The intermodal container could be called by other names such as a box, high-cube container, ISO container, sea can, freight container, container and conex box. These models are made from standardized reusable steel. They offer secure and efficient and safe storage for moving materials all around the world via a global containerized intermodal freight system.
The term "Intermodal" refers that the container could be moved from one type of transport to another. For instance, intermodal refers from ship to truck or ship to rail, without having to unload and relaod the container's contents. Several of the container lengths that have a unique ISO 6346 reporting mark on them range from 8-feet or 2.438 m to 17.07m or 56 feet. These units are as high as 2.438 m or 8feet to 9 feet, 6 inches or 2.9 m. It is estimated that there are approximately 17 million intermodal containers of different types to suit a variety of cargoes in the globe.
Containers are capable of being 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 by container cranes. A reach-stacker is normally employed to transfer from a flat-bed truck to a rail car. These models are secured during transportation by a variety of "twistlock" points situated 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 are capable of carrying items ranging roughly 20 to 25 tonnes.
For transport on rails, the container may be carried on flatcars or on well cars. Well cars have been designed specifically for use by intermodal containers. They can efficiently and safely accommodate double-stacked containers. The loading gauge of a rail system can actually restrict the specific modes of the shipment and the types of container shipment. Like for example, the smaller loading gauges that are normally found in European railroads would just handle single-stacked containers. In some countries such as the UK, there are some sections of the rail network that cannot accommodate high-cube containers, unless they could utilize well cars only.
These containers are made 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 items we depend on everyday all around the globe.