The intermodal container can be referred to by other names such as a box, high-cube container, ISO container, freight container, sea box, container and conex box. These units are manufactured from standardized reusable steel. They provide secure and efficient and safe storage for transporting materials across the globe 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 instance, intermodal means from ship to truck or ship to rail, without having to reload and unload the contents of the container. Some of the container lengths that have a distinctive ISO 6346 reporting mark on them range from 2.438 m or 8-feet to 56 feet or 17.07m. These models 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 around 17 million intermodal containers of different kinds to suit a range of cargoes in the world.
These containers could be transported by semi-truck trailer, container ship and freight trains. They can also travel many distances without having to be unpacked. At container terminals, they are transferred between modes utilizing container cranes. A reach-stacker is usually employed to transfer from a flat-bed truck to a rail car. These models are secured during transportation by a range of "twistlock" points situated at every corner on the container.
To be able to manage to containers identification and tracking, each and every container is equipped with a BIC code or bin identification code painted directly on the outside of the box. These models could lift objects ranging roughly 20 to 25 tonnes.
For transport on rails, the container may be carried on well cars or on flatcars. Well cars have been designed especially for use by intermodal containers. They can efficiently and safely accommodate double-stacked containers. The loading gauge of a rail system may actually restrict the specific modes of the shipment and the kinds of container shipment. For instance, the smaller loading gauges that are usually found in European railroads will just handle single-stacked containers. In some nations like the United Kingdom, there are certain 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 utilized to travel extreme distances. They are re-used with businesses and could lift an enormous amount of cargo. These containers are responsible for moving many of the items we rely on everyday around the globe.