April 12 - Panalpina chartered an Antonov AN 225 freighter to ensure the safe and smooth transportation of high-tech machinery from Hamburg, Germany to Shijiazhuang, China.

The freight comprised a laser welding machine manufactured by Ideal-Werk C.+E. Jungeblodt GmbH + Co. KG as well as a laser beam welding machine from Hugo Miebach GmbH. The cargo - all in all about 150 tonnes - could not move via ocean freight as the high-tech equipment was urgently needed at destination.

The loading procedure required the assistance of a 160-tonne-crane over a specially built ramp.