Heavy Heat Exchangers from France to Canada: Breakbulk Expertise for the Energy Sector

The project began with a request to move a single oversized heat exchanger from a French manufacturing site to Thermo Design Engineering Ltd. in Edmonton, Alberta. With dimensions of approximately 3.51 x 3.34 x 3.65 meters and a gross weight of 48,800 kilograms, containerized shipping was not an option. What began as a one-off move soon evolved into a larger operation: six units in total, originating from two separate facilities in France, were scheduled for phased delivery through April 2025. In addition to physically moving the cargo, the client required detailed support on packaging, lashing, export documentation, permit coordination, and port handling at both ends of the chain.

Hellmann Canada proposed a breakbulk ocean freight solution via the Port of Bilbao, Spain, which enabled faster turnaround on road permits compared to export via a French port. With permits from Spain issued in as little as three weeks—compared to eight weeks in France—this routing reduced lead time and ensured better control of shipment scheduling. From Bilbao, the cargo moved via breakbulk service to the Port of Halifax, Nova Scotia, before completing its journey by truck to Edmonton.

Four of the six heat exchanger units originated from a second production facility in Bergerac, making consolidated export planning essential. Hellmann’s coordinated staging approach brought together multiple origin points, transport modes, and timelines into a cohesive plan. The project was led by Eshan Samsoodeen (Hellmann Canada) and supported by Sergio Araujo (Hellmann France), who managed local coordination with the shipper and ensured timely execution at origin.

The final unit was dispatched in April 2025, marking the successful close of a project that demanded both operational precision and flexible planning across borders.