Tung Feng deploys Liebherr slurry wall equipment on confined urban project

In New Taipei City, a major urban development project required the construction of deep slurry walls in a densely built environment. The contractor Tung Feng had to work within tight site boundaries while maintaining productivity and precision in challenging soil conditions.

To address these constraints, the company deployed specialized slurry wall equipment from Liebherr, combining a compact carrier machine with a duty-cycle crawler crane and cutter system. The goal was to ensure efficient excavation and stable slurry wall construction without excessive predrilling or large equipment footprints.

Two-stage excavation approach for varying soil conditions
The project involved excavating loose soil layers before penetrating deeper rock and sandstone strata with higher compressive strength. Tung Feng used a two-stage excavation method to match the equipment to each phase of the work.

Initial excavation was performed using the LBX 600 carrier machine equipped with a hydraulic slurry wall grab. The machine is designed for urban construction sites, combining compact dimensions with sufficient lifting and digging capacity.

When the grab reached harder soil layers, the contractor switched to a duty-cycle crawler crane equipped with a slurry wall cutter. This allowed efficient penetration of rock and sandstone without time-consuming predrilling operations.

Maintaining productivity in confined spaces
The cutter system enabled excavation progress of approximately four metres per hour. The completed slurry walls reached depths between 30 and 55 metres, with thicknesses ranging from 800 to 1,500 millimetres. In addition to slurry walls, barrette piles were installed within the construction field to support foundation structures.

The use of dedicated slurry wall equipment allowed precise material removal and improved productivity despite limited workspace. This approach reduced excavation time while maintaining vertical alignment and structural integrity of the walls.

Modular machine design for urban applications
A key advantage of the equipment was its modular design, which allows configuration for different site constraints. The carrier machine can be equipped with three different boom options, enabling operation at varying heights depending on available headroom.

For example, the standard configuration has a height of 17.8 metres, while low-headroom versions allow operation under bridges or other overhead structures at heights of 11 metres or even 5.8 metres.

The slurry wall grab and cutter follow a similar modular concept, allowing extensions or configuration changes to match project requirements. This flexibility supports efficient operation in dense urban environments where access and space are limited.

Operator familiarity and simplified machine handling
Both machines share the same cabin layout, control interfaces and joystick configuration. This standardisation allows operators to move between machines with minimal retraining, helping contractors maintain productivity and address labour availability challenges.

According to Tung Feng, the machines delivered reliable performance and precise control throughout the project. Slurry wall construction was completed after approximately ten months, finishing in January 2026.

Efficient solution for deep urban foundations
The project demonstrates how specialised slurry wall equipment can support complex foundation work in dense metropolitan areas. By combining compact machinery with modular tooling and consistent control systems, Tung Feng was able to complete deep excavation efficiently while working within the spatial constraints typical of large urban infrastructure projects.

Edited by Industrial Journalist, Romila DSilva, with AI assistance.