The intermodal container could be referred to 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 effective and safe and secure storage for transporting materials all around the world via a global containerized intermodal freight system.
"Intermodal" is a word that means the container which could be moved between one type of transport to another. Intermodal may refer from a ship to truck or ship to rail, without having to reload and unload the contents of the container. Some of the container lengths which have a unique ISO 6346 reporting mark on them vary from 8-feet or 2.438 m to 17.07m or 56 feet. These models are as high as 2.438 m or 8feet to 2.9 m or 9 feet, 6 inches. It is estimated that there are roughly 17 million intermodal containers in the world of various kinds to suit a range of cargoes.
These containers could be transported by container ship, freight train and semi-truck trailer. They can also travel many distances without having to be unpacked. At container terminals, they are transferred between modes using container cranes. A reach-stacker is usually used 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 particular BIC code or bin identification code which is painted on the outside in order to take care of identification and tracking. These units can lift objects ranging around 20 to 25 tonnes.
For transport on rails, the container can be carried on flatcars or on well cars. Well cars have been designed particularly for use by intermodal containers. They could safely and efficiently accommodate double-stacked containers. The loading gauge of a rail system can actually limit the particular modes of the shipment and the types of container shipment. Like for example, the smaller loading gauges which are normally found in European railroads would only handle single-stacked containers. In certain countries like for example the UK, there are some sections of the rail network that cannot accommodate high-cube containers, unless they can use well cars only.
These containers are made strong enough to last through the many travels across extreme distances. These containers are reused by businesses and are able to transport huge amounts of cargo. These containers are responsible for moving many of the items we depend on everyday around the world.