ISO Shipping Containers

Shipping Container Facts: All You Need to Know About Shipping Containers

Shipping containers are the backbone of the global supply chain. Everything from cargo to clothing, cars to computers, furniture to food, and medicine to toys are transported via shipping container. We take this for granted, but it’s important to know the facts about these ubiquitous boxes. Here are some interesting facts about shipping containers to make you think differently about your world.

Why are shipping containers so important?

Shipping containers are a key component of the global supply chain. Everything from cargo to clothing, cars to computers, furniture to food, and medicine to toys are transported via shipping container. We take this for granted, but it’s important to know the facts about these ubiquitous boxes.

Here are some interesting facts about shipping containers to make you think differently about your world:

1) A 20ft shipping container can hold approximately 3,500 boxes of shoes! 40-foot shipping container can hold over 8,000 shoe boxes! That’s a lot of fun for your feet.

2) A standard ISO container can hold up to 21 tons of cargo.

3) Shipping containers will be in use until the year 2115!

Combine all these factors with an efficient global supply chain, and you have hundreds of millions of employees working around the world who need jobs while ensuring that they get their deliveries on time. That’s why shipping containers are an essential part of how we live today!

How do shipping containers work?

Shipping containers are made up of steel frames with walls that are made up of corrugated sheets of steel. When not in use, they’re stacked on top of each other to form gigantic mounds of metal waiting for the next load to come along.

Shipping containers also have doors and windows that come in different sizes and materials—from hinged plywood to glass or even portholes with bulletproof glass. There’s no standard for these features, however, so it pays to know your options before you buy.

There are two main types of shipping containers: intermodal containers and offshore containers. An intermodal container is just an ordinary cargo box—it can carry anything from cars to furniture to clothes. It needs to be ISO certified to meet the safety standards for being loaded onto a ship (hence the name ‘ISO Container’). 

ISO containers come in a variety of types from standard dry containers, to containers suitable for carrying hazardous goods like chemicals, through to Refrigerated Containers that are like giant portable fridges to transport perishable goods.

Offshore containers however, are very different. These are used for offshore projects like wind farms or oil rigs. They are much more robust because they have to withstand the pressure of being banged against the side of a ship or platform when being transfered from one to the other out on the open ocean. You can learn more about offshore containers here.

What are the benefits of using a shipping container?

Shipping containers have many benefits. They offer the most efficient way to move cargo and are one of the most important components of global supply chains.

Additionally, they are designed to perform well in all weather conditions, including harsh environments. These features make them ideal for use in areas where conventional methods of transport, like trucks and trains, would be unable to operate.

With shipping containers, it’s easy to manage inventory and track your goods as they travel from point A to point B. It also makes it easier for businesses to ship out their product without having to worry about handling and storing excess inventory.

Finally, because of the strength of these boxes, you can ship your goods anywhere in a container and not have to worry about the product being damaged or stolen during shipment.

Cargostore stocks a large range of ISO certified shipping and storage containers. We can modify any container to your specification and deliver globally. Call us today on +44 (0) 208 879 1900 to discuss how we can support your project, or email us at offshore@cargostore.com.