Which Freight For Which Container?

Selecting the correct freight container for your cargo can save a lot of time, hassle and expense. There are a whole range of specialist units built to carry certain products in addition to the standard 20ft and 40ft box.

Open top containers for example are perfect for any products being shipped that need to be loaded from the top and lowered in.  They are also able to carry over height goods with special tarpaulins manufactured to suit.

For large and cumbersome items such as machinery or coils of steel or wire then flatracks may be the answer. With the option of fixed or collapsible end frames, in addition to flatbeds, the variety of flats available makes them ideal for a wide range uses. When offered for sale they are often snapped up quickly and used as platforms or bridges.

For food or temperature sensitive products refrigerated containers or reefers as they are known in the trade are often used by shippers. Available mainly in the standard 20ft, 40ft or 40ft high cube sizes there are several different machinery manufacturers offering a wide variety of functionality that come fitted to these freezer containers. Making your choice will depend on the requirements of your product, the availability of equipment at the time and spare parts in the future.

For self storage in London and storage yards in Essex standard 20ft and 40ft containers are the unit type you will see used the most. Their uniformity, availability and secure design lend themselves more readily to this type of operation. Being able to be stacked up to 7 high also helps some operations optimise the utilisation of their sites.

For anyone needing something a little extra, perhaps additional access such as side doors or electrical and mechanical installations, a container conversion or modification may open up new possibilities. Modern container design and architecture has seen some varied and interesting projects of late such as hotels and art exhibitions all created from ISO freight containers.