ITAtech Guidelines On Services Of Machinery For Mechanized Tunnel Excavation
ITAtech Activity Group Excavation

1.1 FOREWORD
The acquisition and the utilization of a
Tunnel Boring Machine is a long process
passing through a variety of steps and
activities that can last several years in
total from TBM design to final tunnel
breakthrough. The different activities include
design, manufacturing, shop assembly,
transport, site assembly, disassembly,
maybe reassembly, operational assistance,
maintenance & repair, spare parts delivery
and general technical assistance. Many
of these activities involve Project Owner,
Equipment (TBM) manufacturer, Equipment
(TBM) user (Contractor) and Equipment
(TBM) service provider as well as other
specific suppliers.
However, there is a clear line separating this
long process in two distinct phases: exworks
delivery will determine the end of the
TBM manufacturing phase and the start of
TBM Services phase.
TBM Services are preferably provided by the
TBM manufacturer but can also be provided
by the TBM user itself or other qualified
organizations (other TBM service provider).
The purpose of this report is to provide
guidance for project owners, designers, TBM
users, TBM manufacturers and TBM Service
providers when specifying requirements for
TBM Services.
1.2 SCOPE
This guideline creates a common language
in terms of TBM Services, listing all potential
activities that must be scheduled as well as
their ideal timing sequence along a tunnelling
project. The correct understanding of TBM
Services at the start of the project will
help project owners, designers and TBM
users realize correct planning of the works,
evaluating the capacity to cover all activities
and eventually take the decision to selfperform
or outsource, as the case may be.
Correct planning of the works will minimize
both technical and commercial risks for
the project, ensuring good coordination
between planned activities and budgets and
actual work performed.
This report does not cover TBM
refurbishment which in some cases may be
considered a TBM Service activity. Guidance
for this is given in ITAtech Report No 5-V2
“Guidelines on rebuilds of machinery for
mechanized tunnel excavation”.

Contents
1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................... 5
1.1 Foreword..................................................................................................................... 5
1.2 Scope.......................................................................................................................... 5
2 DEFINITION OF TBM SERVICES.................................................................................... 6
2.1 Transport..................................................................................................................... 6
2.2 Planning of the works............................................................................................... 6
2.3 Jobsite assembly / reassembly / disassembly / transfer works.......................... 6
2.4 Maintenance............................................................................................................... 6
2.5 Qualification of personnel........................................................................................ 6
2.6 Supply of spare and wear parts............................................................................... 6
2.7 Supply of excavation tools....................................................................................... 7
2.8 Lifting works............................................................................................................... 7
3 SERVICE ACTIVITIES....................................................................................................... 8
3.1 Transport..................................................................................................................... 8
3.2 Planning of the site works........................................................................................ 9
3.3 Execution of the site works...................................................................................... 9
3.4 Maintenance............................................................................................................... 9
3.4.1 General............................................................................................................... 9
3.4.2 Maintenance strategy....................................................................................... 10
3.4.3 Maintenance organization................................................................................. 10
3.5 Supply of spare and Wear parts............................................................................. 11
3.5.1 Supply logistic of spare parts............................................................................ 11
3.6 Excavation tools....................................................................................................... 11
3.6.1 General............................................................................................................. 11
3.6.2 Requirements for Excavation tool suppliers...................................................... 11
3.6.3 On-site availability of excavation tools............................................................... 12
3.6.4 On-site reconditioning of excavation tools........................................................ 12
3.6.5 Off-site reconditioning of excavation tools........................................................ 12
3.6.6 Excavation tools stock keeping........................................................................ 12
3.6.7 Excavation tool consumption data management.............................................. 12
3.7 Lifting works............................................................................................................. 13
3.7.1 General............................................................................................................. 13
3.7.2 Preliminary lifting studies................................................................................... 13
3.7.3 Site activities..................................................................................................... 13
4 SERVICE PROVISION AND CONTRACTS................................................................... 14
4.1 Business models for site activities - Personnel................................................... 14
4.2 Business models for spare part contracts........................................................... 15
4.2.1 Procurement of parts........................................................................................ 15
4.2.2 Consignment contract...................................................................................... 15
4.2.3 Unit based contract.......................................................................................... 15
4.3 Business models for excavation tool contract..................................................... 15
4.3.1 Procurement of parts........................................................................................ 15
4.3.2 Disc cutter reconditioning based on real consumption of parts........................ 15
4.3.3 Unit based contract.......................................................................................... 15