The intermodal container could be called by other names like a box, ISO Container, high-cube container, sea can, freight container, container and conex box. These models are made from standardized reusable steel. They offer safe and secure and efficient storage for transporting supplies across the world via a global containerized intermodal freight system.
The term "Intermodal" refers that the container can be moved from one type of transport to another. For instance, intermodal means from ship to rail or ship to truck, without having to unload and relaod the container's contents. Several of the container lengths which have a unique 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 8 feet or 2.438 m 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 within the world.
Containers are capable of being transported by freight train, semi-truck trailer and container ship. They could travel the distance of a single journey without being unpacked. At container terminals, they are transferred between modes using container cranes. Normally a reach-stacker is employed to transfer from a flat-bed truck to a rail car. These models are secured during transportation by a variety of "twistlock" points located at each corner on the container.
Every container is outfitted with a particular bin identification code or BIC code that is painted on the outside in order to take care of identification and tracking. These units can lift things ranging about 20 to 25 tonnes.
When utilizing rail transport, the containers could be carried on well cars or on flatcars. Well cars are specifically designed for transport by containers. They could safely and efficiently accommodate double-stacked containers. The loading gauge of a rail system can actually limit the types of container shipment and the particular modes of the shipment. Like for example, the smaller loading gauges that are usually found in European railroads will only handle single-stacked containers. In certain countries like for instance the United Kingdom, there are some sections of the rail network which cannot accommodate high-cube containers, unless they can utilize well cars only.
These containers are made sturdy enough to last through the many travels across extreme distances. These containers are reused by businesses and are able to transport huge amounts of cargo. These containers are responsible for transporting numerous of the items we rely on everyday all over the globe.