Intermodal containers also go by many other names. Several of the most common alternative names consist of: ISO container, box, high-cube container, sea can, freight container, conex box, and container. These models are manufactured from standardized reusable steel. They provide secure and efficient and safe storage for transporting materials across the world via a global containerized intermodal freight system.
"Intermodal" is a term which refer to the container which can be moved between one kind of transport to another. Intermodal can refer from a ship to rail or ship to truck, without having to unload and reload the contents of the container. Some of the container lengths which have a unique 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 approximately 17 million intermodal containers of different types to suit a range of cargoes within the globe.
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 using container cranes. Usually a reach-stacker is employed 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 every corner on the container.
Every container is outfitted with a particular bin identification code or BIC code that is painted on the outside to be able to take care of identification and tracking. These models are capable of lifting things ranging roughly 20 to 25 tonnes.
When using rail transport, the containers could be carried on flatcars or on well cars. Well cars are especially designed for transport by containers. They can accommodate double-stacked containers efficiently and safely. The loading gauge of a rail system could actually restrict the particular modes of the shipment and the kinds of container shipment. For instance, the smaller loading gauges which are usually found in European railroads would only handle single-stacked containers. In certain nations like the United Kingdom, there are some sections of the rail network which cannot accommodate high-cube containers, unless they can use well cars only.
These containers are made sturdy enough to last through the numerous travels across extreme distances. These containers are reused by businesses and are able to transport huge amounts of cargo. These containers are responsible for moving many of the stuff we rely on everyday around the globe.