Pipe jacking and microtunnelling machines · slurry, EPB, rock and rectangular types, diameter range, jacking force and pipe joint capacity, lubrication and intermediate jacking stations, shafts and drive length
A pipe jacking machine is a steerable tunnelling shield that excavates the ground at the front of a pipeline while hydraulic jacks in a launch shaft push the machine and the pipes behind it through the ground to a reception shaft; remotely controlled versions for pipes too small to enter are called microtunnelling machines. Ask three things first: which machine type suits the ground and groundwater, what diameter and drive length it must achieve, and whether the jacking force stays within what the pipe joints can carry.
Pipe jacking and microtunnelling machines (slurry, earth pressure balance, rock and rectangular) with their main jacking frames, intermediate jacking stations, lubrication and guidance systems, for sewer, water, utility and culvert installation. Full-size tunnel boring machines (a separate product page), horizontal directional drilling rigs, auger boring without a steerable head, and jacking pipes or hydraulic cylinders sold alone are outside this page except where compared.
01
Herrenknecht describes its AVN machines as slurry pressure shields for soft ground, heterogeneous ground and rock, including high water pressures, used for pipe jacking from DN250 and for segmental lining from DN3200, up to 4.8 m outside diameter. They excavate full face with a cutting wheel chosen for the ground (standard or mixed-soil cutterheads, or disc cutters for rock), crush stones in a cone crusher to a size the slurry line can carry, steer precisely in vertical and horizontal curves, work as microtunnelling machines in non-accessible diameters, and with intermediate jacking stations can jack pipe over more than 1,000 m. [1]
The American Concrete Pipe Association's design data sheet on concrete pipe for jacking describes the method: a reaction shaft whose back wall resists the jack thrust, a reception shaft at the end, the shield and lead pipe set on guide rails to line and grade, jacks pushing through a thrust frame that spreads force across the pipe end, and excavated spoil carried back to the shaft. It notes microtunnelling machines are used for pipe in sizes that do not permit worker entry, which it puts as "usually less than 36 inches", with a remotely controlled steerable head and spoil removed by auger or slurry, while TBMs are used for 36 in and larger, and that intermediate shafts can split long drives. [2]
Editorial note: give the supplier a continuous ground and groundwater profile for the whole drive, because the cutterhead, face support and spoil system are chosen for it.
Robbins' metric specification sheet for slurry microtunnelling machines (2014) shows how size sets force and torque. It covers DN 1000 to DN 3000 for soft ground, mixed face and rock below the water table at up to 3 bar, with face access from DN 1100. Its DN 1000 machine has a 1,295 mm outer diameter for 1,280 mm OD pipe, 37 kW, 69 kN·m torque at 0–5 rpm and main jacks of 2 × 1,960 kN; DN 1500 has 1,810 mm OD, 90 kW, 208 kN·m and 4 × 1,470 kN; DN 2000 has 2,425 mm OD, 120 kW, 553 kN·m and 4 × 1,960 kN; and DN 3000 has 3,625 mm OD for 3,600 mm pipe, 222 kW, 1,246 kN·m at 0–3 rpm and 8 × 1,960 kN main jacks. [3]
Give the supplier the pipe material, inside and outside diameter and length, drive lengths and curves, ground and groundwater profile (including boulders and rock strength), cover depth and structures above, shaft sizes and reaction wall, settlement limits, line and grade tolerance, spoil disposal (slurry separation), power supply, and the pipe maker's allowable jacking force.
02
ACPA states that "the required axial force is greatly variable" and must be estimated from pipe diameter, drive length, soil friction, lubrication and excavation method, and that if lubricant is not used the axial force will be significantly higher. During jacking, lubricants such as bentonite, clay slurry and polymers are pumped into the annulus between soil and pipe, intermediate jacking stations limit the length pushed at any time, and grout fills the remaining annulus at the end. Following ASCE 27-00, it sets the allowable stress for an eccentric (linear) stress distribution across the joint at f′J = 0.85 φ f′c / LF, with φ = 0.9 and LF = 1.2, and the maximum jacking thrust at P = 0.5 f′J Ap, where Ap is the contact area between joint packing and concrete; it calls for plywood joint cushions at least ¾ in thick to spread the load. [2]
Editorial calculation: for concrete with f′c = 6,000 psi, f′J = 0.85 × 0.9 × 6,000 / 1.2 ≈ 3,825 psi; with a joint contact area of 300 in², P = 0.5 × 3,825 × 300 ≈ 573,750 lb, about 2,550 kN. Concrete strength and contact area are assumed examples; use the pipe maker's certified jacking capacity and keep the machine's main and intermediate jacks set below it.
Editorial calculation: Robbins' DN 2000 main jacks total 4 × 1,960 = 7,840 kN (about 1,760,000 lbf); that is the frame's maximum, so the jacking force actually applied must still be held below the pipe joint capacity worked out above, with intermediate stations used once the string would need more. [3] [2]
A jacking frame maker's ratings show the thrust a shaft must react. Akkerman's MTBM jacking frames range from the MT 460K at 400 ton for 30–60 in pipe OD (est. 27,000 lb) through 800 ton frames for 30–90 in pipe to the MT8102K, MT8108K and MT8114K at 1,200 ton for 90–114 in pipe (est. 58,000–75,000 lb); thrust cylinders can be added on the MT8102K and larger for extended drives. Akkerman gives a standard pipe length of 10 ft with extension kits for pipe sets up to 20 ft, a minimum shaft size of 16 to 24 ft depending on configuration, and a keyhole multi-cylinder layout that applies thrust through the centre of the pipe axis to limit stress concentration at the joints. [4] Its intermediate jacking stations are non-recoverable steel housings with ram segments each exerting 60 tons of thrust, custom-made to the project pipe OD. For slurry microtunnelling Akkerman lists a diameter range of 30 to 114 in OD and puts drive lengths at 400–800 lf on its standard projects and 800–3,000 lf on complex projects or diameters above 72 in. [5]
Editorial calculation, assuming US short tons (1 ton-force ≈ 8.9 kN): 400, 800 and 1,200 ton frames correspond to about 3,560, 7,120 and 10,680 kN, against the roughly 2,550 kN joint capacity worked out above for one assumed concrete pipe, so the frame's full thrust can exceed what a joint carries and the jacking pressure must be capped to the pipe maker's rating; one 60-ton IJS ram segment is about 534 kN. [4] [5] [2]
03
Suppliers linked to this page list pipe jacking machines; each card links to the page reviewed.
Listings include slurry, earth pressure balance, rock and rectangular pipe jacking machines, and pipe jacking machines in piling and drilling equipment ranges. Companies supplying only hydraulic cylinders for these machines are hidden here. Ask each for diameter range, cutterhead options, face support, jacking force, guidance and references.
04
This is a functional reference built from the sources cited; it is not one maker's specification.
| Part | Role | Fix in the order |
|---|---|---|
| Cutterhead and crusher | Excavates; crushes stones. [1] | Cutterhead for the ground. |
| Face support and spoil system | Slurry or EPB; slurry line or auger. [1] [2] | Type and separation plant. |
| Steering shield | Controls line and grade. [1] [2] | Steering jacks and guidance. |
| Main jacking frame | Pushes the string from the shaft. [2] | Force and stroke. |
| Intermediate jacking stations | Split the push on long drives. [2] [1] | Number and force. |
| Lubrication system | Bentonite or polymer to the annulus. [2] | Injection points and control. |
| Thrust ring and joint cushions | Spread force at pipe ends. [2] | Cushion material. |
05
A pipe jacking quotation needs values for your drive. The table explains each field, gives published values where a reviewed source states them, and says what to obtain from the supplier.
| Field | What it means and published values | Ask the supplier for |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Jacking Force (kN) | Must stay below pipe joint capacity; e.g. 4 × 1,960 kN main jacks (DN 2000). [2] [3] Jacking frames: 400, 800 and 1,200 ton (about 3,560–10,680 kN, editorial conversion). [4] | Main and intermediate jack force. |
| Pipe Diameter Range (mm) | Example: from DN250 to 4.8 m OD. [1] | Range and adaptor kits. |
| Maximum Jacking Distance (m) | Example: over 1,000 m with intermediate stations. [1] | Distance for your ground. |
| Excavation Rate (m³/h) | Spoil system capacity. | Rate. |
| Steering Accuracy (mm/m) | Line and grade. [2] | Guidance and tolerance. |
| Power Supply (V AC) | Site supply. | Voltage. |
| Total Installed Power (kW) | Machine and plant; e.g. cutter drive 37–222 kW (DN 1000–3000). [3] | Power. |
| Operating Temperature (°C) | Climate. | Range. |
| Ingress Protection | Electrics underground. | Rating. |
| Machine Weight (t) | Shaft cranes. | Weight. |
| Cutter Head Torque (kN·m) | Ground and diameter; e.g. 69 kN·m (DN 1000) to 1,246 kN·m (DN 3000). [3] | Torque. |
06
Paste it into your enquiry below or into an email to a maker, then replace every bracket.
Pipe: [material; ID/OD; length; allowable jacking force] Drive: [lengths; curves; tolerance] Ground: [soils; boulders; rock; groundwater] Shafts: [size; reaction wall] Limits: [cover; settlement] Plant: [slurry separation; lubrication; power]
These companies list pipe jacking machines.
Lists slurry, EPB, rock and rectangular pipe jacking machines.
Product scope checked 2026-10-11
Lists a pipe jacking machine with rotary drilling and piling rigs.
Product scope checked 2026-10-11
Lists a pipe jacking machine in its equipment range.
Product scope checked 2026-10-11
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ACPA describes microtunnelling machines as remotely controlled steerable machines used for pipe sizes workers cannot enter, which ACPA puts as "usually less than 36 inches". [2]
Herrenknecht cites drives of over 1,000 m with intermediate jacking stations. [1]
By the pipe joint capacity; ACPA gives P = 0.5 f′J Ap with f′J = 0.85 × 0.9 × f′c ÷ 1.2, and uses lubrication and intermediate stations to reduce force. [2]
Robbins' metric spec sheet lists 69 kN·m and 2 × 1,960 kN main jacks for DN 1000, rising to 1,246 kN·m and 8 × 1,960 kN for DN 3000. [3]
Sources checked 2026-10-12. Herrenknecht is a tunnelling machine maker describing its own AVN range; the American Concrete Pipe Association is a pipe industry body summarising ASCE 27-00 design rules for jacking pipe. Akkerman, a US maker of microtunnelling and pipe jacking equipment, publishes thrust ratings for its own jacking frames.
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