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 mixshield 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 to the public the first innovative deep drilling rig  for the exploration of Geothermal Energy. With diameters of 15.43 meters, two world record holders are in operation in Shanghai. In Nansha

(Guangdong Province/China) a new assembly plant is opened.

2007: Herrenknecht looks back on now 30 years of success history. The subsidiaries "Herrenknecht Formwork" and "Bohrtec Vertical" are founded. Herrenknecht opens another assembly plant in spring in Chengdu (Sichuan Province). In late October, the breakthrough ceremony of the two Katzenbergtunnel TBMs is held.

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

2008: The contract for the delivery of tunnel boring machine #100 is signed in China.

In May and September, two Herrenknecht world record holders reach their targets in Shanghai. The two world’s largest tunnel boring machines – the S-317 and S-318 Mixshields –complete tunnelling on this pioneering project.

The Herrenknecht AG Board of Management celebrates the 30th company anniversary with 2,000 guests including political and corporate leaders and employees. Motto >>Thirty years of Herrenknecht. Together through thick and thin.<<

2009: Dr.-Ing. E.h. Martin Herrenknecht is welcomed into the Handelsblatt Hall of Fame  and reveives the Moles Award  of the US construction industry.

Tunnelling along the northern sections of the Gotthard Base Tunnel  is completed– 6 months ahead of schedule and with up to 56 meters of excavated and secured tunnel per day. A world record in hard rock.

2010: All Around Tunnelling Solutions  on approx. 1,200m² with over 10,000 visitors: Herrenknecht and 10 of its specialized group companies present integrated solutions all around tunnelling with customized equipment and service packages at bauma in Munich.
A new diameter record in trenchless pipe installation is set using Herrenknecht HDD equipment in Turkmenistan: with a diameter of 56 inches (1.4m) the Amudarja River is crossed along a 1.7-km long section.
In December Herrenknecht hands over the world’s larget tunnel boring machine to its customer. The EPB Shield with a diameter of 15.55 meters will drive a twin-bore road tunnel in Italy.

2011: In March, tunnelling experts and the public worldwide watch Switzerland and Herrenknecht, when the final breakthrough occurs at the Gotthard Base Tunnel in Sedrun. Four Herrenknecht Gripper TBMs have driven a total of 85km to create the world’s largest tunnel .

Herrenknecht is awarded a contract to supply a Mixshield with a diameter of 19.25 meters to cross the Neva River in St. Petersburg.

Herrenknecht wins first place in a brand ranking  of Wirtschaftswoche (a German weekly business news magazine).