cargo-partner ships giant wooden sculpture to EXPO 2025 in Osaka

cargo-partner, a group company of NIPPON EXPRESS HOLDINGS, INC., will provide a wide range of logistics services for the Austrian representation at the EXPO 2025 in Osaka. A special highlight is the transport of a 16.5-meter-tall wooden sculpture which will serve as the centerpiece of the Austrian Pavilion.

As part of the Nippon Express Group, which has been appointed as one of two “Total Logistics Providers” for the world fair EXPO 2025 in Osaka, cargo-partner will provide comprehensive logistics services for the event: from domestic and international transport up to customs clearance, warehousing, distribution, on-site logistics and disassembly support.

One of the highlights of this collaboration is the transport of a remarkable wooden sculpture, which will serve as the centerpiece of the Austrian Pavilion at EXPO 2025. This 16.5-meter-tall structure symbolizes the harmony between tradition and innovation, reflecting Austria’s rich cultural heritage and advanced wood construction techniques. The wooden loop is composed of numerous interconnected lamellas and represents the first bars of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”.

cargo-partner has been entrusted with the overseas transport of this unique structure. Leveraging extensive experience in handling “project cargo” shipments with unusual dimensions or requirements, cargo-partner is well-equipped to tackle the complexities of this transport. Beginning in November 2024, the wooden loop will be carefully disassembled, the parts catalogued and packed into ten sea freight containers and shipped from Austria to the EXPO site in Japan.

“We are excited to contribute to such a meaningful project that highlights the intersection of innovation and sustainability on the global stage,” said Martin Schenzel, Managing Director Austria at cargo-partner. “As part of the Nippon Express Group, we are proud to provide seamless logistics services for EXPO 2025, ensuring the success of this international event.”

Precision logistics in action

The entire construction will be shipped in twelve individual parts, split up into ten sea freight containers. The transport project began with the delivery of the empty containers to the premises of the construction company, Graf Holztechnik, in the second half of October. To facilitate handling of the bulky parts, the wooden construction parts are mounted on container slides. Once loaded, the containers will be shipped by rail to Hamburg, where they will arrive in early November.

The main leg of the transport will be done by sea freight via a direct connection from Hamburg to Kobe in Japan. From the port of Kobe, the containers will be delivered by truck to the exhibition site in Osaka. cargo-partner has also arranged comprehensive transport insurance, minimizing any potential risks throughout the journey.

One special challenge of this transport project is that the parts need to be delivered in a specific sequence: Due to space constraints at the venue, the construction must be assembled piece by piece, requiring close coordination between cargo-partner and all involved parties at every step of the transport process.

Pioneering woodwork engineering

The innovative construction technique was developed by the Viennese architectural office BWM under the direction of architect Johann Moser and Prof. Peter Bauer from the engineering office for structural design Werkraum and realized in Austrian-Japanese cooperation by the companies Graf Holztechnik and Shinohara. The wooden loop was produced in Horn, Lower Austria.