THE refurbishment of the first tunnel boring machine (TBM) that will be used for the MRT Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya (SSP) Line completed its Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) in Pusing, Perak on 11 August 2016.

Members of the media together with selected personnel from Malaysia Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) and the Underground Works Contractor for the SSP Line MMC Gamuda KVMRT (T) Sdn Bhd (MGKT) travelled to the TBM Refurbishment Plant operated by Waiko Engineering Sdn Bhd to witness this.

This refurbishment works is another first for Malaysia, following closely on the Variable Density TBM which was used for the first time in the world on the MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang (SBK) Line.

Upon arrival at the location, MRT Corp Underground Tunnel Director Mr Blaise Pearce introduced the audience about the role of the TBM in the construction of the SSP Line. This machine will be used strictly for tunnelling and underground works of the project.

MGKT will spend over RM 100 million on the refurbishment of a total of eight TBMs.

With the refurbishment of the TBMs, it will enable to save a total of RM460 million in the overall cost of the MRT Project.

The visitors were then led to a walkabout of the plant. The TBM Refurbishment Plant at Waiko Engineering was set up in 2015 as one of the initiatives of the MRT Project Offset Programme. This programme provides the platform for the development of high technology in Malaysia through cooperation with foreign contractors or suppliers. In fact, this is the only plant of its kind in Asia.

Upon reaching the TBM that was on display, Blaise explained the processes of the TBM being refurbished. Senior engineers from MGKT are supervised by experts from Herrenknecht AG, Germany which provided the expertise for technology transfer.

For the refurbishment process, 70% of the parts are used from locally manufactured companies and almost RM50 million worth of local parts would be procured from locally supplied chains.

Further demonstrations to repair works of components of the TBM such as the middle shield and segment erector refurbishments were showed.

The visit ended with a short press conference and lunch was provided to all attendees.