About CRCHI Australia
Engineering the Future Underground
CRCHI Australia (CRCHIA Pty Ltd) is the Australian presence of China Railway Construction Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. (CRCHI), one of the world's largest manufacturers of tunnel boring machines and underground construction equipment. CRCHI's parent group traces its heavy-industry heritage back more than three decades, with over 1,000 TBMs delivered globally to date; CRCHIA brings that scale, engineering depth, and manufacturing capability to the Australian market.
Our Australian-based engineering and service team works alongside Australian asset owners, contractors, and miners from initial project scoping and equipment specification through to commissioning support, operator training, and lifecycle service coordination, drawing on CRCHI's full engineering bench whenever a project needs it. Technical support is backed by CRCHI's global engineering bench, with service coordinated globally through CRCHI's network and locally by our Australian team.
Whether the application is a major metro tunnel, a hydropower headrace, a mining decline, or a rail track-laying programme, CRCHIA is positioned to bring CRCHI equipment and the engineering and service backing behind it to the Australian projects that need them.
One of the world's largest TBM manufacturers, with 1,000+ machines delivered
Australian-based engineering and service team backed by CRCHI's global engineering bench
Full lifecycle support: CRCHI design and manufacture, with CRCHIA commissioning support, training, and parts coordination
Equipment serving 30+ countries across six continents
CRCHI Heritage
CRCHIA was founded in 2025 as the Australian arm of a company with three decades of tunnelling and heavy-equipment heritage. The milestones below trace that parent-company story.
1990
Foundation Established
China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) is established in its modern state-owned-enterprise form, the parent group that would later spin off CRCHI as its dedicated tunnelling and heavy-equipment subsidiary.
2001
Heavy Industry Division Formed
CRCC launches its heavy industry division with a focus on tunnel boring machine development, beginning China's journey to TBM self-sufficiency.
2007
CRCHI Officially Incorporated
China Railway Construction Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. (CRCHI) incorporated as a dedicated entity for TBM manufacturing, rail track systems, and heavy construction equipment.
2010
First Large-Diameter TBM
CRCHI delivers its first independently designed and manufactured large-diameter tunnel boring machine, breaking international monopolies on mega-bore equipment.
2012
Domestic Market Leadership
CRCHI achieves market leadership in China's TBM sector, supplying machines for metro projects in dozens of cities across the country.
2015
International Expansion Begins
Following early overseas exports (Malaysia, 2012), CRCHI wins Singapore metro contracts in 2015, with Istanbul metro orders to follow in 2017. International expansion accelerates across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and beyond.
2018
1,000th TBM Delivered
A landmark milestone: CRCHI delivers its 1,000th tunnel boring machine, solidifying its position as one of the world's highest-volume TBM manufacturers.
2023
World's Largest Shaft Boring Machine
CRCHI launches Dream, the world's largest-diameter vertical shaft boring machine, at 23.02 metres. Deployed on a Shanghai underground parking project, Dream sets a new benchmark for shaft-construction scale.
2024
Jianghai – World's Largest TBM at Launch
CRCHI's Jianghai tunnel boring machine rolls off the production line at 16.64 metres diameter, the world's largest at the time. CRCHI equipment now serves projects in over 30 countries across six continents, from micro-tunnelling through to mega-bore.
2025
CRCHI Australia Established
CRCHIA Pty Ltd registered in Australia as the local presence of CRCHI, established to bring the parent company's tunnelling, mining, rail, and underground-equipment portfolio to the Australian market.
Technology & Innovation
20%
R&D Staff Ratio
1,300+
Patents Held
8
Research Centres
16 m+
Max TBM Diameter
CRCHI operates eight dedicated research centres and holds over 1,300 patents in tunnelling, rail systems, and construction equipment technology. Our R&D investment fuels continuous advances in cutterhead design, real-time geological sensing, automated guidance systems, and machine intelligence, delivering equipment that is smarter, more efficient, and more reliable with every generation.
From the 23.02 m Dream shaft boring machine to the 16.64 m Jianghai TBM, CRCHI consistently pushes the boundaries of what is mechanically possible underground. Our engineers collaborate with universities, research institutes, and project partners worldwide to develop solutions for the next generation of infrastructure challenges.
Eight dedicated research and development centres
Over 1,300 patents in tunnelling and construction technology
Continuous advances in machine intelligence and automation
Collaboration with global research institutions
Certifications & Standards
CRCHI's manufacturing and engineering operations operate under integrated quality, environmental, and safety management systems. CRCHI Australia's integrated management system is aligned with the requirements of ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018.
ISO 9001:2015
Quality management systems – Requirements
CRCHI Australia's integrated management system is aligned with the requirements of ISO 9001:2015, the internationally recognised standard for consistent quality in design, engineering, and service delivery.
ISO 14001:2015
Environmental management systems – Requirements with guidance for use
CRCHI Australia's integrated management system is aligned with the requirements of ISO 14001:2015, the framework for effective environmental management, responsible resource use, and reduction of environmental impact.
ISO 45001:2018
Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use
CRCHI Australia's integrated management system is aligned with the requirements of ISO 45001:2018, the global standard for occupational health and safety management and the systematic identification and control of workplace hazards.