tunnelling-journal (1)
tunnelling-journal (1)
  • Home
  • Print
    • Subscribe
    • Tunnelling Journal
    • Breakthrough
    • ITA Activity Report
    • A&NZ Journal
    • WTC Preview
    • Media Kit
  • Digital
    • Newsletter
    • E-Shots
    • TJ Digital edition
    • Products Page
    • Media Kit
  • Conferences
    • BTS Conference and Exhibition
    • Cutting Edge 2021
  • Buyer’s Guide
  • Events Diary
  • Jobs
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Podcast

Home > Mobile Tunnel Miner on route

Mobile Tunnel Miner on route

Tris Thomas

Written by Tris Thomas on 07/07/2012 in News

Tagged: underground

In late June Aker Wirth and Rio Tinto’s new innovative tunnel boring system, deigned within Rio Tinto’s “Mine of the Future” programme, departed from Aker Wirth’s production facility near Dusseldorf, Germany, bound for Northparkes Copper Mine in southeast Australia. The arrival of the Mobile Tunnel Miner is scheduled for mid-August when the machine will be made ready for its use in the underground mines.

The machine concept combines the flexibility of a roadheader with the robustness of a TBM. To build this machine knowledge gained from a previous version developed and tested by Aker Wirth in the early nineties was used.

The Mobile Tunnel Miner is very flexible and versatile. Using the undercutting technology it is especially efficient with tunneling in extremely hard rock (up to max. 300MPa). Another feature of this tunnel boring system is its ability to cut – in addition to circular tunnels – rectangular or horseshoe-shaped cross-sections of up to 6m diameter, eliminating the need to backfill the lower section of the round cross-section.

The machine can be moved flexibly forward with a walking mechanism and backward with a crawler. Aker Wirth engineers employed several swivel joints to attain a radius of just 30m, which is extremely small for a machine of this size and capacity. The tunnel boring system is equipped with support systems for additional strengthening the tunnel.

Einar Brønlund, CEO of Aker Wirth said, “We will revolutionise safety and efficiency in underground mining with the new Mobile Tunnel Miner. With this tunnel boring system Aker Wirth will play a decisive role in shaping the future of the mining industry.”

Comments:

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Digital Edition

More Like This

08/12/2020

Melbourne Suburban Rail Loop EOI launched

Melbourne Suburban Rail Loop EOI launched

The Andrews Labor Government in Victoria, Australia, has opened Expressions of Interest for the biggest ever Initial and Early Works…

18/03/2021

Yonge North Subway Extension moves a step closer

Yonge North Subway Extension moves a step closer

The Ontario government is moving to the next stage of planning for the 8km long Yonge North Subway Extension as…

26/10/2020

Implenia to lay off 750 but Tunnelling seen as profitable

Implenia to lay off 750 but Tunnelling seen as profitable

Swiss construction and construction services company Implenia is set to lay off up to 750 employees following strategy implementation reviews…

  • Contact Us
  • Media Kit
  • Magazine Archive

Newsletter

The latest from the Tunneling Journal direct to your inbox.

Social



Enquiries

TGS Media Ltd
The Old Library
Webster House
Dudley Road
Tunbridge Wells
TN1 1LE
United Kingdom

© Tunnelling Journal. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy / Terms & Conditions. Admin

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkRead more