Rapid shaft sinking / Mechanisiertes Abteufen von Schächten

In 2011 Herrenknecht designed a shaft sinking machine suitable for applications in frozen ground or soft to medium hard rock up to 120 Mpa, with variable shaft diameters as well as geometries. The target was to develop a machine that will provide safe working conditions for the personnel and exceed the shaft sinking rates of conventional systems.
Two prototypes were manufactured and assembled at the Herrenknecht works in Schwanau during winter/spring 2012. In early summer of 2012, cutting trials were performed with the aim of achieving the maximal possible cutting rate performance. After successful completion of the cutting trials, the machines where shipped to Canada and assembled at the site. In November 2012, the first machine was lowered into the shaft and first cutting cycles where performed before Christmas 2012. Assembly and commissioning of the second machine follows in early 2013.