Tunneling machinery is an important category of construction machinery, mainly used for mechanized construction of horizontal tunnels, roadways, and pipe holes. It mainly includes full-face tunnel boring machines (shield machines, hard rock boring machines, pipe jacking machines, etc.), horizontal directional drills, cantilever roadheaders, and other products. Its leading product is the full-face tunnel boring machine, and "shield machine" is the common Chinese term for this type of product. At present, the industrial scale of China's tunneling machinery industry is about 14 billion yuan. It is expected that after several years of development, it is expected to reach a scale of 20 billion yuan, which can basically meet domestic construction needs and has also begun to occupy a certain position in the international market.

 

　　Leading Product Market Scale Ranks First Globally

 

　　The full-face tunnel boring machine is currently the world's most advanced special construction machinery for tunnels. After years of technological development, it reached technical maturity and began to be used on a large scale after the 1950s. According to incomplete statistics, more than 7,000 full-face tunnel boring machines have been produced worldwide, with an inventory of about 4,000 units.

 

　　The full-face tunnel boring machine is a complex integrated system integrating machinery, electronics, hydraulics, control, and information technology. Its working environment is special, and it places extremely high demands on product stability, reliability, and adaptability. Therefore, for a considerable period of time, the research and development, manufacturing, and use of full-face tunnel boring machines had always been a weak point for China's manufacturing industry and construction enterprises. In fact, before the beginning of this century, China's full-face tunnel boring machine market and technology were basically monopolized by professional companies from developed countries such as the United States, Japan, and Europe, mainly including Germany's Herrenknecht and Wirth, the United States' Robbins, and Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Hitachi Zosen, Komatsu, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and Ishikawajima.

 

　　After 2005, with the continuous launch of large-scale infrastructure construction in China, especially the massive commencement of urban subways, water diversion projects, river-crossing tunnels, and other projects, domestic market demand for full-face tunnel boring machines expanded rapidly. On the one hand, market demand stimulated a group of domestic enterprises to comprehensively enter the full-face tunnel boring machine industry through technology introduction, joint ventures, and cooperation; on the other hand, government authorities recognized the importance and development potential of the full-face tunnel boring machine industry and gave it sufficient attention and support, such as including the research and development of large slurry balance shield machines in the Ministry of Science and Technology's 863 Program to promote the development of design and experimental research work.

 

　　After just a few years of development, in fierce market competition, a group of domestic enterprises stood out, and a large number of engineering and technical personnel grew up through extensive design, manufacturing, and construction practice. Chinese enterprises can be said to have basically mastered the design, manufacturing, and construction technology of conventional full-face tunnel boring machines. By the end of 2012, the market share of domestic enterprises had accounted for more than 70% of the entire market. The production conditions and manufacturing capabilities of several top enterprises had surpassed those of most internationally renowned enterprises, basically possessing independent research and development capabilities and independent intellectual property rights, and their products began to enter the international market. It should be said that both the industrial scale and market scale of China's full-face tunnel boring machine industry are already the largest in the world.

 

　　At present, the main manufacturers of full-face tunnel boring machines in China are China Railway Tunnel Equipment Manufacturing Co., Ltd., China Railway Construction Heavy Industry Group Co., Ltd., Northern Heavy Industries Group Co., Ltd., Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co., Ltd., Guangzhou Herrenknecht Tunneling Machinery Co., Ltd., and Herrenknecht (Guangzhou) Tunneling Equipment Co., Ltd.