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**China's Situation in Non-Excavation Equipment Development**
Non-excavation equipment, such as roadheaders and shield machines, has long been dominated by foreign imports in China. According to Wang Jianye, chairman of the China Heavy Machinery Industry Association, China started developing non-excavation technology as early as the 1960s. However, the country’s industrial model was different from that of Western nations. In contrast, foreign companies had more time to experiment, fail, learn, and eventually produce superior products. In China, however, when one company failed, it often led to a collective halt, stifling innovation.
Wang showed reporters a sample of a domestically produced roadheader, but he pointed out that most of these machines are actually manufactured in collaboration with foreign firms. The core technologies remain out of reach, leaving Chinese manufacturers in a low-value role, performing only basic machining tasks.
The Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Company is an exception. It has developed its own shield machine for the Shanghai Metro, which was successfully tested last year. The equipment performed well, with no paint loss on the cutter head after over ten kilometers of operation. However, industry insiders suggest that this success is due to Shanghai’s relatively favorable geological conditions, making it difficult to replicate in other regions like Beijing, where harder rock requires different machinery.
Currently, China’s full-face tunneling machine technology still hasn’t fully matured. As a result, domestic equipment can only be considered reliable for specific local conditions, such as those in Shanghai.
**Market Value and Industrial Impact**
According to plans, China aims to complete over 6,000 kilometers of non-excavation construction projects by 2020, including railways, highways, subways, water conservancy, and oil and gas pipelines. These projects would require thousands of roadheaders and shield machines, potentially worth billions of dollars. Despite this, the current output of heavy machinery in China is relatively small, and the proportion of projects requiring such equipment is limited.
However, the development of these machines has broader implications. It can drive advancements in the information industry, control systems, and hydraulic technology. Underground construction demands precise positioning, advanced control, and high-tech components, all of which can boost related industries.
Moreover, it promotes better enterprise management and technological design. Roadheaders represent a convergence of high-tech fields, reflecting a nation’s overall technological strength and industrial capability.
**International Trends and Competitors**
Globally, leading companies like Japan’s Mitsubishi, Germany’s Herrenknecht, and the U.S.’s Robbins have mastered large-scale tunneling technologies. They can design equipment tailored to various geological conditions, such as waterproofing for soft soils or stability for hard rock.
In addition to large machines, there is also a trend toward smaller, micro-tunneling systems. This allows for underground work without disrupting surface areas, a method widely used in cities across the West. Japan leads in small shield machine technology, even incorporating plastic pipe forming capabilities during excavation.
**Challenges and Constraints**
Three main factors hinder the development of roadheaders in China. First, the system and institutional framework pose significant barriers. Innovation within state-owned enterprises is often slow due to rigid processes and lack of incentives for R&D.
Second, there is a gap between innovation philosophy and standards. Failure is not tolerated, and the standardization system is outdated, limiting the ability of domestic companies to lead in new technologies.
Third, material and component constraints remain a challenge. Many critical parts, such as hydraulic systems and reducers, are still imported due to the lack of domestic production capacity and outdated standards. This increases costs and limits technological progress.
Despite these challenges, the future of China’s non-excavation equipment sector holds great potential. With continued investment, innovation, and system reform, the industry can move toward self-reliance and global competitiveness.
October 03, 2025