DORSET-BASED Aeroform has overcome incredible logistical hurdles to deliver a 300-ton autoclave to Airbus in a £5 million deal.

The autoclave - a 136ft long, 18ft diameter industrial pressure cooker - was so large that it had to be transported by sea around the coast of Scotland.

Aeroform beat off tough competition from Germany and the US to produce the autoclave - a giant pressure cooker, which will be used to create wingskins for the biggest Airbus, the A380 superjumbo. Bournemouth law firm Lester Aldridge formalised the deal.

The autoclave completed the final stage of its journey in three pieces - courtesy of a 500ft-long convoy which took 16 hours to travel just 28 miles to the Airbus site at Broughton, North Wales.

Road signs had to be removed, telephone wires redirected, pylon wires raised and electricity temporarily cut off while the convoy passed beneath.

The operation by Poole-based AET Transport involved special low axle trailers and Megalift hydraulic lifting equipment. Even then the autoclave passed under some obstructions with only inches to spare.

Aeroform MD Ian Toll said: "Getting the go-ahead for the planned route took months of careful collaboration, involving the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions, the Police, British Telecom and even the electricity board."

All the logistical planning paid off as the autoclave arrived safely and on schedule. It took two weeks to get the hi-tech monster from its place of fabrication in Lincoln to Airbus at Broughton.