China’s first disc cutter rock excavation machine officially began operation on April 25 at the Tongshankou Copper Mine of Daye Nonferrous Metals Group Holdings Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China Nonferrous Metal Mining (Group) Co., Ltd.
This marks a breakthrough in non-full-section hard rock excavation equipment in China and ushers in a new model of safe, efficient, green, and intelligent mining.
The machine combines the flexibility of a roadheader with the rock-breaking power of a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), using a disc cutterhead capable of breaking rock with strength up to 150 MPa. It is well-suited for medium and short tunnels, minimizes disturbance to surrounding rock, and addresses challenges such as low efficiency and high safety risks of traditional methods.
This innovation is expected to transform operations at the Tongshankou Copper Mine, support intelligent and green upgrades, and provide strong technical support for deep mineral resource development in China.
