To ensure uninterrupted production at a key wind turbine generator and component manufacturing facility in Germany, deugro’s Airfreight Department delivered 162 cubic meters of time-critical equipment on nine consecutive direct flights from China to Germany.
The urgent cargo contained nine Stator Pack Mach Steel units with a total weight of 74.25 metric tons. The heaviest unit weighed more than 7.5 metric tons and measured 346 x 346 x 148 cm. Due to their dimensions, the cargo units were operating close to the maximum capacity limits of commercial scheduled airfreight services, a threshold at which dedicated air charter transportation would normally be required. Through intensive negotiations and close coordination with a selected A-class carrier, deugro developed a customized transportation solution that enabled the urgent cargo to be transported on direct flights. This approach generated substantial cost savings for the client by eliminating the need for a dedicated charter aircraft.
The urgent cargo units were collected at the production facility in Tianjin and transported by truck more than 1,100 kilometers to Shanghai Pudong International Airport. To ensure smooth loading and cargo handling operations, avoid storage charges, and allow sufficient time for any potential customs inspections, deugro China completed customs clearance procedures three days in advance. With the maximum loading width supported by the cargo terminal’s handling equipment limited to 350 cm, meticulous monitoring was required to ensure that the cargo dimensions, which were extremely close to this threshold, remained fully compatible with the terminal’s handling vehicles.
“Given that the cargo dimensions were extremely close to the cargo terminal’s handling limits, close coordination with the airline was essential. Our team conducted multiple site visits to verify the cargo dimensions and ensure that the shipment could be handled safely at every stage of the airport operations,” said Tom Ou Yang, Head of Airfreight at deugro China.
“As the cargo dimensions were at the absolute limit of what the airline would accept, close coordination between deugro’s local teams at both origin and destination was critical throughout the operation. Any delay or lack of preparation at either end could have resulted in significant storage charges for the client. Through proactive communication and continuous alignment with the client, the airline, terminal operators, and our local teams, we ensured a seamless process while successfully avoiding unnecessary costs,” said Alexander Krause, Global Head of Airfreight at deugro.
“This approach enabled us to implement an efficient and cost-effective airfreight solution through a series of consecutive direct departures while securing the required airfreight capacity in a highly constrained market. At the same time, proactive communication, close coordination, and continuous negotiations by deugro’s Airfreight teams in Shanghai and Frankfurt with the airline, airport operators, and all stakeholders helped reduce storage costs at both airports to an absolute minimum, generating additional value for the client,” Krause added.
All cargo units arrived safely and according to schedule at Frankfurt Airport, ensuring their timely onward transportation by truck to the client’s manufacturing facility.
“By working closely with our client throughout the planning process, we were able to identify the most suitable solution for their specific needs. This collaborative approach allowed us to optimize both transit time and transportation costs while meeting all project requirements,” said Mia Iversen, Project Manager, deugro GWRE.
