Kawasaki Receives Order for Four Shield Machines

 In October 2004, Kawasaki received an order from Taisei Corporation for four shield machines to be used in subway construction work in Singapore for Circle Line (contract C854). This is an additional order to a previous order of four units placed by Taisei in December 2003 for the same project (contract C853). Delivery of the newly ordered shield machines is scheduled for between April and June 2005.

 The order is for four slurry type shield machines (diameter: 6.63m), which will be used to excavate a total of about 5.4km both in the inbound and outbound directions between Marymount and Farrer stations on the 33km-loop Circle Line subway construction managed by Singapore’s Land Transport Authority.

 Combining shield tunneling technology for soft ground together with tunnel boring machine (TBM) technology for hard rock and gravel layers, the ordered slurry type shield machine can excavate both hard rock and soft soil of various compositions. The machines are also being built to match the characteristics of the construction area by using an articulation mechanism to excavate curved sections as well as incorporating Kawasaki’s proprietary roller cutter replacement system.