Intermodal containers are also called numerous other names. A few of the most common alternate names comprise: ISO container, box, sea can, high-cube container, freight container, conex box, and container. These units are manufactured from standardized reusable steel. They provide effective and safe and secure storage for moving supplies all around the globe via a international containerized intermodal freight system.
"Intermodal" is a term which means the container that can be moved between one kind of transport to another. Intermodal could refer from a ship to truck or ship to rail, without having to reload and unload the contents of the container. A few of the container lengths that have a distinctive ISO 6346 reporting mark on them range from 8-feet or 2.438 m to 56 feet or 17.07m. These units are as high as 2.438 m or 8feet to 2.9 m or 9 feet, 6 inches. It is estimated that there are approximately 17 million intermodal containers of various types to suit a variety of cargoes in the world.
Containers can be transported by container ship, freight train and semi-truck trailer. They can travel the distance of a single journey without being unpacked. At container terminals, they are transferred between modes by container cranes. A reach-stacker is normally employed to transfer from a flat-bed truck to a rail car. These units are secured during transportation by a range of "twistlock" points located at each corner on the container.
Each container is equipped with a certain BIC code or bin identification code which is painted on the outside to be able to take care of tracking and identification. These models are capable of carrying items ranging about 20 to 25 tonnes.
For transport on rails, the container may be carried on well cars or on flatcars. Well cars have been designed specifically for use by intermodal containers. They can accommodate double-stacked containers safely and efficiently. The loading gauge of a rail system may actually limit the specific modes of the shipment and the kinds of container shipment. Like for instance, the smaller loading gauges that are normally found in European railroads would just handle single-stacked containers. In certain nations like for example the UK, 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 to last and are utilized to travel extreme distances. They are re-used with companies and can lift an enormous amount of cargo. These containers are responsible for transporting many of the objects we depend on everyday around the world.