Intermodal containers also go by numerous other names. Some of the most common alternative names include: ISO container, box, sea can, high-cube container, conex box, freight container, and container. These units are manufactured from standardized reusable steel. They provide safe and secure and efficient storage for transporting materials all over the globe via a global containerized intermodal freight system.
The word "Intermodal" means that the container could be moved from one kind of transport to another. Like for instance, intermodal refers from ship to truck or ship to rail, without having to unload and relaod the container's contents. Several of the container lengths which have a distinctive ISO 6346 reporting mark on them range from 2.438 m or 8-feet to 17.07m or 56 feet. These units are as high as 8 feet or 2.438 m to 2.9 m or 9 feet, 6 inches. It is estimated that there are around 17 million intermodal containers of various types to suit a variety of cargoes within the world.
These containers could be transported by freight train, semi-truck trailer and container ship. They could also travel numerous distances without having to be unpacked. At container terminals, they are transferred between modes by container cranes. A reach-stacker is normally utilized to transfer from a flat-bed truck to a rail car. These models are secured during transportation by a variety of "twistlock" points located at each corner on the container.
In order to manage to containers identification and tracking, each and every container is outfitted with a BIC code or bin identification code painted directly on the outside of the box. These models are capable of lifting objects ranging around 20 to 25 tonnes.
For transport on rails, the container can be carried on well cars or on flatcars. Well cars have been designed especially for use by intermodal containers. They can accommodate double-stacked containers safely and efficiently. The loading gauge of a rail system may actually limit the specific modes of the shipment and the types of container shipment. Like for instance, the smaller loading gauges that are usually found in European railroads will just handle single-stacked containers. In certain nations like the UK, there are certain sections of the rail network that cannot accommodate high-cube containers, unless they can use well cars only.
These containers are made sturdy enough to last through the many travels across extreme distances. These containers are reused by companies and are able to transport huge amounts of cargo. These containers are responsible for transporting numerous of the things we rely on everyday all around the globe.