Herrenknecht AG has been a manufacturer of tunnel boring machines (TBMs) since 1975. Its equipment for mobile tunnelling, numbering more than 1,000 machines around the world today, are built with cross section that measure from 0.33 feet (0.10 m) to over 62 feet (19 m).[1]
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[edit] History
In 1975 Martin Herrenknecht founded an engineering company in his own name. Within two years, his company developed machine types MH1to MH3 for mechanized pipe jacking in loose soil, and Herrenknecht GmbH was founded.[2] The company consisted of six employees in 1979 but made a turnover of €1million. The following year the company moved on to develop machine types SM1 and SM2 for hard rock jacking.[3]
During the early 1980s Herrenknecht developed micro machines for non-accessible tunnel diameters, as well as mix shield generation for larger tunnel diameters. These were made for areas below groundwater level. By 1988 the company had mix shield principle for diameters larger than 33 feet (10 m); and the following year saw the development of the shield system as it applies to large-diameter machines working through hard rock. [4]
Martin Herrenknecht saw a business growth opportunity in 1991 when he acquired the partnership of Maschinen- und Stahlbau Gmbh, Dresden. The first subsidiary in the USA was founded in 1992. By 1993 the company had grown to employ 395 people and was making €77.8 million annually.[5] The 1990s also included continual mechanical development, as components were designed to further assist the application of mix shields such as crushers, support plates, active center cutters, and tool replacement at zero pressure. Open hard rock machines were developed in 1996.[6]
The world’s largest mixshield was manufactured that same year by Herrenknecht and was applied during the construction of the Fourth Elbe River Tunnel.[7] Many other developments followed and were completed before the end of 1997, including a seismic detection system for large machines, a microtunnelling AVT machine for the smallest drains and sewers, and a new navigation system for all tunnel boring machines. [8]
That year also saw the merger of Maschinen- un Stahlbau Dresden GmbH with Herrenknecht GmbH, but in 1998 Herrenknecht GmbH became Herrenknecht AG. This was followed by the founding of a number of subsidiaries around the world, including the Netherlands, Spain, and the USA.[9] At that time, the company had a turnover of €175.5 million and maintained 823 employees, but its record year was in 2000. Herrenknecht became the market leader in mechanized tunnelling technology with a total order value of €198.3 million.[10]
Herrenknecht AG handled the construction, supply, and assembly of two gripper tunnel boring machines for the Gotthard Base Tunnel in Gotthard, Switzerland in 2001. The following year, the company celebrated its 25th anniversary, counting 1,000 employees.[11] In 2003 the company had €100 million worth of projects to work on in Asia, and built the world’s longest transportation tunnel the same year, measuring 1.2 x 35 miles (2 x 57 km).
The main subsidiary for the Asia/Pacific market was located in Singapore in 2004. Once again, the company reached its highest turnover in 2005, surpassing €500 million. It also opened its first plant for the assembly of Traffic Tunnelling Equipment in Guangzhou, China, as well as another plant in Nansha the following year.[12]
In 2007, Herrenknecht received its largest orders, exceeding totals of €1billion within the business year. In 2008 two of the largest boring machines in the world built by Herrenknecht successfully completed a project in Shanghai a year ahead of schedule.[13] These were the S-317 and the S-318 mixshields, measuring 51 feet (15.43 m) in diameter.[14]
[edit] The Company Today
Today the company operates under the name Herrenknecht AG and is the parent company of 41 subsidiaries as well as various agencies, with at least one located on every continent.[15] The enterprise group also has participation in eight other companies. Herrenknecht manages over 2,500 employees internationally. [16]
[edit] Equipment List
- Auger drill
- Control container
- Cutter tool
- Double shield TBM
- EPB shield
- Gripper TBM
- Logistical system
- Mixshield
- Navigation system
- Partial face excavation
- Press frame
- Separation plant
- Single shield TBM
- Shaft sinking machine
- Shallow geothermal energy
- Vertical drilling rig
[edit] References
- ↑ [1] Made In Germany website. 04-22-09.
- ↑ [2] Herrenknecht website. 04-22-09.
- ↑ [3] Herrenknecht website. 04-22-09.
- ↑ [4] Herrenknecht website. 04-22-09.
- ↑ [5] Herrenknecht website. 04-22-09.
- ↑ [6] Herrenknecht website. 04-22-09.
- ↑ [7] Herrenknecht website. 04-22-09.
- ↑ [8] Herrenknecht website. 04-22-09.
- ↑ [9] ITA website. 04-22-09.
- ↑ [10] Herrenknecht website. 04-22-09.
- ↑ [11] Herrenknecht website. 04-22-09.
- ↑ [12] Herrenknecht website. 04-22-09.
- ↑ [13] Herrenknecht website. 04-22-09.
- ↑ [14] Herrenknecht website. 04-22-09.
- ↑ [15] ITA website. 04-22-09.
- ↑ [16] iTBM website. 04-22-09.
