The intermodal container can be called by other names like a box, high-cube container, ISO container, sea can, freight container, container and conex box. These models are manufactured from standardized reusable steel. They offer effective and safe and secure storage for moving materials across the globe via a international containerized intermodal freight system.
The term "Intermodal" means that the container is capable of being moved from one kind of transport to another. Like for example, intermodal refers from ship to truck or ship to rail, without having to unload and relaod the container's contents. Some 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 2.9 m or 9 feet, 6 inches. It is estimated that there are about 17 million intermodal containers of different types to suit a range of cargoes within the globe.
Containers can be transported by semi-truck trailer, container ship and freight trains. They could 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 units are secured during transportation by a variety of "twistlock" points located at each corner on the container.
Each container is outfitted with a specific BIC code or bin identification code which is painted on the outside in order to take care of identification and tracking. These models are capable of carrying things ranging about 20 to 25 tonnes.
For transport on rails, the container could be carried on well cars or on flatcars. Well cars have been designed especially for use by intermodal containers. They could efficiently and safely accommodate double-stacked containers. The loading gauge of a rail system can actually limit the types of container shipment and the specific modes of the shipment. Like for example, the smaller loading gauges which are normally found in European railroads would only 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 can use well cars only.
These containers are made sturdy enough to last through the many travels across extreme distances. These containers are reused by companies and are able to transport huge amounts of cargo. These containers are responsible for moving numerous of the stuff we rely on everyday all over the world.