Intermodal containers are also called many other names. A few of the most popular alternate names include: box, ISO Container, high-cube container, sea can, conex box, freight container, and container. These units are manufactured from standardized reusable steel. They provide safe and secure and efficient storage for transporting supplies across the world via a global containerized intermodal freight system.
The word "Intermodal" means that the container could be moved from one type of transport to another. Like for instance, intermodal means from ship to rail or ship to truck, without having to unload and relaod the container's contents. Some of the container lengths which have a distinctive ISO 6346 reporting mark on them vary from 8-feet or 2.438 m to 56 feet or 17.07m. These units are as high as 8 feet or 2.438 m to 9 feet, 6 inches or 2.9 m. It is estimated that there are about 17 million intermodal containers in the globe of various kinds to suit a range of cargoes.
These containers can be transported by freight train, semi-truck trailer and container ship. They can also travel numerous distances without having to be unpacked. At container terminals, they are transferred between modes by container cranes. Usually a reach-stacker is utilized to transfer from a flat-bed truck to a rail car. These models are secured during transportation by a range of "twistlock" points situated at every corner on the container.
To be able to manage to containers tracking and identification, each and every container is outfitted with a bin identification code or BIC code painted directly on the outside of the box. These units can lift objects ranging roughly 20 to 25 tonnes.
When utilizing rail transport, the containers can be carried on flatcars or on well cars. Well cars are particularly designed for transport by containers. They could accommodate double-stacked containers safely and efficiently. The loading gauge of a rail system could actually restrict the particular modes of the shipment and the types of container shipment. Like for example, the smaller loading gauges which are normally found in European railroads would just handle single-stacked containers. In certain countries like the United Kingdom, there are certain sections of the rail network that cannot accommodate high-cube containers, unless they can use well cars only.
These containers are built to last and are utilized to travel extreme distances. They are re-used with companies and could lift an enormous amount of cargo. These containers are responsible for moving many of the items we depend on everyday all around the world.