Shipping containers are reliable metal crates used to transport products from one place to another. They are sturdy enough to handle lengthy shipping and are frequently made of steel.
Standardized containers, which make it easier to carry goods by rail, road, and ship, have fundamentally changed the shipping and transportation sectors.
Different Types of Containers
There are numerous types of containers used in the container industry. Each type of cargo is made specifically for that container. For example, reefer containers are more appropriate for temperature-sensitive goods like medications.
Both the kind and size of a shipping container can be used to identify it. All ISO containers are single-trip, second-hand, or custom-built. They might be conventionally tall at 8.6 feet or tall at 9'6" feet, and they may be 10 feet, 20 feet, or 40 feet long. Let's examine the alternatives in more detail so that we can better understand the various sorts of containers.
The 6 most common types of containers
1- Dry shipping container
Dry storage containers, also referred to as all-purpose containers, and are the most widely used kind of shipping container. They feature strong floors, roofs, and walls and are entirely enclosed.
The sizes of these containers have been defined by the ISO. Typically, they have dimensions of 20 feet, 40 feet, and 10 feet. Unique changes are also made to dry containers, such as the use of liner bags to transport liquid bulk materials.
2- Open top shipping container
The design of open-top shipping containers allows for easy removal of the top to accommodate cargo of any height. They are appropriate for large, bulky items that cannot be loaded through the container door, such as tall machinery.
In the case of such cargo, things can be directly put into the container from the top with the use of a crane or rolling bridge. Lashing rings have been put on these containers, which come in 40' and 20' sizes. To hold the cargo in place, these rings are fastened to the top and lower side rails as well as the corner posts.
3- Refrigerated shipping container
The term "refrigerated ISO containers" refers to shipping containers that regulate temperature. These containers are maintained at a moderately low temperature. They are mostly used to transport medicinal supplies as well as perishable foods that require a specific temperature, like fruits, meat, and vegetables. They are also referred to as reefers and normally come in 20' and 40' lengths. Cor-ten steel, a weathering steel, is widely used to create them.
4- Tank container
The main purpose of tanks is the bulk transportation of liquids. To guarantee longevity and the safety of the products being transported, these containers are built of sturdy still or other anti-corrosive materials.
5- Flat rack container
A variety of cargo can be stored in flat rack containers thanks to its collapsible slides. The container's sides can be folded down to create a flat rack. These containers have robust end walls that can hold the load in place.
For huge items like building supplies, large machinery, automobiles, etc., these shipping containers are perfect.
6- Ventilated shipping container
The protection of stored goods depends heavily on ventilation in shipping containers and other temperature control measures. The original shipping container vents that come with every container assist the box stay airtight while it's being transported by sea. Although useful, these vents probably won't protect your delicate objects from temperature swings.
Types of containers sizes:
20 Ft. dry shipping container
40 Ft. dry shipping container
40 Ft. dry high cube shipping container
20 Ft. open top shipping container
40 Ft. open top shipping container
20 Ft. Tank container
20 Ft. refrigerated shipping container
40 Ft. refrigerated shipping container
45 Ft. dry high cube shipping container
20 Ft. flat rack shipping container
40 Ft. flat rack shipping container
20 Ft. ventilated shipping container
How do shipping containers work?
Products are transported from one area to another using shipping containers as storage containers so that neither they nor the other products in the shipment are harmed. These resilient.
Reusable containers can endure any difficulties encountered during transportation. Long-distance trade is made feasible thanks in large part to shipping containers' contribution to the reduction of transportation costs. The development of shipping containers had a significant influence on the globalization of commerce and industry.
How cargo is packed in containers
Full Container Load (FCL) and Less-than-container Load (LCL), are the two methods of container packing.
If you're planning to import a small quantity of goods that might not require a complete container's worth of stock, take into account a less-than-container load shipping. In this kind of shipment, your supplier's items are combined with those of other vendors to form a complete package by a shipping agent or freight forwarder. Although the price per kilogram is greater than the price for a full container load, the total cost of shipping will be lower.
Shrink-wrapping is widely used to protect pallets (or skids), which are frequently made of wood or plastic and act as supports for the load. Plastic slip sheets or crates are other frequent types of packaging that are used inside containers for carrying goods into and out of them.
The documentation of shipping containers
Smooth international transactions depend on this documentation process. If handled and filled out carelessly, the international shipping documentation may result in a number of delays that seriously impair your supply chain.
The two most important forms of documentation for shipping (and often quotes given by a freight forwarder) are the Bill of Lading (essentially the shipping contract), the commercial invoice that contains all the information about the sale that took place between the seller and the customer, the certificate of origin, as its name suggests, is the document that demonstrates the nation of origin of a specific commodity, A letter of credit is a formal, legally-binding agreement for the payment of goods between a customer and a seller. It takes a while for the shipment to get to its destination after the purchase is made to export products overseas. This results in some challenges and payment delays.
ACS shipping containers services
Enjoy ACS shipping container services for both 20ft and 40ft containers all over the globe.