More than 30 years of mechanized tunnelling systems.

1975: Martin Herrenknecht founds the engineering company Martin Herrenknecht.

1975/76: Development of machine types MH1 - MH3 for mechanized pipe jacking through loose soil.

1977: Martin Herrenknecht founds Herrenknecht GmbH.

1979: With only six employees, Herrenknecht reaches a turnover of one million euros.

1980: Development of machine types SM1 and SM2 for mechanized pipe jacking through hard rock.

1983/84: Development of micro machines for non-accessible tunnel diameters.

1984/85: Development of the mixshield generation for larger tunnel diameters below the groundwater level.

1988: Further development of the mix shield principle for diameters greater than 10m.

1989/90: Development of the shield system for large diameter hard rock machines.

1991: Acquisition of a partnership interest in  Maschinen- und Stahlbau GmbH, Dresden by Martin Herrenknecht.

1992: Founding of the first subsidiary in the USA.

1993: Herrenknecht employs 395 men and women and reaches an annual result of 77.8 million euros.

1992-95: Component development to broaden the application of mixshields: crushers, support plates, active center cutters, tool replacement at zero pressure.

1996: Development of open hard rock machines.

1996/97: Design and construction of the world's largest mixshield (diameter: 14.20 meters) for the construction of the 4th Elbe River tunnel.

1997: Development of a seismic detection system for large machines.

Development of a micro tunnelling AVT machine for the smallest drains and sewers.

Development of a new navigation system for all tunnel boring machines.

1997: Merger of Maschinen- und Stahlbau Dresden GmbH with Herrenknecht GmbH.

1997/98: Development of the convertible Mixshield (change of operating mode: earth pressure support / slurry pressure support).

1998: Conversion of Herrenknecht GmbH to Herrenknecht AG. Founding of various subsidiaries, e.g. in the Netherlands, Spain and the USA. The Herrenknecht group reaches a turnover of 175.5 million euros and counts 823 employees.

2000: Achievement of a new record in 2000 with a total order value of 198.3 million euros. At this point, Herrenknecht is market leader in mechanized tunnelling technology.

2001: Herrenknecht AG is given the order for the construction, supply and assembly of two gripper tunnel boring machines for the new Gotthard base tunnel, Switzerland.

2002: In February, Herrenknecht games to further machine orders for the Gotthard based tunnel. Martin Herrenknecht celebrates the 25-year company anniversary together with 1,000 employees and 35,000 guests.

2003: Herrenknecht receives orders with a total value of 100 million euros from Asia, the most important sales area for mechanised tunnelling systems after Europe. 4 Herrenknecht Gripper TBM cut their way through the St. Gotthard and build the world' longest transportation tunnel at 2 x 57 kilometers.

2004: Herrenknecht found a main subsidiary for the Asia/Pacific market in Singapore. In China, in the provincial capital of Guangzhou, just 17 earth pressure shields are constructing the Metro network.

2005: For the first time, Herrenknecht reaches a turnover of more than 500 million euros. For a motorway tube, Herrenknecht builds the largest tunnel drill worldwide (diameter: 15.20 meters). In Guangzhou, China, the first plant is opened for the assembly of Traffic Tunnelling Equipment.

2006: Herrenknecht presents the first new drilling plant for geothermal exploration to the public. With a diameter of 15.43 meters, two world record breakers get to work in Shanghai, China. In Nansha (province of Guangdong, China), a new assembly plant is opened.

2007: Herrenknecht looks back to a success story of 30 years. It founds the subsidiaries, Herrenknecht Formwork, and Bohrtec Vertical and opens another assembly plant in Chengdu (province of Sichuan) in the spring. At the end of October the breakthrough of the two machines at the Katzenberg Tunnel is celebrated.

In the business year 2007, the incoming orders exceed for the first time 1 billion euros.

2008: The contract for the 100th machine to be delivered to China is signed.