World’s First Dual-mode Boring and Blasting Machine Unveiled in Wuhan for Complex Tunnel Construction

According to domestic official media reports, the world’s first innovative Boring and Blasting Machine rolled off the production line at a manufacturing base in Jiangxia, Wuhan, on 1 August 2026. Developed jointly by Tsinghua University and a subsidiary of China Railway Industry under China Railway Group Limited, the new equipment represents a major industry breakthrough achieved through integrated research and industrial collaboration within China’s high-end underground engineering equipment sector.

Weighing approximately 400 tonnes with a total length of 70 metres and an excavation diameter of 4.55 metres, the new-generation tunnel equipment merges the operational strengths of two conventional tunnel construction methods: full-section mechanical tunnelling and drill-and-blast excavation. 

It features an innovative hollow cutter head structure that works in tandem with a central cutter head, enabling flexible switching between multiple intelligent operating modes, including pre-blasting followed by mechanical excavation, pre-excavation followed by blasting, and full-section continuous tunnelling. 

The dual functional design eliminates the technical limitations of traditional single-mode tunnel machinery and adapts efficiently to variable and complex geological conditions.

The machine integrates a suite of original core technologies that substantially refine construction precision and operational stability for complex underground projects. Retractable side cutters enable circular expansion excavation and adjustable tunnel section sizes, improving on-site transition efficiency during continuous construction. An adaptive telescopic tail shield accommodates various segment specifications, supporting variable-diameter lining assembly in unstable geological sections prone to rock bursts and large deformation, which reinforces overall structural safety. 

A dedicated explosion-proof cylinder cushions blasting impact and protects core mechanical components and precision control systems. Independent dual-belt conveyor systems separate and transport excavated rock and aggregate materials, streamlining on-site construction workflows and operational management.

The groundbreaking design breaks away from established development pathways for global tunnel excavation machinery. All core structures and key components of the machine are independently developed and fully domestically controllable. The versatile equipment suits the construction requirements of major infrastructure programmes, including trunk transportation routes, large-scale water conservancy hubs and deep underground development projects.

The newly unveiled Boring and Blasting Machine is scheduled to undergo demonstration application at a pumped storage power station project. Technical research teams will collect on-site operational data to carry out continuous performance iteration and functional optimisation, further improving the equipment’s adaptability, efficiency and reliability for diverse complex geological environments. The new technological solution will support the efficient and safe delivery of long-distance and large-scale tunnel engineering projects worldwide.