Robbins 19-inch Cutters Power through Alps

The machine utilized 19-inch disc cutters on a back-loading cutterhead-the first time this cutter diameter has been used to excavate under the Alps.  "Cutter performance has been the single most impressive result of this project," said Ferruccio Borroni, General Manager for Robbins Europa.  Only about 30 cutter rings were changed in the last kilometer of boring, with the cutters excavating a combined 167,000 cubic meters (5.9 million cubic feet) of hard rock. Geology consisted of competent schist, Swiss molasse, and Ceneri orthogneiss ranging from 30 to 130 MPa (4,300 to 18,800 psi) UCS.

Located in Sigirino, Switzerland, the adit tunnel was constructed by the Consorzio Monte Ceneri (CMC) JV-a consortium of CSC, Lugano, Frutiger SA, Thun, Rothpletz, Lienhard + Cie, and Aarau.  The tunnel will serve as a passage to internal concrete batching plants and supply caverns during construction, as well as provide access to the main Ceneri Base Tunnels.

The parallel 15.4 km (9.5 mi) long Ceneri Base Tunnels will cut through Monte Ceneri, shaving off over half the time required to travel by rail between Lugano and Bellinzona, Switzerland.  Construction of the twin tubes will begin in early 2010, and will include two 8.0 km (5.0 mi) sections of D & B tunnels for the north running main line, two 1.8 km (1.1 mi) sections of D & B for the south running line and two 4.0 km (2.5 mi) sections of either TBM or D & B tunnels (with selection left up to the contractor).   Combined with AlpTransit's Gotthard Base Tunnel, the new rail system will span over 70 km (43 mi) of TBM-driven tunnels and 16 years of construction.


Contact:
The Robbins Company (Headquarters)
29100 Hall Street
Solon, OH 44139 USA
PH.: +1 440 248 3303
FAX: +1 440 248 1702
E-Mail: marketing@robbinstbm.com
Internet: www.robbinstbm.com