Intermodal containers also go by many other names. Several of the most popular alternative names comprise: ISO container, box, sea can, high-cube container, freight container, conex box, and container. These models are manufactured from standardized reusable steel. They provide safe and secure and effective storage for moving supplies all over the globe via a international containerized intermodal freight system.
"Intermodal" is a word which means the container that can be moved between one type of transport to another. Intermodal could refer from a ship to rail or ship to truck, without having to reload and unload the contents of the container. A few of the container lengths which have a distinctive ISO 6346 reporting mark on them vary from 2.438 m or 8-feet to 17.07m or 56 feet. These units are as high as 2.438 m or 8feet to 9 feet, 6 inches or 2.9 m. It is estimated that there are about 17 million intermodal containers of various types to suit a variety of cargoes in the globe.
These containers can be transported by semi-truck trailer, container ship and freight trains. They can also travel numerous distances without having to be unpacked. At container terminals, they are transferred between modes utilizing container cranes. A reach-stacker is usually used to transfer from a flat-bed truck to a rail car. These units are secured during transportation by a range of "twistlock" points situated at each corner on the container.
Each and every container is outfitted with a specific bin identification code or BIC code that is painted on the outside to be able to take care of tracking and identification. These units can lift items ranging about 20 to 25 tonnes.
For transport on rails, the container may be carried on flatcars or on well cars. Well cars have been designed especially for use by intermodal containers. They can efficiently and safely accommodate double-stacked containers. The loading gauge of a rail system could actually limit the types of container shipment and the specific modes of the shipment. For example, the smaller loading gauges that are typically found within European railroads will only handle single-stacked containers. In some countries such as the United Kingdom, there are some sections of the rail network that cannot accommodate high-cube containers, unless they can use well cars only.
These containers are made strong enough to last through the numerous travels across extreme distances. These containers are reused by businesses and are able to transport large amounts of cargo. These containers are responsible for moving numerous of the objects we rely on everyday around the globe.