Cold Box for ITER — Sirnach, Switzerland to Saint-Paul-lès-Durance, France
Client: ITER Organization
Scope: Multimodal Transport · International Freight Forwarding · Custom Clearance · Project Logistics
Origin: Sirnach, Switzerland
Destination: ITER Organization, Saint-Paul-lès-Durance, France
Cargo: TCVB Cold Box
Dimensions: 800 × 450 × 300 cm
Gross Weight: 19,000 kg
Volume: 108,000,000 cm³
Packaging: Open + Wooden Protection
Distance: 683 km across two countries
The Project
The ITER project — the world’s largest international nuclear fusion experiment, bringing together 35 nations in pursuit of clean, limitless energy — sets a standard of precision that extends to every component, every handover, and every kilometre of the supply chain. When a TCVB Cold Box manufactured in Sirnach, Switzerland needed to reach the ITER facility in Saint-Paul-lès-Durance, France, the movement demanded the kind of end-to-end multimodal management that leaves nothing to chance.
Nabros has been a trusted logistics partner for the ITER project across multiple movements — each one executed to the exacting standards that a programme of this significance demands.
The Challenge
A Cold Box destined for the ITER fusion reactor is not industrial cargo in the conventional sense. It is a precision-engineered scientific component where structural and functional integrity are inseparable — any compromise in handling, transit, or securing translates directly into consequences for one of the most significant scientific undertakings in human history.
At 800 × 450 × 300 cm and 19,000 kg gross, the TCVB Cold Box required open-top transportation with specialised wooden protection — a configuration that demands careful load engineering, precise securing methodology, and consistent monitoring throughout the journey.
The 683-km corridor from Sirnach to Saint-Paul-lès-Durance introduced further complexity. The route crossed an international border between Switzerland and France — bringing with it customs requirements across two European jurisdictions, restricted circulation zones, toll infrastructure, and a corridor through Alpine terrain that demanded meticulous route planning and convoy management at every stage.
For the ITER Organisation, which coordinates a 35-nation scientific programme operating on decades-long timelines, on-time and intact delivery was the only acceptable outcome.
The Execution
Load Engineering & Packaging Supervision
At the point of origin in Sirnach, Nabros supervised load preparation — ensuring the TCVB Cold Box was correctly packaged with wooden protection, positioned accurately on the transport vehicle, and secured to the structural and vibration specifications required for scientific cargo of this sensitivity. Nothing was left to assumption at the point of departure.
Route Planning & Survey
The 683-km route through Switzerland and into southern France was planned in detail before mobilisation — accounting for Alpine terrain, overhead clearances, bridge load ratings, restricted circulation zones, and the specific requirements of an international border crossing. Every section was assessed for suitability, with contingency planning in place for any stretch presenting additional constraints.
Cross-Border Customs Clearance
The Swiss-French border crossing required full customs documentation management — export clearance from Switzerland and import compliance for France, handled in-house by Nabros’ team to ensure zero delays at the border. For cargo of this nature, a customs delay is not merely an inconvenience — it carries the risk of environmental and condition changes that could affect component integrity.
Transit Management & Convoy Supervision
Throughout the 683-km movement, Nabros maintained active convoy supervision — coordinating with local authorities where required, managing passage through restricted circulation zones identified during route planning, and ensuring the Cold Box arrived at the ITER facility in precisely the condition it left the manufacturing facility in Sirnach.
Final Delivery — ITER Organisation
The TCVB Cold Box was delivered to the ITER Organisation at Saint-Paul-lès-Durance — handed over to one of the most demanding scientific programmes on the planet, intact and on schedule.
The Outcome
The TCVB Cold Box arrived at the ITER facility safely, completing a 683-km multimodal movement across two countries without incident. The successful delivery is a reflection of the sustained trust the ITER Organisation has placed in Nabros across multiple assignments — and of the capability Nabros brings to technically complex, internationally sensitive scientific cargo.
When the cargo matters to the world, the standard cannot be anything less than absolute. That is the standard Nabros works to.
