Roadheader and tunneling equipment manufacturer Aker Wirth has expanded its presence in the Russian-speaking market by providing local contacts for existing and prospective customers at a facility in Moscow that is jointly shared with its parent company, Aker Solutions. “It is precisely with the Russian-speaking countries where we see a huge market potential, both in mining and in founda-tion,” said Hans Greve, vice president of mining and construction at Aker Wirth.

Aker Wirth builds roadheaders in the 50- to 130-mt weight class, suitable for cutting rock of up to 150 MPa compres-sive strength. The company’s latest prod-uct is the T1.14 roadheader, optimized for coal mining and featuring a compact design and telescopic boom.

Together with Rio Tinto, Aker Wirth also has developed a new and innovative tunnel boring system which it claims will markedly improve safety and efficiency in under-ground mining applications. The tunnel bor-ing system is based on Aker Wirth’s innova-tive MTM (Mobile Tunnel Miner) technology and its years of experience in underground hardrock mining and tunneling.

Additionally, the company offers tech-nologies for all types of shaft construction, including Pile Top drill rigs for supply and ventilation shafts with diameters of up to 4.5 m and depths of up to 300 m, along with L-type rigs for shafts with diameters of up to 8 m and depths of up to 800 m. Both use reverse circulation drilling technology.