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Unusual Shipments
Delivering Another First
DHL Global Forwarding shipped the first-ever U.S.-built passenger hovercraft designated for commercial use from Seattle (U.S.) to Alaska (U.S.). The hovercraft, which measured 48-foot long, was purchased by BP Exploration Inc. to provide cargo and crew transportation to the company's Northstar Island. The "island" is a 5-acre artificial island in the Beaufort Sea, 12 miles northwest of Prudhoe Bay, created to develop BP's Northstar Oil Pool which is located approximately 3,800 m below the seabed.
Sustaining a Spirited Tradition for Over 20 Years
For more than 20 years, DHL Global Forwarding has been working to make sure that Beaujolais Nouveau, a purple-pink wine made from Gamay grapes produced in the Beaujolais region of France, is poured into glasses across the world on the same day and at the same time. Fermented for just a few weeks then officially released for sale on the third Thursday of November, the wine is intended for immediate drinking. Because of the very tight turnaround times involved - within a span of one week, more than 2 million bottles of have to leave the European Union and be released for consumption one week later - the "Beaujolais Nouveau" operation gets under way as early as June.
Global Forwarding specialists are already negotiating with airlines and reserving firm allocations; specialist teams meanwhile are mobilized in France and the 150 countries where the wine are shipped to. Global Forwarding also handles all necessary administrative, customs and security formalities, including wine and spirits custom clearance. On arrival, Global Forwarding teams are on hand to deliver the wine to the various consumption points so that the whole world can collectively clink their glasses at the same time to celebrate this sweet tradition.
Winning a Place in the Book of World Records
DHL earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Record in 2004 when it became the official carrier of the largest flag of the world. The flag, which was made up of 70 pieces of individual strips of fabric sewn together to measure 13,500 m long, was shipped from China to Bahrain and presented to the king as part of the 10-day National Day Carnival celebrations for that year. Measuring 160m x 96m and weighing 3,470 kg, the flag was, at that time, recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest flag in the world.
Shipping Tennis Courts Halfway Around the World
As the official express and logistics provider of the Thailand Open, which is part of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Word Tour 250 Series, DHL imported 70,000 kg (70 metric tons) of ATP-approved indoor hard courts and equipment from France to Thailand. In total, three containers of tennis courts were delivered by DHL Global Forwarding, while DHL Express oversaw the delivery of several scoreboards.
Handling Fragile Shipments for Speedy Distribution
For Tegel Foods, New Zealand's market-leading, fully integrated poultry producer, air freight consignments of eggs and day-old chicks are critically delicate tasks. Nobody understands this better than DHL Global Forwarding New Zealand, who adopted specialized procedures to enhance packing and the careful handling of this fragile shipment for distribution across the two main islands of the country.
Shipping a Formidable Ripper
DHL Global Forwarding, Christchurch, New Zealand commenced business with a new customer, Screening and Crushing Systems Ltd (SCS) in 2003 and among it's delivery assignments was transporting a Ripper VSC 400TD (400hp track mounted) unit from Christchurch, New Zealand to Melbourne, Australia, for final delivery to Adelaide. A revolutionary patented design for reduction in the waste wood and recycling industry, the Ripper VSCTM (Vertical Shaft Cutter) is a primary grinder, shredder and screening plant in one compact unit. SCS' requirements for shipping included under deck stowage away from the harm of salt water and spray, heavy lift facilities at the points of load and unload and meticulous care of the cargo.
Bringing the Circus to Town
The circus came to town thanks to DHL Global Forwarding who transported motorbikes, trapezes, bungee equipment, high and low wires, Chinese poles and an FMX (freestyle motorcross) kicker ramp and other unusual props McDonald's Circus X in Auckland.
Aiding Mother Nature in India
In 2005, Karnataka in Bangalore, India faced droughts in 27 districts for the third year in a row. DHL Global Forwarding Lemuir helped to change that. At the request of the Kanataka Government, a U.S.-based Weather Modification Inc team was asked to seed the clouds. DHL Global Forwarding Lemuir is the official logistics provider to transport the equipment needed for seeding the clouds in Karnataka, bringing much needed relief to a state whose history dates back to the 3rd century B.C.
Kids for Peace
At the request of the German children's magazine PICO, DHL Express Japan transported 10,000 paper cranes from Germany to Japan in 2005. The cranes, the universal symbol of peace, were made by German children for the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.
A Gift of Friendship
DHL Express New Zealand shipped a 250 kg stainless steel Cloak of Peace sculpture free of charge to Nagasaki's Peace Park in Japan, as a gift of friendship from New Zealand to Japan in remembrance of the destruction caused by a nuclear bomb in 1945.
Bringing Out the Child Within
DHL Express Japan provided logistics support to send a 100-meter long, 2,000 kg carp-shaped streamer, known as a koinobori, a streamer hung outside homes to celebrate Children's Day in Japan, for a pre-World Cup event in Germany in 2006.
Moving Airports with Excellent Teamwork and the "Can-Do" Spirit
In Sept 2006, Thai Airways International Public Co Ltd, commissioned DHL Global Forwarding Thailand to transfer the entire airline's aviation operation equipment from Don Muang Airport to Suvernabhumi Airport, Bangkok's new domestic and international airport. Relocation across a 150,000 sq m area at two different sites, could only begin a few hours before the opening of the new airport. More than 400 DHL employees, who got drenched by a sudden rain shower, and 600 flatbed trailers were involved in mammoth logistics operations. DGF Thailand management team members were also on round-the-clock duty to support the operations, which went smoothly and were successfully completed within the time frame allotted.
Ensuring Timely Deliveries of the Next-generation Video Game Console
DHL played a key role in the successful simultaneous distribution of Microsoft Corporation's Xbox 360 in Europe and North America. Launch planning began as early as November 2004 with both companies mapping out shipping strategies and establishing the I.T. network that would serve as the project's central nervous system. As consoles and peripherals rolled out of the production plants in August 2005 and onto charters, the DHL system automatically triggered "Advanced Ship Notices" to the U.S. and European distribution centers, providing the receiving points with adequate time to efficiently pre-plan their capacity needs. At each step in the process, DHL's automated systems validated all shipment load information, guaranteeing the appropriate volumes of Xbox 360 units were delivered to the proper destinations at the agreed-upon times.
Moving the Music that Moves You
Since 2006, DHL has been managing the logistics for the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, based in Leipzig, Germany, on its tours across Europe, Asia, and the United States. The orchestra is one of the leading orchestras in the world and, with more than 100 musicians, is also the largest. It also prides itself for its 250 year history, which makes it the world's oldest civic concert orchestra. As the orchestra's Official Logistics Partner, DHL provides logistics for the orchestra's world tours, especially the provision of valuable, time-critical, temperature-controlled shipping of the instruments and music sheets.
Delivering Hollywood Glamour to the UK
DHL Express delivered seven original dresses worn by American actress Marilyn Monroe from the U.S. to the UK for the start of an international exhibition showcasing the work of costume designer William Travilla. These dresses, which include the iconic white dress worn in The Seven Year Itch, were carefully shipped by DHL in an overnight delivery to the UK for exhibition at the Hilton Metropole Hotel in Brighton, with subsequent exhibitions planned in other locations as part of a world tour.
Celebrating 100 Years of Aviation History
While the rest of the world sleeps, the aerospace logistics specialists from DHL Global Forwarding France were kept very busy in the run up to the once-in-a-lifetime event. DGF was the official carrier and logistics provider for the 100th anniversary of the French aerospace industry held in October 2008. Organized by the French Association of Aerospace Industries (GIFAS), the exhibition was open to the public on the Champs Elysées in Paris and showcased many of the most prestigious aircraft - from the early 20th century oak and poplar Blériot XI to modern jet fighters like the Mirage III - and associated equipment ever developed.
Delivering Serum to Treat Scorpion Attacks
Upon the request of the Brazilian government, DHL Express Brazil safely shipped a serum, used as a treatment for scorpion attacks, from Rio de Janeiro to Cordoba, Argentina in less than 18 hours. Time effectiveness was critical to this operation as the serum is stored in metallic capsules that can only last for 36 hours. Within the 18 hours it took to ship the fragile shipment, DHL also took care of all the customs clearance processes for the Argentinean chancellery.
A High-profile Delivery
When top designer Zac Posen was selected to design the wedding attire for high-profile Hollywood couple Ellen DeGeneres and Portia Di Rossi, he looked to DHL SameDay and DHL Express to deliver the completed pieces with the same attention to detail he gives his designs. DHL is the Exclusive Express Delivery and Logistics Provider for Zac Posen, and House of Z, LLC. A custom 72' x 50' x 60' crate was built for the shipment at the packaging facility, under the watchful eye of two representatives of the famous designer.
Losing No Time to Advance Science
DHL Express Poland received a request from a private person to send a human substance from Poland to Leeds, UK for medical examination. Owing to the sensitivity of the shipment, delivering this to its destination had to be done in less than 8 hours. Otherwise, the substance would not be suitable for testing. The courier waited in front of the operation room in the Polish hospital from where the shipment came from and upon arrival, this was immediately brought to the waiting hospital in Leeds. Personal care and a sense of urgency were undertaken to successfully complete this delivery within 6.5 hours.
The Biggest Shipment Ever Moved on its Air Network
DHL transported the biggest shipment it has ever moved through its Air Network. Shipped through the DHL Aviation Air Cargo Priority service, the delivery consisted of 11 pieces of industrial machinery which collectively weigh almost 73 tons. The shipment originated from Italy and was transported by road to DHL's Leipzig Hub (Germany). From there, a special lifting crane was arranged to offload the machinery from the trucks and onto the aircraft which carried the equipment to its final destination in Shanghai, China. Despite a devastating typhoon that was battering Asia at that time, the shipment arrived on schedule and without any incident.
Moving Heavy Equipment in Latin America
Nothing is so big, or so small that DHL cannot move it, as evidenced by these heavy equipment that DHL Global Forwarding successfully shipped within various countries in Latin America:
- A crushing equipment (Argentina) - 2,500 freight tons
- Paper mill equipment (Uruguay) - 120,000 freight tons
- Windmills (Uruguay, Chile, Brazil) - 126,000 freight tons (combined)
Shipping to the Next Frontier
DHL Global Forwarding shipped the Mössbauer-Spectrometer MIMOS-2, a high-grade and high-precision spectrometer, to the Space Research Institute in Russia. The spectrometer, which was commissioned by the University of Mainz (Germany) and space technology company von Hoerner & Sulger GmbH will be launched on board a Zenit rocket on a mission to Phobos, one of the two moons of Mars. From there it will analyze the chemical and mineral composition of the soil of the Martian satellite. As a result of DHL's extensive knowledge of the complex customs procedures and foreign trade conditions for importing aerospace products to Russia, DHL was able to obtain authorization for a special manual check to be carried out to eliminate any risk of x-ray machines impairing MIMOS-2's functionality.
Flower Power: Over 1,280 Tons of Flowers Delivered for Valentine's Day
DHL successfully exported over 1,280 tons of flowers from Costa Rica, Ecuador and Columbia to customers in the U.S. and around the world in time for the Valentine's Day season. Comprising roses, lilies, sunflowers, heliconias, birds of paradise, alstroemerias, hypericum, statis, godetias, follajes, carnations and minicarnations, the flowers were delivered to the U.S., Canada, European and markets in Asia. DHL has developed specialized services for handling perishables to keep floral shipments cool prior to air transport and immediately upon arrival. DHL plays a key role helping growers primarily based in Latin America get their flowers to consumers and retailers so they arrive fresh and in pristine condition.
Rocking for Hard Rock
DHL Express delivered the guitar of The Who's former bass guitarist John Enwistel, acknowledged as one of the most influential in the history of rock and roll, to Hard Rock Café in Warsaw, Poland. The guitar, which was used in The Who's hits "Too Late the Hero," is part of Hard Rock's famous collection of memorabilia and historic pieces and will be exhibited in Warsaw till the end of January. DHL Express handled the transportation of this priceless rock memorabilia with extreme care, from the pick-up point in the U.S. to delivery point in Warsaw.
A Cool Delivery for a Hot Country
DHL Express successfully handled the delivery of a 1,200 kg block of ice that went from Finland to Denmark and eventually Bahrain via the Air Cargo Priority service. The ice block was used at a corporate exhibition by Pétrole Gaz Maintenance Equipments which was held in a country whose average temperature during the time of delivery was 33.2° C (91.8° F). Unaided by any chemicals or any freezing facility and employing only foil and wood to encase the huge block during the transportation, the shipment successfully reached its final destination intact, underscoring great teamwork and coordination between the various Express entities involved in the delivery, especially the DHL Aviation Network.
A Huge Delivery for a Huge Event
The U.K. Athletics team tapped DHL Global Forwarding to deliver pole vaults to Seville, Spain where the team was training in preparation for the 12th IAAF World Championship Athletics in Berlin in August 2009. DHL Aviation provided the air uplift for the shipment that consisted of three bags of 5.2 meter poles which had to be loaded between the aircraft containers and the aircraft walls due to their length. They were shipped overnight from East Midlands to Seville without any incident. Organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations, who counts membership from 213 countries as of 2009, the event is held every two years. Deutsche Post DHL is a national sponsor for this year's event.
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