Robbins

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.

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

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

• Tunnel boring machines
• Underground construction equipment
• Small boring machines
• Disc cutters
• Tunnel excavation machinery

Headquarters

HQ city

Solon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. 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).
2. Equipment Rental: Rental programs for TBMs and small boring machines, including flexible leasing options with purchase credit applied.
3. Spare Parts Supply: Supply of spare parts including cutters, components, and replacement parts for TBM operations.
4. Professional Services: Field personnel supply (operators, mechanics, TBM managers), machine assembly and commissioning, training modules, and operational support.
5. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core 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

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Ivanhoe ElectricmajorOthers · 12 May 2026Ivanhoe 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)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 January 2025CCCC 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 McNallycoreTechnology or IntegrationC&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

Emerging 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

• Xx.com/Robbins_Co

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Robbins