The intermodal container can be referred to by other names such as a box, high-cube container, ISO container, sea can, freight container, container and conex box. These units are manufactured from standardized reusable steel. They provide effective and safe and secure storage for transporting materials all over the world via a international containerized intermodal freight system.
"Intermodal" is a term which means the container which could be moved between one type of transport to another. Intermodal may mean from a ship to truck or ship to rail, without having to reload and unload the contents of the container. A few of the container lengths that have a distinctive ISO 6346 reporting mark on them range from 2.438 m or 8-feet to 17.07m or 56 feet. These models are as high as 2.438 m or 8feet to 9 feet, 6 inches or 2.9 m. It is estimated that there are roughly 17 million intermodal containers of various kinds to suit a range of cargoes in the world.
These containers could be transported by container ship, freight train and semi-truck trailer. They could also travel numerous distances without having to be unpacked. At container terminals, they are transferred between modes using container cranes. A reach-stacker is usually used to transfer from a flat-bed truck to a rail car. These units are secured during transportation by a variety of "twistlock" points situated at each corner on the container.
To be able to manage to containers tracking and identification, every container is equipped with a bin identification code or BIC code painted directly on the outside of the box. These models could carry objects ranging approximately 20 to 25 tonnes.
When using rail transport, the containers can be carried on flatcars or on well cars. Well cars are particularly designed for transport by containers. They could accommodate double-stacked containers safely and efficiently. The loading gauge of a rail system could actually limit the specific modes of the shipment and the kinds of container shipment. Like for example, the smaller loading gauges that are normally found within European railroads will only handle single-stacked containers. In some countries like for instance the United Kingdom, there are certain sections of the rail network which cannot accommodate high-cube containers, unless they could utilize well cars only.
These containers are made strong 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 moving many of the items we depend on everyday all around the globe.