On February 22, 2024, as the cutting head of the CREC 699 shield machine, developed by China Railway Engineering Equipment Group Co., Ltd. under CRHIC, slowly penetrated through the wall, the excavation phase of the Italian CEPAV railway project was brought to completion, marking that the first TBM exported to Italy by China had successfully completed its excavation work.

The CEPAV project, located in Northern Italy, is a high-speed railway that spans from Milan to Verona. Comprising two tunneling sections, the tunnel stretches for a total of 9.6 kilometers. CREC 699 shield machine is 155 meters long, with an excavation diameter of 10.03 meters and overall weight of 1800 tons. Throughout the excavation process, the machine has achieved a maximum excavation mileage of 38 meters per day and 704 meters per month.