On August 5, three "explosion-proof" earth pressure shield tunneling machines—CREC 1404, 1405, and 1411—manufactured by China Railway Engineering Equipment Group Tianjin Company rolled off the production line simultaneously at the Tianjin base, marking the full and successful completion of the company's order for five clustered key equipment units for export to Italy this year; the equipment will be used in the Phase II PA-CT project in Sicily, Italy.

Each of the five units has an excavation diameter of 9.48 meters, a total length of approximately 251 meters, and a total weight of about 2,300 tons. In accordance with the project's geological characteristics and the requirements of multiple standards including the European ATEX (EU Explosion Protection Directive), CE (EU Safety Certification), and local Italian regulations, the equipment is also equipped with multiple advanced technologies such as continuous excavation, green energy conservation, and intelligent TBM maintenance, providing important technical support for the tunneling and maintenance of the shield machines and effectively improving construction efficiency and service life.

It is understood that the Phase II PA-CT project in Sicily, Italy is an important component of the railway line between the two major cities of Catania and Palermo, and is also a strategic project supported by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan for the development of sustainable mobility in Italy. Upon completion, the project will strengthen connectivity within and beyond Sicily, increase the capacity for passenger and freight trains on the line, and ensure the regularity and punctuality of train operations, which is of great significance to the daily travel of local residents and to economic development.