Storage, handling as well as shipment of a heavy volume of goods do involve the use of shipping containers. These containers or boxes are built in such a way that they can withstand and handle heavy shipments, be it domestic or international freight. Shipping containers use different materials and composition for transporting goods of different nature. They can range from steel shipping containers to intermodal containers and may also be insulated. Usually intermodal containers are transported in such a way that once the goods are loaded, they are only disembarked at the final shipping destination. There is no unloading or reloading involved in this process. They are also popularly known as ‘standard' freight shipping containers.
Other types of shipping boxes include wooden boxes or crates which are designed to transport heavy and bulky objects. Especially a crate which has a self-supporting structure is strongly recommended for heavy equipment or even military transactions. Corrugated boxes on the other hand are much lighter and have a specially designed fiber board which may be light-weight but is quite strong for shipment of a variety of goods. Depending on the mode of transit containers are also specially designed for rail, flight or sea transport.
Commercial aircrafts also carry boxes which are popularly known as cargo or air cargo. A Unit Load Device (ULD) is used to gather or bundle a large volume of goods. This results in quick loading of cargo and saves considerable time for the ground staff as they have fewer units to load.
As far as shipping for defense or military services are concerned, there are special arrangements for shipping containers. Customized boxes which are also reusable are often used for this purpose. Special carrying handles, customized locks, cushioning and blocking techniques may be used depending on the fragility or sensitivity of the goods in question. Every container that has to be modified depends on whether it is shipped or railed in order to comply with ISO regulations. Before any structural changes are made they must undergo an additional testing phase. The strength of the container is most crucial and it must possess a higher tensile strength.
A significant number of boxes are manufactured in China. In order to reduce shipping costs, these boxes are leased one-way to shippers. By using a single load, the cost of introducing a new container is eliminated completely.
The floor of a container is extremely important especially because they are stacked on top of each other. Most of the standard containers have been developed using plywood floors. A few years ago plank floors were in use. Some of the new containers have developed their design over T-Section aluminum floors while others also use steel flooring.
The life cycle of a container is very important news for a shipper as it varies his cost of acquiring Shipping Containers considerably. A new shipping container does not require heavy maintenance as a preventive measure. As long as its purpose of storage is utilized well, the boxes should last up to 20 years.
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