Palmieri S.p.A. products

Machines designed for small-diameter tunnel excavation for pipelines with a circular cross-section, available in sizes ranging from 800 to 3500 mm, and suitable for all types of ground conditions, including the presence of water. The equipment is available with two different material extraction systems for the waste generated during the drilling process, which are pre-selected to suit the specific geological conditions of the terrain: slurry tube extraction or auger extraction.

The entire system is guided and controlled by a guidance system or guide container placed outside the tunnel. The precision of the excavation is monitored by a guidance system (the laser guidance and laser targeting).

One of the key advantages of microtunneling is the ability to easily increase the drilling diameter of the machine within a specified range, by installing a removable extension kit that can be seamlessly integrated into the machine. Furthermore, the extension kit can be designed in a “modular” configuration, as can the cutting head. This provides an ideal solution, particularly for blind tunneling applications.

During the advancement, the pipes are installed from the outside and transfer the thrust generated by the main jacking station to the machine. When the drilling distance exceeds 100-150 meters, the main jacking station may no longer provide sufficient thrust for the machine’s progress. In such cases, intermediate jacking stations are installed to supply the additional thrust necessary for continued advancement.

Palmieri’s expertise in the design of cutting layouts, combined with a careful selection of cutters and scrapers, results that each cutting head is a unique solution, precisely tailored to meet specific project requirements, thereby maximizing client benefit and operational efficiency.