The primary use of 40 foot containers is to move goods. The containers are loaded on ships, which is the most common way to transport cargo. In fact, 95% of the world’s cargo is transported by ship. These tough, sturdy, water-tight containers are designed to protect your goods against a variety of threats. For instance, anything packed in 40-foot containers will be safe from the elements and physical damage. Because of their size, they are perfect for shipping bigger quantities and larger items that can’t be transported using smaller containers.
Moving Large Quantities of Goods
How much can you pack into a 40 foot container? Well, the best way to understand this is by comparison. A container this size can accommodate the contents and belongings of a three to four-bedroom family home. However, it’s important to consider that irregularly shaped items might be more difficult to pack and will take up more space. Put another way, think of a 40 foot container as a space that is able to accommodate four cars or around 400 mattresses!
For Personal Use
Creating small spaces dedicated to your own productivity with a personal project or work is an excellent way to prioritize your goals. The compact nature of these units lends to a focused, dense setup of equipment or furniture that is relevant to your own needs. Let’s look a little deeper into the fundamental ways a repurposed container can benefit you.
Art Space
Utilizing storage containers as an art gallery space is an exciting and creative idea. 40 foot shipping containers are the ideal size for an art gallery. The addition of skylights would be an easy upgrade, giving the area an airy feel that would be perfect for browsing.
Personal Office
One of the most common uses is to turn one into an office. For those with WFH careers, cultivating a personal office space is vital to getting good work done. All you need is to find a piece of land to place the container and then hire a professional service that can turn it into an office. Once the modifications are complete, it will be ready for you to work and study in!
Recording Studio
If you’re a recording artist or producer, you understand the need for having a perfectly adjusted acoustic setup. Because of their size options, low maintenance, and compact nature, setting up your studio in a shipping container is a great idea. Room treatment tasks like mounting bass absorbers, laying down carpeting, and setting up acoustic panels are just as feasible as they would be in a larger building.
For Business Owners
If you are a business owner or an entrepreneur interested in a trendy new setting, then using shipping containers as a site for your business may be a viable alternative. A majority of the world’s cargo, actually 95%, is moved on ships, making them the most frequently used method of transporting freight. This means that there are plenty of shipping containers available, so it will not be difficult to find shipping containers to use as a business location. Here are a few ideas for unique uses of 40 foot shipping containers.
A local or out-of-state project manager can set up equipment in a storage container and transform it into an on-site work center. With electricity, heating/air conditioning, and office furniture, a power company or an insurance company will be able to set up a temporary mobile office.
A Restaurant
A lot of restaurants are making use of 40 foot containers as a space for customers to enjoy food. They provide the perfect structure to create a coffee shop or a restaurant. The good thing about this is it reduces the expenses of starting and operating your business. Instead of finding a building to rent, you will own your restaurant outright, and all you need are employees and customers.
Home Improvement Business
For a specialty project, such as a gardening or private landscaping business, a shipping container is a great option. It would be roomy enough to store all kinds of equipment that a landscaping company, a garden shop, or a small private construction company, would need to have on hand. In addition, it could also provide portable offices for larger projects that are located off-site.
Health Clinic
Setting up a clinic or health care site using storage containers is an innovative concept. It is also a way to reach individuals that may reside in hard-to-reach, or even jungle, areas. Climate controlled containers provide a great site for health care. In addition, the containers can easily be set up in rural areas. Containers can be ready to provide service quickly, while a full-blown hospital construction project might be prohibitive because it is highly complicated or takes a long time to complete.
Bar
This idea is especially great in 40 foot storage containers. First of all, the size of a shipping container is perfect for a project like this. A portable bar can become a specialty of any outdoor food festival or popup shop, so don’t be afraid of more creative repurpose projects like this.
Boutique
Shopping is always a popular recreational pastime. Shipping containers are ideal for collectors, such as those who enjoy antiques, or sports memorabilia. Also, jewelry, scarves, handbags, t-shirts, umbrellas, stationery, greeting cards, and more. There are many possibilities for retail success in 40 foot shipping containers.
Educational Facilities
Schools and college campuses are ideal for using 40 foot shipping containers. The structures can be converted into classrooms, labs, gyms, libraries, and performing arts centers. The containers can also be used as portable concession stands, or mobile offices for interviews or for other special projects.
Industrial Business Uses
With all the unused shipping containers in the world, there are plenty of 40 foot shipping containers available for mobile industrial or on-site industrial use. Of the 17 million shipping containers in circulation around the world, over 5 million are in active use making around 200 million trips per year as shipping containers. While those numbers are staggering, they also mean that there are plenty of inactive shipping containers that could be put to some other use. Shipping containers have some inherent characteristics that, with a few modifications, make them ideal for certain industrial uses. Here are some examples of industrial uses for 40 foot shipping containers.
Machine Shop
Many industrial sites and construction sites could benefit from on-site or mobile machine shops for many purposes ranging from routine tasks such as tool sharpening to more involved tasks such as the fabrication of parts. Shipping containers can be outfitted with electrical and HVAC systems to create a comfortable environment for machine operators. For some applications, like machining metal, no additional ventilation may be required. For other applications, such as woodworking, additional filtration systems may be needed to remove dust from the air. Plastic fabrication and metal cutting may require additional fume removal systems.
Most important for this application, however, is that 40-foot shipping containers are inherently secure. The heavy steel forming the walls and doors are perfect for securing machine tools that may cost hundreds of thousands of dollars or more if 3D printing or CNC machines are involved. Being able to lock up the machine tools inside a 40-foot shipping container every night gives the machine shop operator peace of mind that the machine tools will be there the next morning.
Paint Booth
Paint is hazardous to the painter and the environment. Moreover, paint is a fire hazard. Paint booths are designed to prevent contamination of the environment while providing the painter with the ventilation needed to keep them safe. Shipping containers can be outfitted with electrical and ventilation systems to support the employee’s painting equipment and safety systems. Furthermore, as a steel box, 40-foot shipping containers are well suited to contain any fire once outfitted with a fire suppression system.
Again, most important for this application, is that 40-foot shipping containers are built to contain whatever is inside. With some modification to ensure that all the airflow is directed through the ventilation system, environmental contamination from the fumes and atomized paint can be minimized.
Welding Booth
Like painting, welding creates both fumes and a fire hazard. A 40-foot shipping container that is outfitted with a fume extraction system, an electrical system, an HVAC unit, and a fire suppression system would be well suited for welding.
Sandblasting Booth
While sandblasting has some characteristics in common with painting and welding, particularly the need for proper ventilation and air filtration, sandblasting has one unique characteristic. When sandblasting, the sand and dust blasted from the workpiece must be recovered, otherwise, the sandblasting booth would eventually fill up with sand and dust. A 40-foot shipping container configured as a sandblasting booth would isolate the sandblasting from the environment and would be outfitted with an electrical system, ventilation, and air filtration system, and dust recovery system to remove and contain the sand and dust.
Important Note for This Kind of Project
Keep track of the changes you make as your project progresses. Comparing the photos of the first stages and the finished product on your shipping container will allow you to refine your repurposing efforts. Taking note of the additions of custom features such as windows, doors, closets, and more will help you keep track of the expenses involved.
Whether or not you’re a business owner, you have a wealth of ways to repurpose 40 foot containers. The durability, affordability, and adaptability of these units make this a productive and personal venture geared toward your goals. Remember to consult with an experienced, reputable company when you start your project. To learn more about purchasing a 40 foot shipping container of your own, contact Integrated Equipment Sales today.
