On January 3, the 8.23-meter-diameter open-type hard rock tunnel boring machine (TBM) “CREC 1543,” independently developed by China Railway Engineering Equipment Group under China Railway Hi-Tech Industry, rolled off the production line at the Shunde base. This machine is the first large-diameter open-type hard rock TBM exported overseas by China Railway Engineering Equipment Group and will be used in the tunnel construction of the Imst-Haiming pumped-storage power station project in Austria.
In response to the engineering characteristics of the project—such as a total tunneling length of approximately 10.5 kilometers, a gradient of +1.8‰, and a minimum turning radius of 1,000 meters—the R&D team of China Railway Engineering Equipment Group fully integrated advanced international concepts to carry out comprehensive optimized design. The equipment innovatively adopts a retractable main conveyor and a dual-formation transportation system, significantly enhancing adaptability to complex geological conditions and construction efficiency. The entire machine is strictly integrated with systems for gas detection, ventilation, emergency lighting, communication, and power supply in accordance with European directives, and has successfully obtained EU CE safety certification, demonstrating the comprehensive capabilities of Chinese manufacturing in quality, safety, and environmental protection.
After completion, the Imst-Haiming hydropower station is expected to supply approximately 252 million kilowatt-hours of baseload electricity annually to the Tyrol power grid, meeting the clean electricity needs of around 60,000 households.
