Mission-critical shipments? How seven businesses found solutions that were right for them

12 October 2025 3 min read

Mission-critical shipments

In today's fast-paced business landscape, the stakes are higher than ever when it comes to shipping mission-critical shipments. These are the deliveries that can make or break operations - whether it's a vital medical supply that needs to reach a hospital, a key component for manufacturing that keeps production lines running, or sensitive technology that must arrive intact for a crucial launch. The right logistics solution might not be a standard service, but something more bespoke...

Let's look at 7 businesses that needed special solutions for their shipments.

1. Temperature-controlled biological products

Problem: A biochemical business had a shipment which needed to be transported from Spain to the Netherlands. The contents had to be temperature-controlled, and arrive at the destination within 30 hours. Any longer than this and the contents would be unusable, costing the business tens of thousands of euros.

Solution: Rather than travelling on a standard logistics network, a dedicated delivery was arranged. A single van transported the shipment door-to-door from their premises in Southern Spain to their supplier in South Holland. This ensured the shipment was delivered in 24 hours, so the contents were still viable, and the business avoided a costly shipment loss.

2. Christmas Holidays

Problem: A machinery and equipment supplier in Europe needed 8 shipments collectively weighing 13 tons delivered to the USA by December 27. With Christmas being the busiest time of year in any logistics network, the supplier knew it would be difficult to secure a solution that would reliably get all their shipments delivered and at an affordable price.

Solution: The supplier began searching for solutions at the end of November to prepare for the difficult logistics challenge. They were able to secure off-network air transport for their heavy shipments with a guaranteed delivery date by December 27. Throughout the month of December, the details and negotiations were agreed upon, so everything was ready for shipping. In the end, the shipment was delivered on St.Stephens Day.

3. Urgent Documents

Problem: Alongside their standard delivery service, a national government's passport office offers a premium 24-hour delivery option for emergencies. Given their circumstances, the organisation requires exceptionally high first-time delivery rates, beyond that of a standard logistics network. Every possible issue - whether it's severe weather closing the roads, customers not being home, or not having the necessary identification - must be anticipated and solutions identified.

Solution: As large parts of the country are mountainous and roads can become impassable in winter, the rail network is used for nationwide transport, with dedicated couriers picking up passports from train stations. To ensure successful delivery, customers are pre-warned of estimated arrival time and advised to prepare their identification for checks.

4. Over 30,000kg of machinery

Problem: A Dutch manufacturer which produces solutions for the renewable industry needed to transport two wind turbines, weighing 15,000kg each, more than 4,000km to a customer in Georgia. Due to their exceptional weight, they could not travel on a standard logistics network.

Solution: Two trucks were chartered to move the wind turbines from the Netherlands to Georgia, with a stop-over in the Czech Republic. The turbines were picked up directly from the manufacturer and delivered straight to the customer in Georgia - door-to-door service for two very heavy goods!

graphic image of yellow van and yellow wrapping paper

5. Same day emergency

Problem: A company's employee left their laptop behind in Austria when they were away for a business conference in Malta. It was imperative the laptop was reunited with its owner that same day due to an important meeting the next day. By the time the employee realised, it was already late in the day and the pressure was on.

Solution: The laptop had to be picked up from Austria within 2 hours to get it on the right flight that would ensure its arrival in Malta on the same day. The laptop was transported by an onboard courier who carried it with them on the plane. By the time the courier landed in Malta, the original address, a business, had closed. An alternative address was agreed, and the laptop was safely dropped off at the employee's hotel, before midnight.

6. Special care needed

Problem: A manufacturer of laboratory equipment frequently ships bulky medical devices from Europe to laboratories across the world. The devices are very expensive and have specific instructions on how they should be transported. They must be kept upright and not have anything stacked on top of them. Every shipment requires the upmost, specialized care to ensure they arrive at their destination in perfect condition.

Solution: To ensure the shipments are handled with care and treated differently to other shipments in a logistics network, a specialized logistics provider transports the shipments via air express. This still allows the shipments to be delivered quickly, but also safely and securely to the laboratories across the globe.

7. Dangerous goods

Problem: A European manufacturer without the correct dangerous goods certification needed to send ski wax, a flammable substance that requires IATA approval to package and send by air. The manufacturer had their first international online order in from Japan so wanted to start shipping globally on an express service to meet their growing international demand. But without the correct certifications for shipping flammable goods, they could not send by air.

Solution: The manufacturer found a logistics provider that provides packaging services for hazardous goods and transports them. This provides the manufacturer peace of mind that their goods are handled in accordance with IATA regulations and will be allowed to move through the air network from Europe to Japan.

Finding a logistics provider to support your business

As these examples all show, mission-critical shipments require more than just standard logistics; they demand specialised services that prioritise speed, security, and reliability. At DHL Express, we understand this and that's why we have our dedicated DHL Special Services team to support you with whatever shipment you need delivering in a bespoke way.

Why use DHL Express Special Services?

One stop shop - with a DHL Express account you have everything under one umbrella: account manager, shipping solutions, simple billing
Flexible solutions that are individually tailored to meet your specific requirements
Wide, international reach in the shortest possible time and with maximum efficiency
Minimise your financial losses by avoiding delays or any industry penalties