CRCHI: Making Tunnel Construction Smarter & Safer

CRCHI is positioned in world markets as a large enterprise with a strong focus on research, design, and manufacturing of customized underground engineering and rail transit equipment, informs Song Shuang, Vice Managing Director, Overseas Department.

What will be the highlights of CRCHI’s product display at bauma Conexpo India 2023?
China Railway Construction Heavy Industry Corporation Limited (CRCHI) is geared up to showcase its comprehensive solutions for Underground Engineering Equipment and rail transit system at bauma CONEXPO India. The entire industry chain of products and solutions will include the TBM, drilling jumbo, cotton picker, etc.

What potential does CRCHI see in India’s Infra development sector?
India is one the fastest growing economies in the world with a lot of focus on infrastructure development, which is attracting global players like CRCHI. At the same time, it is a very competitive market with the presence of globally renowned companies.

Several TBMs of CRCHI are already being used in some major infrastructure projects across India. In the Mumbai Coastal Road Project, the largest diameter (12.19m) TBM reached 456-m excavation in a single month, setting a record for large-diameter TBMs in hard rock stratum. In the Bangalore Metro project Phase II, CRCHI TBM (named Avni) became the first TBM to break through the tunnel.

We have already established our brand in India, delivering tailor-made, standardized, and high-end products, which are closely aligned with the construction methodologies. Coming from China, we have the expertise to produce TBMs for all types of strata (hard and soft).


How do you plan to further strengthen your presence in India including setting up your refurbishment unit?
We see India as a big market wherein we have our local representatives help us to enhance our presence; they directly coordinate with project managers to better understand the requirements, which helps us in customizing the products as per the demand.

The very first machine which we exported to India was a completely new one, but on the request of some clients, we provided them re-manufactured machines also. But before re-manufacturing, we thoroughly study the project application and strata. It is important to be certain about the geology of the site where the TBM will be used, as every site’s requirement of diameter and other parameters will be different.

The Indian market is huge and offers a lot of opportunities. We are now planning to set up a re-manufacture unit here, for which talks are underway with a few companies and will finalize a partner soon.

How do you see the competition in this market?
Like us, other global companies are also targeting this market, but healthy competition is always good for business and for customers too, as it motivates us to do more R&D on products for better productivity and efficiency. Our capability for innovation is very strong. Over 31% of our personnel at plants are R&D engineers.

Please share some of CRCHI’s recent developments for sustainable construction.
CRCHI has been focusing on design, and manufacture of non-standardized, customized high-end equipment. It has created three mature industrial sections, namely, the rail track system, tunnel boring machine, and drilling & blasting equipment. In recent years, it has stepped into new industry sections such as the rail transit system, agricultural machines, green building materials, construction equipment, mining equipment, new construction materials etc.

The company is a total solutions provider for intelligent cluster systems of underground engineering equipment and is committed to becoming the world’s leading underground engineering equipment and rail transit system provider. Based on its know-how, expertise, and experience, CRCHI is at the forefront to promote the effectiveness and quality of underground construction, to reduce operational costs, and minimize the impact on the environment in order to make our society and the world a better, smarter, and a more sustainable place.

What support and services is CRCHI providing customers?
Our primary focus and concern are to keep our customers satisfied with our quality products and services. We provide round the clock support services to them and training to their operators. Our people remain at the project sites for any kind of support required by the contractors till the projects’ completion. We constantly train our personnel on the new technologies, and we now have trained technicians and operators in India.

What are CRCHI’s overseas market development plans and strategies?
CRCHI TBM is well accepted by clients for its stability, sturdy construction, and efficient performance, which demonstrates the advantages and strength of CRCHI in the South Asian market.

In recent years, while continuously consolidating its leading position in the Chinese market, CRCHI has actively responded to the national ‘Belt and Road’ initiative, and promoted exports of equipment to more than 30 countries and regions including Italy, Turkey, India, South Korea, and Peru, and the international business has achieved remarkable results.

In the future, CRCHI will further strengthen its overseas markets by providing global customers customized overall solutions to make tunnel construction smarter, safer, more efficient, and environment-friendly.