Intermodal containers are also called many other names. Several of the most popular alternate names include: ISO container, box, sea can, high-cube container, freight container, conex box, and container. These models are manufactured from standardized reusable steel. They provide secure and efficient and safe storage for transporting supplies all around the world via a global containerized intermodal freight system.
The word "Intermodal" refers that the container is capable of being moved from one type of transport to another. Like for example, intermodal refers from ship to rail or ship to truck, without having to reload and unload the container's contents. Several of the container lengths which have a unique ISO 6346 reporting mark on them vary from 8-feet or 2.438 m to 17.07m or 56 feet. 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 various types to suit a variety of cargoes in 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 utilizing container cranes. A reach-stacker is usually utilized to transfer from a flat-bed truck to a rail car. These units are secured during transportation by a variety of "twistlock" points located at each corner on the container.
In order to manage to containers identification and tracking, every container is outfitted with a bin identification code or BIC code painted directly on the outside of the box. These units could lift items ranging roughly 20 to 25 tonnes.
For transport on rails, the container can be carried on flatcars or on well cars. Well cars have been designed specifically for use by intermodal containers. They could accommodate double-stacked containers safely and efficiently. The loading gauge of a rail system could actually restrict the kinds of container shipment and the particular modes of the shipment. For instance, the smaller loading gauges that are normally found within European railroads will only handle single-stacked containers. In some countries like for instance the UK, there are some sections of the rail network that cannot accommodate high-cube containers, unless they could use well cars only.
These containers are built to last and are used 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 around the globe.