Robbins
Robbins is a US-based manufacturer of tunnel boring machines and underground construction machinery, serving civil infrastructure, mining, and hydroelectric contractors globally with a comprehensive portfolio of TBMs, small boring machines, disc cutters, and conveyor systems.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1952
- HeadquartersSolon, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Robbins does
Robbins (The Robbins Company) is a US-headquartered manufacturer of tunnel boring machines (TBMs) and underground construction machinery, founded in 1952 by James Robbins in Solon, Ohio. The company designs and builds a comprehensive TBM portfolio covering Main Beam, Double Shield, Single Shield, Crossover (XRE and XSE hybrid), and Earth Pressure Balance machines, with diameters from 600mm to 14.4m. Complementary product lines include the Small Boring Unit (SBU) family (24–78 inch range), the MDM5000 rectangular mine development machine — described as the world's first successful rectangular rock boring machine — disc cutters from 6 to 20 inches, and continuous conveyor systems for muck removal.
The business operates on a project-based, direct enterprise sales model with custom-engineered equipment priced per project specification (pricing is not publicly disclosed). Revenue is generated across five streams: TBM manufacturing and sales, equipment rental (with rent-to-own structures), spare parts supply, cutter manufacturing and management programs, and professional services including field personnel (operators, mechanics, TBM managers), machine assembly/commissioning, and training. Sales are supported by three US manufacturing facilities, eight international subsidiaries, online inquiry forms segmented by product line, and participation in industry events (NAT, RETC).
Robbins sells primarily to civil infrastructure contractors and government agencies building transportation, water conveyance, and hydroelectric tunnels, with a secondary focus on mining companies requiring access and development tunnels. The customer base spans at least 18 countries across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa, and South America, with notable projects including the Niagara 14.4m hydroelectric TBM, the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, the AMR Water Tunnel in India, and the Grosvenor Coal Mine Crossover deployment. Since 2021, Robbins has operated as a private company under Global TBM Company, the parent entity established by long-time President Lok Home.
Robbins firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Robbins
- Legal name
- The Robbins Company
- Website
- https://robbinstbm.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1952
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Robbins is a US-based manufacturer of tunnel boring machines and underground construction machinery, serving civil infrastructure, mining, and hydroelectric contractors globally with a comprehensive portfolio of TBMs, small boring machines, disc cutters, and conveyor systems.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Robbins industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Tunnel Boring Machines
- NAICS
- Mining Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing (333131), Construction Machinery Manufacturing (333120), Material Handling Equipment Manufacturing (33392)
- SIC
- Mining Machinery & Equip (No Oil & Gas Field Mach & Equip) (3532), Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Underground Mining Equipment (Loaders/LHDs, Continuous Miners, Longwall Systems) (IMAKANAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Bulk Material Handling Systems (Belt Conveyors, Feeders, Stackers, Reclaimers) (IMAHABAH)
Keywords
Where Robbins is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Solon
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Robbins business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- TBM Manufacturing and Sales: Custom design and manufacture of tunnel boring machines for specific project requirements. Machines range from small diameter (600mm) to large diameter (14.4m).
- Equipment Rental: Rental programs for TBMs and small boring machines, including flexible leasing options with purchase credit applied.
- Spare Parts Supply: Supply of spare parts including cutters, components, and replacement parts for TBM operations.
- Professional Services: Field personnel supply (operators, mechanics, TBM managers), machine assembly and commissioning, training modules, and operational support.
- Cutter Supply and Management: Manufacturing and supply of disc cutters ranging from 6 to 20 inches, along with cutter management programs including rebuild training and inventory management.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom machine pricing based on project specifications |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Small Boring Unit (SBU-A) rental options |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Robbins product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Robbins (The Robbins Company) designs, manufactures, and services tunnel boring machines (TBMs) and related underground construction equipment for civil infrastructure and mining projects worldwide. Its product range spans Main Beam, Double Shield, Single Shield, Crossover (XRE/XSE), and Earth Pressure Balance TBMs, as well as small boring machines, disc cutters, conveyor systems, and the rectangular MDM5000 mine development machine. The company also supplies spare parts, equipment rentals, and on-site field personnel and technical support from tender through tunnel completion.
Product overview
Robbins is a manufacturer of advanced underground construction machinery with a comprehensive portfolio centered on tunnel boring machines (TBMs). The core product line includes six main TBM types: Main Beam TBMs for hard rock excavation, Double Shield TBMs for fractured rock with simultaneous lining, Single Shield TBMs for sequential operations in broken ground, Crossover TBMs (XRE and XSE) for mixed geology conditions, and Earth Pressure Balance TBMs for soft ground with high water pressure. Supporting the TBMs are Back-Up Systems for muck removal. The small boring machine line covers units from 24 inches to 78 inches including SBU-A, Motorized SBU-M, Rockhead, and Remote Controlled SBU-RC. The mining portfolio features the MDM5000, the world's first rectangular rock boring machine. Robbins also produces disc cutters (6-20 inches), continuous conveyor systems (components, vertical, and stacker/overland), and offers equipment rental, spare parts, and field technical assistance services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- TBMs bore 2-3x faster than drill & blast operations
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Robbins
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Robbins technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Robbins partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.
- Ivanhoe ElectricmajorIvanhoe Electric signed a legally binding option to acquire a Crossover XRE TBM and material handling system from Robbins for use in the Santa Cruz Copper Project in Arizona. The TBM was reacquired by Robbins from an Anglo American division. Net capital impact of under $20m.
- CCCC TH (China Communications Construction Company)majorCCCC TH manufactured Double Shield Hard Rock TBMs for the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase II. Robbins was involved in the design of these machines. The project involved transporting oversized TBM components weighing up to 55 tonnes from China to Lesotho.
- C&M McNallycoreC&M McNally of Ontario, Canada designed and patented the McNally Support System for exclusive use on Robbins TBMs. This ground support system for Main Beam machines in difficult rock conditions has been proven on projects worldwide including the Olmos Trans-Andean Tunnel.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Robbins competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- CREC (China Railway Engineering Equipment Group): CREC manufactures TBMs and shielded tunneling equipment, primarily serving China's massive domestic metro and high-speed rail tunnel market. It is an emerging global player exporting TBMs to Southeast Asia and the Middle East, directly competing with Robbins in soft-ground and urban projects.
- Epiroc: Epiroc (formerly Atlas Copco Mining) provides underground mining equipment including rock drills, LHDs, and tunnel development equipment that competes in adjacent categories to Robbins' MDM5000 and SBU lines. It serves the same mining contractor and operator customer base as Robbins.
- Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions: Sandvik manufactures underground drills, loaders, and rotary cutting tools used in hard rock mining and tunneling. While it does not build TBMs, its drill heads and disc cutter consumables intersect with Robbins' small boring machines and cutter offerings, and it serves similar mining customers.
- The Boring Company: The Boring Company develops tunnel boring machines focused on small-diameter urban transportation and utility tunnels. While currently focused on a different end use case, its in-house Prufrock TBM program represents a potential long-term emerging entrant in the smaller-diameter segment where Robbins' SBU line competes.
Broad incumbents
- Komatsu: Komatsu is a broad incumbent in mining and construction equipment offering jumbo drills, LHDs, and continuous miners that compete with Robbins' mining machines in mine development. Its global service network and mining customer base make it a useful comparable for unit economics and aftermarket leverage in underground mining.
- Caterpillar: Caterpillar is a broad incumbent in heavy construction and mining equipment with continuous miners, roadheaders, and LHDs that overlap with Robbins' mining underground equipment offering. While Caterpillar does not build full-face TBMs, its scale, dealer network, and mining customer relationships make it a benchmark comparable for mining OEM economics.
- Liebherr: Liebherr is a broad incumbent in earthmoving, mining, and crane equipment, including crawler cranes and deep foundation rigs that overlap with Robbins' heavy lifting and shaft equipment. It competes with Robbins on the civil construction side of large infrastructure projects.
Regional players
- Kawasaki Heavy Industries: Kawasaki Heavy Industries manufactures slurry and EPB TBMs primarily serving the Japanese and broader East Asian market through its subsidiary Kawasaki Tunnel Systems. It is comparable to Robbins as a regional TBM manufacturer but operates in a different geographic footprint.
Direct peers
- Herrenknecht: Herrenknecht is the world's largest manufacturer of tunnel boring machines, offering Main Beam, Shield, EPB, Mixshield, and vertical shaft machines across all diameters. It is the closest direct competitor to Robbins, competing head-to-head on metro, utility, and mining tunnel projects globally.
- CRCHI (China Railway Construction Heavy Industry): CRCHI is the dominant Chinese TBM manufacturer, producing EPB, slurry, and hard rock TBMs for both domestic infrastructure and export markets. It competes with Robbins in mining and water tunnel tenders across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, often at lower price points.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Robbins social profiles
Digital presenceRobbins financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Robbins leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Robbins subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Robbins funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Robbins M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Robbins
What does Robbins do?
Robbins (The Robbins Company) designs, manufactures, and services tunnel boring machines (TBMs) and related underground construction equipment for civil infrastructure and mining projects worldwide. Its product range spans Main Beam, Double Shield, Single Shield, Crossover (XRE/XSE), and Earth Pressure Balance TBMs, as well as small boring machines, disc cutters, conveyor systems, and the rectangular MDM5000 mine development machine. The company also supplies spare parts, equipment rentals, and on-site field personnel and technical support from tender through tunnel completion.
Is Robbins a public or private company?
Robbins is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Robbins founded?
Robbins was founded in 1952. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Robbins based?
Robbins is headquartered in Solon, United States, in the North America region.
How does Robbins make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. TBM Manufacturing and Sales are the primary driver. The others are equipment Rental, spare Parts Supply, professional Services and cutter Supply and Management.
Who are Robbins's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are CREC (China Railway Engineering Equipment Group), Epiroc, Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions and The Boring Company. Broad incumbents are Komatsu, Caterpillar and Liebherr. Kawasaki Heavy Industries is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Herrenknecht and CRCHI (China Railway Construction Heavy Industry).
Does Robbins have an API?
No public API is recorded for Robbins.
What industry is Robbins in?
Robbins's product category is Tunnel Boring Machines. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAKANAB, Underground Mining Equipment (Loaders/LHDs, Continuous Miners, Longwall Systems), with a secondary code of IMAHABAH, Bulk Material Handling Systems (Belt Conveyors, Feeders, Stackers, Reclaimers). Its NAICS code is 333131 and its SIC code is 3532.