Success for China-Canada partnership 13 Sep 2018

After moving manufacturing capabilities from Toronto to China, TBM producer Lovsuns continues to straddle both markets while also gaining new orders from North America, the Middle East and beyond.

Lovsuns has seen recent achievements with the breakthrough of the Kabatas to Mahmutbey Metro Line for contractor Alarko in Istanbul, Turkey; successful factory acceptance tests at Lovsuns parent company LNSS in China for the first Chinese produced TBM destined for the Blacksnake Creek stormwater project in St Joseph, Missouri, USA; and the award of two new contracts for North American tunnelling projects.

New North American contracts

Lovsuns Tunneling Canada was awarded two new contracts in May 2018 for North American tunneling projects:

Managing Director Hongyu Xue representing Lovsuns at WTC Dubai

Firstly, to supply an 8.5m single shield rock TBM for the 2.9km Westerley storage tunnel in Cleveland, Ohio, USA for contractor Jay Dee/Obayashi Joint Venture and project owner Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District.

Secondly, to supply a 7m single shield rock/ EPB dual mode TBM for the 10km long Don River & Central Waterfront Coxwell Bypass tunnel in Toronto, Ontario, Canada for contractor North Tunnel Construction ULC and project owner City of Toronto.

These two TBMs will be designed and engineered by ex-LOVAT engineers in Toronto and manufactured at Lovsuns parent company LNSS Liaoyang facilities under supervision of Lovsuns technicians. The machines are scheduled to be delivered in the second half of 2019.

The Lovsuns Canadian team will be responsible for site assembly and commissioning of the machines, as well as future parts supply and field services.

Breakthrough at Metro Line Kabataş to Mahmutbey in Istanbul

A refurbished Lovsuns CAT 6.12m diameter 110m long EPB shield TBM was one of two TBMs ordered for use on the 22.5km long mass transit rail system between Kabataş, Mecidiyeköy and Mahmutbey by contractor Alarko. The TBM was formerly used in the Toronto metro project in 2010, refurbished in Toronto and skinned up to 6.5m.

The new route includes 19 stations from Mahmutbey in the Northwest to Kabatas in the Southeast, an important ferry hub for commuters between Asia and Europe.

The first drive on this route started at the end of 2016 in the highly populated Kabatas area on the European side of Istanbul. The project included 5.5km of TBM and NATM tunnel construction works and viaducts, construction of three stations, finishing and electromechanical works of 15 stations, a 1.5km depot yard connection line and construction of the depot area and maintenance buildings. Breakthrough was celebrated at the beginning of April 2018.

LNSS factory in China

Work was started on the route from a central point at Fulya, where two shafts were constructed. From the first shaft the tunnel was constructed in NATM towards Mecidiyeköy, and the second, 33m deep by 12m diameter, was the launch site for the 4.5km twin tube TBM drive to Kabatas and back to Fulya.

Seven more Lovsuns EPBMs have been commissioned for the Kalyon-Kolin-Cengiz and the Makyol/Ictas/Kalyon/Astor joint ventures building the new airport link and other metro lines in Istanbul.

Both joint ventures ordered TBMs with mixed face cutterhead, 1,200 KW main drive power, high power torque and advance rates, unique wear protection on the cutterhead and screw conveyor as well as high screw conveyor output.

First Chinese-Built Lovsuns TBM for USA

In March this year, American client Super Excavators visited Lovsun LNSS facilities in Liaoyang, China for the factory acceptance of a 3.3m double shield rock TBM. This machine was engineered by Lovsuns Canada and will be used in construction of a 2km tunnel in Blacksnake Creek Stormwater Separation Improvement Project located in St. Joseph, Missouri, USA.

Currently the machine has been assembled on site under supervision of Lovsuns technicians. Tunnel excavation started in early August 2018. This was the first Built-in-China TBM delivered for the North American tunneling market.

“This is a big step for LNSS and Lovsuns in achieving our goal of delivering high-quality TBMs to the North American market,” said Hongyu Xue, General Manager of Lovsuns.

The Blacksnake Creek project will intercept and convey flows from the creek away from the combined sewer systems via a new tunnel system. The project comprises more than 2km (6,650ft) of 2.3m (7.5ft) i.d. tunnel lined with precast, gasketed concrete segmental lining, and one 38m (125ft), 2.3m (7.5ft) i.d. crossing of the BNSF Railroad via auger boring. Five total shafts are included in the project. The tunnel will transition from soft ground to hard rock along each end of the tunnel alignments along with some mixed face conditions. The project is expected to complete in the fall of 2019.

Market position

China remains the single largest TBM market worldwide. Today, after acquisition of the Lovat TBM technology, LNSS TBMs are involved in many mega-city metro projects. Global customers are looking for cost-effective and high quality TBMs and LNSS strategy offers safety of operation and productivity.

China has had the fastest growing economy in the world for the last 15 to 20 years and needs to upgrade technologies in order to meet the fast-growing local demand and expand to other overseas markets.

“From a global perspective the China/Canada synergy will allow us to grow faster both in China and overseas markets. We will continue to innovate, broaden and improve our product line, offering machines for special applications to help our customers overcome their challenges” said Hongyu Xue.