The strengths and strains of a sector in which investment and expertise must translate into projects that are sustainable for the entire supply chain. Two realities coexist in the Italian tunnelling industry. The first is strong infrastructure demand: ANCE, the...
In mechanized tunnelling, the quality of the precast segmental lining directly influences the service life of underground infrastructure; accordingly, every component of the lining is engineered to contribute to its overall performance. At the core of every reliable...
On February 26, 2026, at the conference “Research and Innovation for the Development of Underground Engineering Works” held at Sapienza University of Rome, AB Tunnelling presented a technical case study on the excavation of the Rocchetta tunnel, part of the...
Mechanized excavation with TBMs has become the benchmark for modern tunnel construction, especially in complex infrastructure projects where time, safety, and cost control are critical. Compared to traditional excavation methods—such as drill & blast or...
In mechanized tunnelling, backfilling is an essential process for ensuring stability, safety, and operational continuity during tunnel construction. Filling the annular gap — the space created between the estrados of the precast segments and the excavation profile —...
The story of every tunnel begins well before excavation — in the precast department. It is there, inside steel moulds, that concrete takes shape, becoming the segments that will line the tunnels of the future. For AB Tunnelling, steel moulds are not just tools, but...
Introduction: why disc cutter performance matters The growing use of Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) has radically transformed the tunnel construction industry, offering innovative solutions but posing new challenges in terms of safety, efficiency, and cost...
The TBM cutter head is a key component of the tunnel boring machine (TBM), directly responsible for the interaction with geological formations during excavation operations. Its effectiveness depends heavily on the integration and arrangement of specialized cutting...
