Weighing 1,900 tons and measuring 230 meters in length with a diameter of up to 9.03 meters, this tunnel boring machine is a testament to the “power” of China’s construction industry.
About 20 years ago, China still had to import some machinery and equipment from Germany to support its production sector, but now the game has changed.
China manufactures a series of ‘super giant’ machines with superior functionality.
Over time, China has made “remarkable” advancements that have astonished the world. The country has been able to invent and mass-produce a number of ‘super giant machines’ with outstanding capabilities. For instance, the ‘Red War God’ machine weighs up to 2,000 tons and integrates many world-leading technologies, allowing it to complete one floor of a building in just four days. Another example is the SLJ900/32, a super machine capable of assembling a 580-ton bridge swiftly.
Among those ‘unstoppable’ machines, the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) stands out, produced and assembled in Kunming, Yunnan. This machine is named Cai Yun, which translates to ‘Brilliant Cloud.’ It has a diameter of 9.03 meters and a width of up to 9 meters – making it one of the largest in the world. Cai Yun weighs 1,900 tons and is 230 meters long.
Tunnel Boring Machine Cai Yun.
Additionally, it is equipped with several advanced functions, including a geological feature forecasting system and a cooling system, enabling it to withstand all risks during construction.
This giant machine has been used to excavate a 34-kilometer tunnel as part of a railway project extending from Dali city to Shuili town in Yunnan province, China.
According to some sources, with the use of the Cai Yun Tunnel Boring Machine, construction units can excavate an average depth of 350 meters per month. In contrast, previous popular tunnel boring machines could only excavate a maximum of 101 meters in the same time frame.
This machine can excavate an average depth of 350 meters per month.
This is considered one of the significant projects that have established China as a leading country in tunneling and elevated the construction industry. About 12 years ago, China still had to import TBM machines from other countries, mainly Germany, at a staggering price of up to $101 million each.
Today, China has created its own warriors to serve its construction industry, with superior functionality that significantly reduces construction costs.
