The double-shield TBM ‘Wilma’, with a drilling diameter of 10.37 metres, a length of approximately 180 metres and a weight of 2,600 tonnes (including back-up), was inspected and tested yesterday at the Herrenknecht plant in Schwanau, Germany.
After being tested and inspected at the factory, the TBM will be assembled and transported to the assembly chamber at the H53 Pfons-Brenner construction site, south of Innsbruck. Assembly will take place this spring and, after reassembly, TBM Wilma will start moving northwards in the autumn.
This huge multifunctional machine deep in the heart of the mountain, known as Wilma, will move northwards to excavate approximately 7.5 kilometres in the west main tunnel.
The next expected milestone is the testing and inspection of TBM ‘Olga’ for the east main tunnel of the Pfons-Brenner H53 construction lot, which will take place in about a month.
