Intermodal containers are also called many other names. Several of the most popular alternative names comprise: box, ISO Container, high-cube container, sea can, conex box, freight container, and container. These models are manufactured from standardized reusable steel. They offer safe and secure and efficient storage for moving materials across the world via a global containerized intermodal freight system.
The word "Intermodal" refers that the container could be moved from one kind of transport to another. Like for example, intermodal refers from ship to truck or ship to rail, without having to reload and unload the container's contents. Several of the container lengths that have a unique ISO 6346 reporting mark on them vary from 8-feet or 2.438 m 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 roughly 17 million intermodal containers in the globe of different types to suit a range of cargoes.
These containers can be transported by freight train, semi-truck trailer and container ship. They can also travel many distances without having to be unpacked. At container terminals, they are transferred between modes utilizing container cranes. Usually a reach-stacker is utilized to transfer from a flat-bed truck to a rail car. These units are secured during transportation by a variety of "twistlock" points situated at each corner on the container.
In order to manage to containers identification and tracking, each container is equipped with a BIC code or bin identification code painted directly on the outside of the box. These models can lift objects ranging about 20 to 25 tonnes.
When using rail transport, the containers could be carried on flatcars or on well cars. Well cars are particularly designed for transport by containers. They can safely and efficiently accommodate double-stacked containers. The loading gauge of a rail system could actually restrict the types of container shipment and the specific modes of the shipment. For instance, the smaller loading gauges which are usually found in European railroads would just handle single-stacked containers. In certain nations such as the UK, there are certain sections of the rail network which cannot accommodate high-cube containers, unless they could 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 many of the things we depend on everyday all over the globe.