There is something in common about projects like the West Gate tunnel in Melbourne, the Sydhavn Metro Line's extension space in Copenhagen and the drainage tunnel project in Doha.

All of these projects have utilized tunnel boring machines (TBMs) manufactured by Chinese companies. Until 2008, China relied entirely on imports for TBMs. However, this changed when China Railway Engineering Equipment Group Co Ltd developed its own shield tunneling machine after six years of independent research.

This breakthrough filled a significant gap in China's domestic manufacturing capabilities. Since then, Chinese manufacturers have accumulated expertise in TBM manufacturing and tunneling techniques, positioning itself as a global leader in tunnel construction.