TAC BC Talk: Mechanized Sinking of Deep Shafts with VSM
Join the TAC BC Chapter for our first 2026 presentation event, hosted with the Vancouver Geotechnical Society.
The talk will feature Nicola Stefanelli, Sales Manager Utility Tunnelling, Herrenknecht Tunnelling Systems Canada Inc., on the topic of Mechanized Sinking of Deep Shafts with VSM.
Event Details:
Date: January 28, 2026
Time & Itinerary:
5:30-6:30 PM – Check in & Networking Time with Food and Drinks
6:30-7:50 PM – Presentations
7:50-8:10 PM – Discussion/Q&A session
Location:
Steamworks Brewpub – Uber Room
375 Water St., Vancouver, BC
Registration Cost:
$5 for members, $10 for non-members, includes one beverage and shared appetizers (paid at the door)
About the Talk:
Mechanized Sinking of Deep Shafts with VSM
Nicola Stefanelli will be presenting on the use of Herrenknecht’s VSM technology, used for mechanically mining and supporting shafts, similar to how tunnel boring machines mine and support tunnels. VSM notably works well with high groundwater levels and water inflow rates. VSM has been applied to rock with strengths up to 140 MPa. The VSM technology uses a cutting drum similar to a roadheader to excavate and a slurry system to remove the shaft muck. Excavation and shoring works are performed without workers in the shaft, as works are performed on the surface, and within a bentonite slurry saturated face. VSM has been successfully applied in numerous cities, including the nearby Ballard Siphon Project in Seattle with James W. Fowler JV.
Nicola Stefanelli Bio:
Nicola´s background is in civil and mechanical engineering. During the last 20 years, he has been involved in various Utility Tunnelling projects, mainly in the Middle East region. His focus was on microtunnelling, where he gained a wealth of experience in different positions on the contractor side, as a TBM operator, project and operations manager. Mid 2023, Nicola joined Herrenknecht as a Sales Manager for the Canadian Market, covering the Utility Tunnelling portfolio for small-diameter tunnels, shaft sinking and pipeline installations.
