Swedish manufacturer Epiroc is equipping a tunnel construction project in the Himalayas with crusher technology. The machines must work there at extreme altitudes – a technical challenge that places special demands on engine power, hydraulics, and material durability.
Tunnel projects in alpine regions or high mountains push construction machinery to its performance limits. At altitudes above 3,000 meters, air pressure drops significantly, which impairs combustion in diesel engines. Standard engines lose up to 30 percent of their rated power there. Manufacturers like Epiroc therefore adapt engine control and increasingly rely on turbocharging to compensate for the performance loss. Hydraulic components must also be designed for low temperatures, as frost risk exists at high altitudes even into the summer months.
With crushing plants in tunnel construction, there is the additional challenge that material must be crushed directly on site. Mobile jaw crushers or impact crushers must therefore operate in tight spaces while achieving high throughput. In such projects, Epiroc relies on compact design and low-maintenance components to minimize downtime – a decisive factor in infrastructure projects in hard-to-reach regions.
Logistics also pose a hurdle. Spare parts and consumables often must be transported over long distances, which increases availability times and response times. European manufacturers score points here with global service structures and standardized components that are available even in remote regions. The project shows that technical reliability and service concepts in tunnel construction and specialized deep foundation projects are often more important than the pure acquisition price.
Epiroc, which emerged in 2018 from the mining technology division of Sandvik, has specialized in drilling and crushing technology for mining and infrastructure projects. The company supplies equipment worldwide for demanding applications – from arctic mines to high mountain projects. For more information, visit www.rocktechnology.sandvik.
