November 5th, 2021<\/p>\n<\/div>
Tunnel Factory: pooling our expertise in tunnel construction<\/h1><\/div><\/div>At the end of 2018, a cross-functional R&D hub dedicated to the performance of our underground works was set up within VINCI Construction, called the Tunnel Factory.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>Underground works are a very important challenge for the Group, which ranks as a world leader in this segment. VINCI Construction Grands Projets,<\/a> Bessac<\/a>, Dodin Campenon Bernard<\/a>, VINCI Construction France<\/a> and Sixense<\/a> decided to pool their expertise within a joint entity, in order to boost innovation in tunnel<\/a> construction.<\/p>\n<\/div>What is the Tunnel Factory ?<\/h2><\/div>The Tunnel Factory aims to create a network of dedicated expert employees and partners, in order to increase the value of our solutions, improve our profitability and enhance the safety of our tunnel projects.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nTo do this, a full-time team of four people works on these many and varied projects, along with around 15 employees from other entities who provide part-time support.<\/p>\n
Their role is to:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Propose and develop R&D projects,<\/li>\n
- Roll out innovations within entities,<\/li>\n
- Provide support to R&D projects,<\/li>\n
- Manage patents<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Their specialist areas:<\/strong> equipment and processes, data and artificial intelligence, geotechnics and geophysics, and ultra-low carbon technology.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>![\"L'\u00e9quipe](\"https:\/\/www.soletanche-bachy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/18\/2021\/11\/8241\u00a9LaurentBarranco.jpg\" "\\"8241\u00a9LaurentBarranco\\"")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Several innovations have so far emerged as a result of this collaboration:<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p><\/h3><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n- ring building assistant and robotized segment handling,<\/li>\n
- automated ducts extension,<\/li>\n
- slurry pipes obturator,<\/li>\n
- off-board troubleshooting system,<\/li>\n
- optimize tunneling logistics, automatic shift reports,<\/li>\n
- tools set for TBM pilot assistance (excavated soil image analysis, clogging detection, excavation chamber level indicator, forward ground condition),<\/li>\n
- ultra-low carbon FRC segments and pipes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/i>Download the brochure Tunnel Factory<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/i>See the video presentation of the Tunnel Factory<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
![\"Toute](\"https:\/\/www.soletanche-bachy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/18\/2022\/12\/TF-Plaquette-de-presentation.jpg\" "\\"TF-Plaquette")
<\/span><\/div>To mark the third anniversary of the Tunnel Factory, on 9 September all the teams met at the Bessac site in Saint-Jory to review the past few years and the progress achieved, as well as the Tunnel Factory\u2019s ambitions in the field of underground works.<\/strong> Stands hosted events including talks, workshops and presentations of the latest innovations. A fantastic day, attended by Pierre Anjolras (Chairman of VINCI Construction), Manuel Peltier (Chairman of Soletanche Freyssinet), St\u00e9phane Abry (Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Soletanche Bachy), Patrick Kadri (VINCI Construction Chief Executive Officer in charge of the Major projects Division) and Gilles Godard (VINCI Construction Chief Executive Officer in charge of the United Kingdom Division).<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>
![\"3eme](\"https:\/\/www.soletanche-bachy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/18\/2021\/11\/7758\u00a9LaurentBarranco.jpg\" "\\"7758\u00a9LaurentBarranco\\"")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/i>Find out more about our tunnel projects solutions<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/i>Find out more about Bessac<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Share this news<\/p>\n
<\/h3><\/div>
<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/div><\/div> <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Recent news<\/p>\n
<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i>All the news<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271000%27%20height%3D%27750%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201000%20750%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271000%27%20height%3D%27750%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\")
\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>Arkabutla Lake Dam: Nicholson Construction Completes Critical Stabilization Work<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/span><\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.soletanche-bachy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/18\/2026\/08\/20241008_110003-rotated-e1786373454461.jpg\")
\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>McDonnell Piling Uses Screwsol\u00ae for Ireland\u2019s Tallest Residential Building<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/span><\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.soletanche-bachy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/18\/2026\/07\/Capture-decran-2026-06-15-102443-e1785420888594.png\")
\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>Nicholson: modernization of a pumping station in Louisville<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/span><\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.soletanche-bachy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/18\/2026\/08\/Capture-decran-2026-05-29-103756.png\")
\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>Soletanche Bachy France: Rehabilitation of the Beaucaire Tunnel<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/span><\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.soletanche-bachy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/18\/2026\/06\/20260528_134243284_iOS.jpg\")
\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>2026 BU Managers Meeting highlights: Focus on Strategy, Innovation, and the Field<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/span><\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27799%27%20height%3D%27599%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20799%20599%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27799%27%20height%3D%27599%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\")
\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>Soletanche Bachy in Vienna for the ICSMGE 2026 conference<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/span><\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.soletanche-bachy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/18\/2026\/07\/Photo-2.jpg\")
\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>FIFA World Cup 2026: CIMESA contributed to the construction of the Azteca Stadium in Mexico<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/span><\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.soletanche-bachy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/18\/2026\/08\/SCXI3273-scaled.jpg\")
\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>ICOLD 2026 in Guadalajara: Soletanche Bachy and Cimesa at the World’s Premier Dam Congress<\/a><\/h3><\/div>
At the end of 2018, a cross-functional R&D hub dedicated to the performance of our underground works was set up within VINCI Construction, called the Tunnel Factory.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div> Underground works are a very important challenge for the Group, which ranks as a world leader in this segment. VINCI Construction Grands Projets,<\/a> Bessac<\/a>, Dodin Campenon Bernard<\/a>, VINCI Construction France<\/a> and Sixense<\/a> decided to pool their expertise within a joint entity, in order to boost innovation in tunnel<\/a> construction.<\/p>\n<\/div> The Tunnel Factory aims to create a network of dedicated expert employees and partners, in order to increase the value of our solutions, improve our profitability and enhance the safety of our tunnel projects.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n To do this, a full-time team of four people works on these many and varied projects, along with around 15 employees from other entities who provide part-time support.<\/p>\n Their role is to:<\/strong><\/p>\n Their specialist areas:<\/strong> equipment and processes, data and artificial intelligence, geotechnics and geophysics, and ultra-low carbon technology.<\/p>\n<\/div> Several innovations have so far emerged as a result of this collaboration:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p><\/h3><\/div> To mark the third anniversary of the Tunnel Factory, on 9 September all the teams met at the Bessac site in Saint-Jory to review the past few years and the progress achieved, as well as the Tunnel Factory\u2019s ambitions in the field of underground works.<\/strong> Stands hosted events including talks, workshops and presentations of the latest innovations. A fantastic day, attended by Pierre Anjolras (Chairman of VINCI Construction), Manuel Peltier (Chairman of Soletanche Freyssinet), St\u00e9phane Abry (Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Soletanche Bachy), Patrick Kadri (VINCI Construction Chief Executive Officer in charge of the Major projects Division) and Gilles Godard (VINCI Construction Chief Executive Officer in charge of the United Kingdom Division).<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div> Share this news<\/p>\n <\/h3><\/div> Recent news<\/p>\n <\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div>What is the Tunnel Factory ?<\/h2><\/div>
\n
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/span><\/div><\/span><\/div>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.soletanche-bachy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/18\/2026\/07\/Arkabutla-e1785423263151.jpeg\")
Arkabutla Lake Dam: Nicholson Construction Completes Critical Stabilization Work<\/a><\/h3><\/div>
\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>McDonnell Piling Uses Screwsol\u00ae for Ireland\u2019s Tallest Residential Building<\/a><\/h3><\/div>
\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>Nicholson: modernization of a pumping station in Louisville<\/a><\/h3><\/div>
\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>Soletanche Bachy France: Rehabilitation of the Beaucaire Tunnel<\/a><\/h3><\/div>
\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>2026 BU Managers Meeting highlights: Focus on Strategy, Innovation, and the Field<\/a><\/h3><\/div>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.soletanche-bachy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/18\/2026\/07\/Image-1-1-scaled-e1785419063234.jpg\")
Soletanche Bachy in Vienna for the ICSMGE 2026 conference<\/a><\/h3><\/div>
\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>FIFA World Cup 2026: CIMESA contributed to the construction of the Azteca Stadium in Mexico<\/a><\/h3><\/div>
\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>ICOLD 2026 in Guadalajara: Soletanche Bachy and Cimesa at the World’s Premier Dam Congress<\/a><\/h3><\/div>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.soletanche-bachy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/18\/2026\/06\/Marianne-EN-e1785247868378.png\")
\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.soletanche-bachy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/18\/2026\/07\/Birtinya-Nearing-Completion-1-e1785316983191.jpg\")
\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>