Intermodal containers also go by many other names. Some 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 offer safe and secure and efficient storage for moving materials all around the globe via a global containerized intermodal freight system.
"Intermodal" is a word that refer to the container that can be moved between one type of transport to another. Intermodal could refer from a ship to rail or ship to truck, without having to unload and reload the container's contents. Several of the container lengths that have a distinctive ISO 6346 reporting mark on them vary from 2.438 m or 8-feet 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 in the world of various types to suit a variety of cargoes.
Containers could be transported by freight train, semi-truck trailer and container ship. They can travel the distance of a single journey without being unpacked. At container terminals, they are transferred between modes using container cranes. A reach-stacker is usually employed 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.
Each and every container is equipped with a certain bin identification code or BIC code which is painted on the outside to be able to take care of tracking and identification. These models could carry things ranging roughly 20 to 25 tonnes.
When using rail transport, the containers could be carried on well cars or on flatcars. Well cars are specifically designed for transport by containers. They can safely and efficiently accommodate double-stacked containers. The loading gauge of a rail system can actually restrict the types of container shipment and the particular modes of the shipment. Like for example, the smaller loading gauges which are normally found within European railroads would only handle single-stacked containers. In certain nations like for example the UK, there are certain sections of the rail network which 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 can lift an enormous amount of cargo. These containers are responsible for moving many of the stuff we depend on everyday around the world.