8 Interesting Facts About Shipping Containers You Probably Didn’t Know
Shipping containers have always flown under the radar for a lot of people that aren’t part of the logistics or import/export industry, but shipping containers actually play a pivotal role in our daily lives. They’re the unsung heroes (apart from the men and women behind the actual shipping, import and export processes itself) of the consumer market. Shipping containers have also been the reason behind the evolution of commerce, making it a historic invention in the consumer industry. Below are several facts you probably didn’t know about the shipping container.
China is the largest producer of shipping containers in the world
Although America was the first country to conceptualise the ISO container, it didn’t have the ability to manufacture them economically or the ships to transport them. The first shipping containers were manufactured in Japan, Europe and then later Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan. CIMC in Shenzhen, China entered the shipping container manufacturing market and by the 1990’s, it became the largest producer of shipping containers in the world.
Maersk has GPS equipped on all its containers
The Danish integrated shipping company, Maersk, has installed GPS tracking devices on all of its 270,000+ shipping containers. This means that the company uses real-time GPS tracking and geofences to gain full asset visibility in-transit, on road and rail as well as in container terminals and depots allowing you to have instant updates on your package.
Shipping containers rarely get misplaced, but it happens
While losing a shipping container is a rare event, around -700 shipping containers are lost at sea annually. 2020 was the year logistic companies lost the most shipping containers – around 2,000 of them. Paired with the Coronavirus pandemic hurting businesses around the globe, it was the costliest year for companies, especially those that didn’t have container insurance.
Shipping containers are multipurpose
Aside from being used for storage and transporting items, shipping containers actually have a wide variety of uses. Because of its steel core and flexibility in terms of design, shipping containers have been used as modular homes, makeshift saunas, retail stores or shop lots, green houses, swimming pools, medical bays, sheds or garages, and classrooms. We’ve written an article to explain the many uses of shipping containers, and you can read it here.
Shipping containers are durable, water tight and wind tight
Because of the aforementioned steel core the containers are made out of, they can practically survive anything mother nature throws at them. This makes them a resilient and reliable mode of transport for items across the sea where ships are constantly being buffeted by strong winds, rain and sea water while at the same time, protecting the contents inside so they arrive safely and undamaged.
Massive sizes
A standard twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) can hold 3,500 shoe boxes while a 40-ft high cube can hold at least 8,000 shoe boxes. That’s a lot of shoes.
Eco-friendly
Shipping containers are recyclable and last up to 25 years if maintained correctly. This is why shipping containers have joined the movement for sustainable design within the built environment. They have become the alternative to traditional brick and mortar whilst at the same time, are cheaper.
So the next time you see a shipping container, don’t forget to remember all the good it does to the consumer industry, the shipping business and your daily lives.
For companies seeking shipping container products for centralised labour quarters, cabins, retail space or modular homes that fit local and international industry standards, please visit Solid Horizon’s website here, email the company at solid@sh.engimedia.com.my or call them at 03 3396 3888.
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