RUSLAN INTERNATIONAL AND DSV ENABLE MINE IN CHILE TO RESUME FULL PRODUCTION

One of Ruslan International’s An-124 freighters has successfully completed a race against time to deliver a large replacement ball mill head from Australia to a mining company operating in Chile, enabling full production to be resumed.  

The call to action required the combined expertise of DSV Australia, the Air Charter team at DSV Projects in Denmark and the outsize cargo specialists at Ruslan International to move the new mill head from the manufacturer in Perth, Western Australia, to Antofagasta in northern Chile.

The use of an An-124-100 transport aircraft was essential for the movement because of the 4.6m diameter of the 19-ton mill head. Speed was the most critical factor as the existing mill head at the mine in Chile had become badly eroded and cracked and was therefore running at a significantly reduced capacity.   

From the time of contract signature to final delivery of the mill head to its destination took 11 days; 10 days to process the required flight permit applications and to prepare.

Paul Bingley, Commercial Executive at Ruslan International, the An-124 freighter aircraft joint venture between Antonov Airlines and Volga-Dnepr Airlines, said: “Over many years we have demonstrated our expertise in providing fast transportation solutions for customers facing a loss of production when key pieces of equipment become damaged or fail altogether. In this case, working closely with our customer DSV, we ensured the mine in Chile was able to resume full production quickly by delivering the new mill head within days of the flight being requested.”  

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