Shipping Container transportation is a convenient way to deliver large consignments of goods to any country. Unlike other types of transport packaging, the container reliably protects the cargo and allows you to transport goods of standard and non-standard sizes. To know which container, you need to understand how the container is arranged. Considering the structure of the container, we will pay attention to 20ft high cube containers for sale as one of the most popular types of containers used. But it should be noted that all conventional and non-specialized containers have a similar structure. Let’s take a deeper look at the container’s layout.
What does a shipping container consist of?
1. Shipping Container: steel
The shipping containers are normally made of Corten steel, which is highly resistant to temperature variations and corrosion. Thus, when this metal contacts the air forms a self-protective layer of oxides. This layer gives it a very good resistance over time.
2. Shipping Container: platform
The main element of the container is, of course, the platform that will support the load to be transported. It consists of steel crosspieces surrounded by a frame and covered by a wooden floor. As wood has a certain flexibility, it will not keep track of the passage of a very heavy trolley like steel. It will regain its shape.
The wood is usually resistant to humidity, temperature variations and insects. In the logic of sustainable development, bamboo flooring is now favored by certain shipping companies.
By resting on the ground only by the four corners, the platform must be able to support 1.8 times its authorized payload, 25/28 tons. But above all, it must withstand a point load of 5460 kg on a surface of 19 cm x 15 cm. Consider the approximate weight and surface area of the wheels of a forklift. This platform is equipped with two front and rear frames connected by two horizontal crosspieces to form the frame of the box itself.
3. Shipping Container: frame
The frames of the shipping container are extremely sturdy. They must be able to support the weight of five other containers placed on top, i.e., a mass of more than 150 tonnes, supported only on the four corners of the container. The front frame, like the side walls and the roof, are closed by a corrugated sheet which contributes to the rigidity of the whole.
Similarly, the roof must be able to support a load of 661 lb. on a surface of 24 x 12 inch. (the weight of two or three dockers) without undergoing permanent deformation. The rear frame surrounds the double door opening over 270°.
4. Shipping Container: door
This door is equipped with seals making it airtight and watertight. The leaves are held closed by vertical bars which fit by pivoting into lugs fixed to the upper and lower horizontal longitudinal members of the frame. The bars are operated by levers that are immobilized in the closed position by a tab. When the container has been filled, this tab is provided with a seal which will guarantee the recipient that the container has not been opened during transport.
5. Shipping Container: ISO corners
The most considerable innovation in the design of containers compared to any other “box” is the adoption of “corner fittings.” Thus each of the eight corners of the container is equipped with a steel cube pierced on each of its three visible faces.
The size of these corners and especially their spacing in width and height is defined to the nearest millimeter by the ISO 668 standard. They are used for handling by specialized trolleys, but especially for securing containers on the deck of boats, on trucks, or on wagons as well as for stacking them. It is these ISO corners that have given the container its intermodality and ensured its worldwide success.
How are shipping containers made?
We’ve already discussed all of the container’s components; now it’s time to speak about the manufacturing process.
Each shipping container, and those that PelicanContainers uses, begins with a large roll of steel:
- To make each sheet firm, it is sandblasted, flattened, and stamped. The sheets are then welded together to create wall panels. Shipping containers are typically 20 to 40 feet long, with 7-14 pieces of steel per wall.
- Transverse profile pipes are welded to two long side rails every 1.5-2 feet to form a frame. This pattern acts as the floor’s framing.
- Large corner posts are welded to the floor frame and fitted with separate door blocks. The back wall is constructed at the same time. Finally, before the roof is added, the two sides are welded to the container.
- Welded seams are ground to remove sharp corners and irregularities. The container is then subjected to a number of pre-painting procedures, including sandblasting and priming.
- The last stage of the production process is the floor. All containers have a solid plywood floor built from a series of panels.
But besides the standard 20ft high cube containers for sale and 40ft containers for sale, it is worth talking about special purpose containers.
1. Block container design
The construction of the walls and ceiling differs in the design of the block container. These containers feature an additional layer of hydro and thermal insulation. Furthermore, some manufacturers may provide interior decor so that these containers can be utilized as a living or working space. To accomplish this, windows and doors are installed in the container’s walls to create comfortable conditions.
2. Tank container design
Tank containers are available for transporting liquid and gaseous commodities. The container is outfitted with a system of valves and pipelines for loading and emptying the product. The tank is supported by a structure constructed of rectangular steel beams with spacers and strengthening angles. Tank containers are subjected to strength and tightness tests on a regular basis.
Simply put, ocean containers are built to last, which is why they are such a valuable commodity in the shipping industry. Durability, water resistance, and affordable transportation make the containers useful for a variety of applications.
Also read: Things to Consider When Shipping Your Car
