What Tunnel Engineering Services (UK) does

Tunnel Engineering Services (UK) Ltd is a Heywood-based, privately held specialist designer and manufacturer of bespoke tunnelling equipment for the construction industry, founded by Geoff Clarke in March 1992. The company is the only UK-based designer and manufacturer of tunnelling equipment, producing tunnel boring machines (TBMs) — including models with Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) capability for difficult ground — as well as mechanised excavators, roadheaders, microtunnelling systems, and auger and guided auger boring machines. Its equipment is built around a modular architecture that allows interchangeability of components between machine types, and includes flagship builds such as the EX8000, the largest tunnelling machine ever built in the UK, used on Network Rail's Farnworth Tunnel Electrification project. Operations are supported by ISO 9001:2015 and BS EN 1090 (Execution Class 3) certifications, and TES also serves as the official UK and European agent for US-based Akkerman Inc.

Revenue is generated through four streams: bespoke equipment design and manufacture (the largest stream, project-priced), equipment hire (a fleet of TBMs, mechanised excavators, guided boring machines, power packs, and ancillary gear), workshop and site services (fabrication, hard facing, refurbishment and servicing), and used equipment sales. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales pursued through direct relationships with major infrastructure contractors, referrals, and a regular presence at the British Tunnelling Society Conference. Customers include Network Rail, United Utilities (West East Link Main pipeline), J. Murphy & Sons, National Grid, Donegan Civil Engineering, and B&W Tunnelling, spanning rail, water/utilities, energy, and civil engineering infrastructure.

The company is currently diversifying into automation via ATRIS (Automated Tunnel Robotic Installation System), an AI-enabled robotic system co-developed with i3D robotics, the Manufacturing Technology Centre, Costain, and VVB Engineering, partly funded by an Innovate UK Smart grant and shortlisted at the 2024 NCE Tunnelling Awards. ATRIS targets automated installation of mechanical and civil services in completed tunnels, with claimed 40% productivity and 30% cost improvements, extending TES from an equipment supplier into a tunnel fit-out solution provider. The company remains family-controlled following the passing of founder Geoff Clarke in November 2025.

Name

Tunnel Engineering Services (UK)

Legal name

Tunnel Engineering Services (UK) Ltd

Website

https://tesuk.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tunnel Engineering Services (UK) is a Heywood-based, privately held designer and manufacturer of bespoke tunnelling equipment — including TBMs, mechanised excavators, roadheaders, and microtunnelling systems — serving major infrastructure contractors and utilities across UK rail, water, and civil engineering projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tunnelling Equipment Manufacturing

NAICS

Construction Machinery Manufacturing (33312)

SIC

Construction Machinery & Equip (3531)

akta.pro primary industry

Tunnel Construction (Road, Rail, Utility) (IMAFAEAC)

Keywords

• Tunnelling equipment design
• Tunnel boring machines
• Mechanised excavator machines
• Microtunnelling equipment
• Auger boring systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Heywood

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equipment Manufacturing and Sales: Design and manufacture of bespoke tunnelling equipment including TBMs, mechanised excavators, roadheaders, microtunnelling machines, and auger boring systems. Equipment is sold directly to infrastructure contractors for specific projects. Custom-built machines tailored to project requirements from concept through to commissioning.
2. Equipment Hire: Fleet of hire equipment including guided boring machines, auger boring machines, mechanised excavator machines (1200mm to 2100mm i.d.), TBMs (1500mm and 1800mm i.d.), power packs, launch rails, jacking cylinders, winch units, muck haulage skips, and shaft jacking frames. Provides flexible access without capital purchase.
3. Workshop and Site Services: Workshop and site services including fabrications, hard facing, refurbishment and servicing of tunnelling machines and associated equipment. Full-service support from initial design through to commissioning and ongoing maintenance.
4. Used Equipment Sales: Sale of used tunnelling equipment from their fleet, offering high quality, reliable, and cost-effective solutions for engineering projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Tunnel Engineering Services (UK) Ltd designs and manufactures bespoke tunnelling equipment for the construction industry, including Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs), Mechanised Excavators, Roadheaders, Microtunnelling Machines, and Auger Boring systems. The company provides a comprehensive service from concept through design, manufacture, testing, delivery, and commissioning, complemented by equipment hire, workshop and site services, and used equipment sales.

Product overview

Tunnel Engineering Services (UK) Ltd is a specialist manufacturer of tunnelling equipment for the construction industry, offering three core product families: Tunnelling Equipment (Tunnel Boring Machines, Mechanised Excavator Machines, Roadheader Tunnel Boring Machines, and Microtunnelling Machines), Auger Boring Equipment (Auger Boring Machines, Guided Auger Boring Machines, Powered Cutter Heads, and the Eliminator guided tool), and Special Purpose & Ancillary Equipment (segment erectors, gantry cranes, pipe jacking rigs, power packs, conveyors, grout systems, and shaft equipment). The company also provides complementary services including equipment hire, workshop and site services, and used equipment sales. TES operates as the official UK and European agent for Akkerman Inc. products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 40% productivity improvement expected from ATRIS robotic system
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• i3D roboticscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 May 2024Consortium partner in ATRIS (Automated Tunnel Robotic Installation System) project. i3D developed crucial visualisation software for precise navigation using stereo vision with machine learning and robotics to place bolts precisely on curved surfaces.
• Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024Consortium partner in ATRIS project. Led design and manufacture of the robot's end effectors. MTC contributed expertise in robotics and automation for construction applications.
• CostaincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024Consortium partner in ATRIS project. Provided industry knowledge and expertise in tunnelling and fit-out requirements. Responsible for teaching robots tasks such as avoiding cross-threading of screws.
• VVB EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024Consortium partner in ATRIS project. Provided industry knowledge and expertise in tunnelling and fit-out requirements. Tunnel works historically expensive to build and maintain with higher safety risks during construction and operation.
• Akkerman Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2001Official UK and European agent for Akkerman Inc., an American manufacturer of trenchless equipment. This partnership enhances the product range of TES to provide the highest quality tunnelling solutions. Products include guided boring machines and microtunnelling equipment.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Epiroc: Global manufacturer of drilling and rock excavation equipment for mining and infrastructure. Overlaps with TES in tunnelling-related rock excavation equipment but operates at significantly larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Komatsu: Global construction and mining equipment OEM with hydraulic excavators used in tunnel and shaft construction. Overlaps with TES in excavation equipment for underground projects but covers a much broader product portfolio.
• Liebherr: Large diversified construction and mining equipment manufacturer including earthmoving and foundation equipment. Tangentially comparable through excavation machinery used in tunnel construction but does not specialise in TBMs or microtunnelling.
• Caterpillar: World's largest construction equipment manufacturer with a broad range of excavators and underground mining equipment. Comparable in heavy machinery manufacturing but does not specialise in small-to-mid diameter TBMs or microtunnelling.

Direct peers

• Herrenknecht: World's leading manufacturer of tunnel boring machines and mechanised tunnelling equipment. Directly comparable to TES as a designer/manufacturer of TBMs, microtunnelling systems and shaft sinking equipment serving rail, water and utility infrastructure globally.
• The Robbins Company: US-headquartered manufacturer of TBMs, raise borers, and microtunnelling equipment with a comparable product portfolio to TES, including hard-rock and EPB machines for water, rail and utility tunnel projects.
• Akkerman Inc. US manufacturer of guided boring machines, microtunnelling systems, and pipe jacking equipment. TES is Akkerman's official UK and European agent, making them directly comparable in microtunnelling and trenchless technology product lines.

Emerging players

• MTS Perforator: Germany-based specialist in microtunnelling and pipe jacking equipment. Smaller, niche peer comparable to TES's microtunnelling and guided auger boring product lines for utility installation.
• Normet: Finland-based manufacturer of underground construction equipment and services for tunnelling and mining. Comparable in serving underground infrastructure contractors with mechanised equipment, though broader in scope including sprayed concrete and mining vehicles.

Others

• Isco Industries: US supplier of high-density polyethylene pipe and related trenchless installation solutions. Not a direct competitor but operates in the same trenchless construction ecosystem as TES, supplying contractors using TES-equivalent equipment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Tunneleng
• Facebookfacebook.com/Tunneleng
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tunnel-engineering-services-u-k-ltd-

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Tunnel Engineering Services (UK)