Herrenknecht, the German TBM manufacturer, has reported sales revenues up an impressive 30% to US$1335M for the year 2007, and orders were 48% higher at just over US$1.6bn for the period.
The latest performance continues the trend of increasing revenues and order levels, and the number of trainees has also risen to 121 which exceeds the previous peak, in 2004. Staff numbers are now at 2345.
The increases last year by the TBM and tunnelling equipment systems group exceeded those enjoyed in 2006, of 27% higher revenues at US$853M, (2006 currencies) than in 2005. Orders then improved 39% to US$930M (2006 currencies). Trainee numbers in that year were 101, down to the lowest since 2003.
With orders high, including more recently a feasibility study for a 19m diameter machine (see page 6), Herrenknecht has machines excavating a number of projects – including Cabrera, Sao Paulo, Malmo, Veligonda and Gotthard, with a number of others being manufactured or in transport to site, such as for Rome, Delhi, Jinping II and Finnetunnel.
Excavation at the Finnetunnel rail project is expected to start next month with the first of two 10.82m diameter Mixshields for the JV contractor to drive twin 6,825m long bores. The TBM, S-419, had workshop acceptance in late January. Workshop acceptance of the second TBM, S-420, is hoped shortly.
Much excavation is set to commence in Rome, Italy, this year for which Herrenknecht will supply a total of six machines. The firm’s sole TBM at Cabrera, in Spain, is currently being prepared for a mid-year restart to drive the second of the twin rail tunnels for the high speed link (T&TI, March, p11).
