Ruslan International - Lords of the Ring

26 July 2011

Fitting square pegs into round holes is all part of Ruslan International's daily work. But one piece of mining machinery set a particularly interesting challenge.

STL Logistics, in conjunction with Panalpina, were tasked with forwarding a bearing ring from Dusseldorf, Germany to Port Hedland, Australia. However, with a diameter of 6.74 metres, shipping options were few, with even the extensive 6.4 metre width of the An-124-100 seeming too restrictive.

"When we first saw the details of this shipment, the immediate reaction was that it wouldn't fit," admits Paul Furlonger, Ruslan International Sales Director. "But we're accustomed to achieving the seemingly impossible."

Dmytro Kurko, Load Planning Engineer, was set the task. He promptly designed a frame which secured the ring at a precise angle of 20.1 degrees from the horizontal. This method then allowed the ring to be loaded into the An-124-100 with just 48-61mm clearance.

Volga Dnepr Airlines operated an An-124-100 into Dusseldorf on 2 July to load the bearing ring. After three hours, the painstaking loading process was complete and the aircraft departed on schedule for Port Hedland.

Film of the loading