Zhengzhou, China, 17 July 2017.

China Railway Engineering Equipment Group CO., LTD. (CREG) and Italian company Cooperativa Muratori e Cementisti di Ravenna (CMC) signed Supply Contract of two hard-rock TBMs here today. This is China's first independently developed hard-rock TBM exporting to Europe, which means that Chinese TBMs have gain full recognition by international market.

Mr. Ivano Andreis, CMC Technical Dept. Manager and Mr. Tan Shunhui, CREG General Manager jointly attended the ceremony and signed on the Supply Contract. Professor Ms. Han Yali delivered a welcome speech on behalf of CREG.

In recent years, CREG has mastered independent technologies in TBM design and manufacturing thanks to supports by China 863 Program and 973 Program. CREG-made TBMs are now working for almost all ongoing MRT projects in China with a market share ranking No.1 in last four years.

International market expansion is one of CREG’s major strategies. Following China national "Belt and Road" strategy, CREG TBMs are successfully sold to the world, including Malaysia, Singapore, India, and Lebanon. CREG acquired hard-rock TBM IP and right to use Wirth brand from German Aker Wirth in 2013 and also set up subsidiaries in in Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore as well as agencies in India and Brazil. 

"Cooperation with the Italian company CMC opened the European market for Chinese made TBMs, signifying the international acceptance of Chinese TBM manufacturing enterprises." According to CREG General Manager Mr. Tan Shunhui. Tan said, CMC is a top international construction contractor with sophisticated tunneling technology and knowledge in highly complex underground. The two TBMs will be fabricated in full compliance with international standards.

Mr. Zhang Zhiguo, Deputy CREG GM also commented, the project where the two TBMs to be deployed is very challenging. The main geology is limestone of which most are expected to be hard or medium-hard; in worst case karst caves might be encountered with 5.0l/s underground water. Complicating geological conditions and particularly great tunneling challenges require high-level TBM design and production. CREG will improve cutterhead and drive system design to make the TBMs adaptable to the "foreign environment." CREG is committed to make an on-schedule delivery and provide professional services in terms of the two TBMs for CMC.