Grinding Mills Shipping
SAG Mill, Ball Mill & Grinding Equipment Transport
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Ship Your Grinding Mills
Get expert advice on the best shipping solution for your equipment.
Related Equipment
Overview
Grinding mills are among the heaviest single components shipped to mining operations. SAG and ball mill shells can exceed 800 tons and 12 meters in diameter.
Mill transport requires coordination of the shell sections, heads, trunnions, gearless mill drives (GMDs), and all auxiliary equipment.
We specialize in the complete logistics chain from manufacturer to mine site, including ocean transport, port handling, and final delivery.
Typical Specifications
| Shell Weight | 200 - 800+ metric tons |
| Diameter | 6m - 12m+ |
| Length | 4m - 15m |
| Mill Types | SAG, Ball, Rod, HPGR |
Recommended Shipping Methods
Breakbulk/Heavy Lift
RecommendedRequired for mill shells and heads.
Heavy Haul Trucking
RecommendedSPMT/multi-axle for inland moves.
Barge
RecommendedOften used for river access to mine sites.
Rail
Dimensional loads on heavy-duty flat cars.
Container, flat rack, RoRo or breakbulk?
We quote in this order because it is usually cheapest first. Most machines that look too big for a box fit once our crew takes off the bucket, boom, cab or wheels; larger ones are taken further apart across several containers, and pieces too big or heavy for a flat rack or roll trailer go breakbulk.
01Container
- Work needed
- We partially disassemble when needed (bucket, boom, cab, wheels), or take larger machines further apart across several high-cubes and open-tops, then crate, block and lash every part.
- Destinations
- Widest: almost every port worldwide, plus inland delivery by rail.
- Typical cost
- Usually the lowest, with no out-of-gauge surcharges.
- Protection
- Sealed steel box; loose parts and attachments travel locked inside.
- Best for
- Most machines: compact ones as they are, others after partial disassembly, and large ones split across several containers.
02Flat rack
- Work needed
- Ships assembled, blocked and lashed. Surcharges apply when wider than 2.4 m or taller than about 1.95 m.
- Destinations
- Most container ports, on the same vessels as containers.
- Typical cost
- Moderate; rises with every centimetre out of gauge.
- Protection
- Open to the weather; we protect cabs, electronics and hydraulics.
- Best for
- Excavators, dozers and loaders too wide for a container door.
03RoRo
- Work needed
- Drives on assembled; non-runners go on a roll trailer.
- Destinations
- Fewer destinations: regular lanes to Europe, West Africa, the Middle East, Oceania and parts of Latin America.
- Typical cost
- Often competitive for large self-propelled machines where a lane exists.
- Protection
- Below deck, but loose items and attachments cannot ride inside the cab.
- Best for
- Running machines going to a port with regular RoRo sailings.
04Breakbulk
- Work needed
- Lifted aboard piece by piece by ship’s or shore cranes, on its own skids or cradle, then stowed and lashed in the hold or on deck.
- Destinations
- Ports with breakbulk berths and heavy-lift cranes; sailings are booked voyage by voyage.
- Typical cost
- Usually the highest for a single small machine; often the only option for the largest pieces.
- Protection
- In the hold or lashed on deck; we crate, wrap and protect exposed parts.
- Best for
- Pieces too large or heavy for a flat rack or roll trailer: transformers, process modules, mining trucks, crane sections.
Handling & Preparation Requirements
- Shell protection from damage
- Trunnion bearing preservation
- Drive system careful handling
- Liner installation timing
- Foundation bolt-down planning
- Commissioning coordination
Common Models We Ship
Frequently Asked Questions
How are large mill shells transported?
Mill shells typically ship as single pieces on heavy-lift vessels, then move via SPMT or barge to the mine site.
What is the heaviest mill component?
The mill shell itself is usually heaviest at 400-800+ tons. GMD stators can also exceed 200 tons.
Do you coordinate mill installation?
We focus on transport logistics. We coordinate delivery timing with the installation contractor.
Plan your shipment
Import Duty & Tax Estimator
Estimate duty and VAT on the CIF value for 70+ destinations.
Dimensional Weight Calculator
Work out chargeable weight before you book.
Container Space Calculator
See how your cargo fits in 20ft, 40ft, and HC containers.
Route Finder
Load port, sailings, duty and rules for a machine and destination.
Ready to Ship Your Grinding Mills?
Get a customized quote for your equipment. Our experts handle grinding mills shipments worldwide.