a complimentary event to learn about and celebrate the industry’s innovative projects and products worldwide. Stop by the Robbins booth for a live chat with our in-booth experts over video or IM, and get the latest updates on our offerings and events. The virtual exhibition is open during the entire event. We hope to see you there!
Live Awards Ceremony
2 PM CET