Webuild is investing in underground technology
- Pinnacle Team
- Sep 4
- 2 min read
The Italian construction giant Webuild is raising its profile in the underground excavation sector, pursuing technological innovation and economic efficiency. Webuild recently made a strategic decision to establish a new TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) regeneration plant in Terni, Italy, to reduce equipment investment and operating costs. This new facility is part of a plan to invest in innovation and training, along with creating jobs in Italy.
TBM: A Core Technology for Underground Excavation
A TBM is a complex machine that excavates the ground with a cutting head and then installs the tunnel, making it essential for large-scale infrastructure projects. Webuild owns a total of 58 TBMs, including those in operation, under assembly, on order, and planned for future projects. These machines require maintenance and modifications after a project is completed and must be updated for reuse in new projects or to meet new requirements.
The Terni TBM Regeneration Plant: Realizing Efficiency and Sustainability
By establishing a TBM regeneration plant in Terni, Webuild can extend the lifespan of its TBMs and reduce associated costs. This will also allow them to maintain, modify, and update TBMs for reuse in new projects. The plant will contribute to acquiring knowledge of new technologies that increase the automation level of TBMs, thereby improving safety, work quality, and operational efficiency.
Interventions on TBMs can range from simple service activities to significant changes, including major updates, depending on specific needs. Therefore, the time required for these interventions varies, generally taking 5 to 9 months. These maintenance activities, performed by Webuild's Equipment & Machinery (WEM), reflect the numerous tunnel drilling projects the Webuild Group has undertaken worldwide, especially in Italy.
Large-Scale Investment and Training Programs in Sicily
In Sicily alone, Webuild is investing and working on seven railway projects totaling 200 km, including 175 km of tunnels and 19 TBMs. Most recently, a TBM is being used at the Sigliio construction site on the Taormina-Giampilieri section.
Along with these large-scale projects, Webuild is also making significant investments in professional training. It has built a fully automated plant in Belpasso, Catania, to produce precast concrete segments for the two tunnel lines of the Catania-Messina route, and a second plant near Enna is set to open soon. This plant is the first in Italy to have an automated system capable of producing one segment every seven minutes.
'Cantiere Lavoro Italia' and Workforce Development
Through its employment program called 'Cantiere Lavoro Italia,' Webuild is providing training programs to hire the necessary skilled workers, including those who will operate the large TBMs. They will be trained using simulators, and the Sicilian training center is one of several that Webuild has established in Italy. The company also has a facility for the Terzo Valico dei Giovi project in Novi Ligure, Piedmont, dedicated to traditional excavation methods and open-cut work. Webuild will soon open another facility in Campania specializing in mechanical tunnel excavation.
Webuild's continuous investment and innovative approach are further cementing its leadership in the underground excavation and tunneling sector in Italy and worldwide.
May 15, 2024
