Overview

Recent advancements in mechanized tunnelling and shaft sinking have revolutionized underground construction by enhancing efficiency, safety, and scalability. Innovations such as advanced tunnel boring machines (TBMs) equipped with real-time monitoring and control systems have significantly accelerated excavation rates while minimizing human intervention. Additionally, the integration of robotic systems and automated processes has improved precision and reliability in shaft sinking operations, reducing both time and costs. These developments not only enable the construction of deeper and longer tunnels but also enhance the feasibility of ambitious infrastructure projects across various sectors including transportation, mining, and utilities, marking a pivotal shift towards sustainable and resilient underground development.

Learning outcomes

• State of the art of mechanised tunnelling and selection criteria for TBMs
• Development of an adoption model to mechanise high-value mineral commodity mining methods
• TBMs for mining
• Innovation in mechanised excavation
• Fast and safe construction of free faces and ventilation shafts in hard rock
• Pipe Laying Technology and its application in mining (HDD/SDD, Direct Pipe®, Pipe Thruster, etc.)

Program 

In-person:

• 8.15 am AWST: Registration
• 8.45 am AWST: Opening & welcome
• 9.00 am AWST: Introduction to Herrenknecht
• 9.20 am AWST: Innovative technologies for mechanized excavation of shafts
• 10.10 am AWST: VSM pre-sink wira shaft prominent hill
• 10.40 am AWST: Coffee break
• 11.00 am AWST: TBMs for mining: selection criteria and latest developments in mechanised tunnelling
• 11.45 am AWST AWST: How to adopt TBM technology to the mining environment
• 12.30 pm AWST: Tunnel design considerations: Drill & Blast vs TBM
• 1.00 pm AWST: Lunch
• 1.45 pm AWST: Shafts 3&4 construction at Oyu Tolgoi.
• 2.10 pm AWST: Hydro; the renewables boom? Revolutionize conventional shaft construction with the shaft drilling jumbo and automation options.
• 2.40 pm AWST: Fast and safe construction of free faces, ventilation shafts & ore pass construction with the BBR.
• 3.15 pm AWST: Coffee break
• 3.45 pm AWST: Horizontal directional drilling & micro-tunnelling
• 4.15 pm AWST: The great debate: mechanical excavation vs drill & blast
• 5.00 pm AWST: Closing
• 5.05 pm AWST: Get together / canapes & drinks

Online:

• 11.15 am AEDT: Registration
• 11.45 am AEDT: Opening & welcome
• 12.00 pm AEDT: Introduction to Herrenknecht
• 12.20 pm AEDT: Innovative technologies for mechanised excavation of shafts
• 1.10 pm AEDT: VSM pre-Sink Wira shaft prominent hill
• 1.40 pm AEDT: Coffee break
• 2.00 pm AEDT: TBMs for mining: selection criteria and latest developments in mechanised tunnelling
• 2.45 pm AEDT: How to adopt TBM technology to the mining environment
• 3.30 pm AEDT: Tunnel design considerations: Drill & Blast vs TBM
• 4.00 pm AEDT: Lunch
• 4.45 pm AEDT: Shafts 3 & 4 construction at Oyu Tolgoi.
• 5.10 pm AEDT: Hydro; the renewables boom? Revolutionize conventional shaft construction with the shaft drilling jumbo and automation options.
• 5.40 pm AEDT: Fast and safe construction of free faces, ventilation shafts & Ore pass construction with the BBR.
• 6.15 pm AEDT: Coffee break
• 6.45 pm AEDT: Horizontal directional drilling & micro-tunnelling
• 7.15 pm AEDT: The great debate: mechanical excavation vs drill & blast
• 8.00 pm AEDT: Closing

Presenters

Paul Anthony
Operations Manager, CPB Tunnelling and Major Projects Business Unit

Paul is an underground construction focussed Mining Engineer who has been with the CIMIC Group since 2003. His multifaceted local and international experience spans a wide range of sectors, including water, power, road, rail, infrastructure, and building projects. Notably, he has successfully taken on projects in highly constrained urban areas, navigating the intricacies and challenges with an innovative and solution-oriented mindset.
Paul has held leadership roles on numerous major infrastructure projects with the CIMIC group including the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System 2 Project, WestConnex M8, Wynyard Walk, Victorian Desalination Plant Intake and Outlet Tunnels, City East Cable Tunnel and Eastlink.

Currently serving as the Operations Manager for the CPB Tunnelling and Major Projects Business Unit, Paul’s responsibilities extend to strategic planning, procurement, recruitment, staff communication, conducting project and operation reviews, and interacting with clients and authorities.

Sean Henley
General Manager – Shafts, Redpath Australia

Sean Henley graduated from Curtin University, Western Australian School of Mines (WASM) as a Mining Engineer and is a seasoned mining executive with over 20 years of underground mining experience. He has extensive expertise in Contracting, Project Management, Business Development, and Estimating within the APAC region. Sean joined RUC Mining in 2009 and managed their shaft-sinking business for 15 years until RUC’s recent acquisition by Redpath Australia. His practical problem-solving approach and energetic leadership style have enabled him to deliver results on numerous complex projects.

Jiang Aizezi
Area Manager, DT Infrastructure/Gamuda

Jiang is a Chartered Professional Engineer with a wealth of technical knowledge, engineering expertise, and management skills in the construction industry. He has contributed to the successful delivery of construction projects involving a variety of civil, trenchless and tunnelling techniques, including road and rail tunnels, microtunnelling, pipe jacking, auger boring, horizontal directional drilling, Oil and gas pipeline construction, conventional pipeline construction (Drainage, Water, Sewer, Telcom, Power), piling, and heavy lifting operations.

Charles Howarth
Managing Director, Herrenknecht Australia

Charles Howarth, graduated from The University of Newcastle in 1997 with a Bachelor’s of Engineering (Mechanical). Charles has a strong background in mechanical engineering for mining and tunnel construction equipment having worked initially in the underground coal mining sector for OEM’s in Newcastle NSW. Machine design activities in Europe for Herrenknecht from the late 1990’s through mid-2000’s on major construction projects In Europe, US and Asia.

More recently, Charles has headed up Herrenknecht’s Australian subsidiary as Managing Director responsible for Traffic Tunnelling and Mining Equipment in the region. Charles has been involved with the majority of the major tunnelling projects in Australia and New Zealand since 2007 supporting the supply of over 40 TBMs as well as the introduction of several Herrenknecht Shaft excavation Systems.

Patrick Rennkamp
Product Manager – Mining, Herrenknecht

Patrick Rennkamp has been Product Manager Mining for Herrenknecht for over 20 years. He has a wide range of experience in both horizontal and vertical mechanised excavation methods where he is a leader in this field.