Almost a year after acquiring our first microtunnelling machine, Catalana de Perforacions is strengthening its commitment to microtunnelling with the addition of a second machine, Isabel, which has already been assigned its first project.
From our first acquisition to our first major project
In December 2025, Catalana de Perforacions announced an important milestone in its history: the acquisition of its first microtunnelling machine, Meritxell, a Herrenknecht AVN2000 with extensions up to 3,000 mm, marking a significant step forward in expanding our drilling and underground construction solutions.
Meritxell soon took on its first major challenge: participating in the extension works of Line 8 (L8) of the Barcelona Metro, one of the city’s most significant infrastructure and sustainable mobility projects.
As part of these works, Catalana de Perforacions is involved in the construction of a 165-metre-long microtunnel with a diameter of 3 metres. This auxiliary tunnel connects the launch shaft on Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes with Joan Miró Park and is designed to facilitate the removal of excavated material during construction.
This project marked the debut of our first microtunnelling machine and an important step in the development of our microtunnelling activities.
Isabel, a new addition that strengthens our technical capabilities
And now, almost a year later, we continue to grow!
With the addition of Isabel, our second microtunnelling machine, a Herrenknecht AVND2000AB, we are taking another step forward in consolidating this technology within our specialised drilling and underground construction solutions.
The new microtunnelling machine is equipped with a rock cutting wheel with an outer diameter of 2,425 mm and is designed for the installation of pipes with a diameter of 2,400 mm. It also features a new jacking frame with four intermediate jacking stations, which help distribute jacking forces along the pipe string and facilitate longer drives.
This acquisition significantly expands our in-house resources, enabling us to increase our operational capacity, optimise project planning and offer greater flexibility when undertaking new microtunnelling projects.
Having two microtunnelling machines of our own also strengthens our technical and operational independence, expanding our capabilities to deliver projects requiring high levels of precision, safety and adaptation to challenging ground conditions.
Isabel already has her first challenge!
Isabel’s arrival comes with more great news: our second microtunnelling machine has already been assigned its first project!
This new undertaking will mark the beginning of Isabel’s operations and allow us to further develop our experience in microtunnel construction, delivering specialised technical solutions for underground infrastructure projects.
With this new project, we continue to strengthen our position in the microtunnelling sector and expand our ability to meet the demands of increasingly complex projects.
A strategic commitment to continued development
The acquisition of our second microtunnelling machine represents much more than an expansion of our machinery fleet. It reflects our determination to continue investing in technology, innovation and the development of new technical capabilities.
Since our beginnings in 1968, Catalana de Perforacions has maintained a strong commitment to technological progress, introducing new equipment and solutions that enable us to adapt to industry needs and undertake increasingly complex projects.
In less than a year, we have gone from acquiring our first microtunnelling machine to having two machines of our own, with Meritxell involved in a landmark project such as the Barcelona Metro Line 8 extension and Isabel ready to take on her first challenge.
This progress reflects our commitment to microtunnelling and our ambition to continue expanding our project delivery capabilities, both nationally and internationally.
We continue to invest, innovate and grow to meet the challenges of the future.
