Steel shipping containers are sort of like the Swiss Army knife of industrial assets. There are so many ways to modify and use them that it would take an entire search engine just to fit them all into one place. Whether you want doors or windows or are using them for work purposes or leisure, the possibilities are endless.
For starters, here are the basics of shipping containers. They’re typically used for the transportation of cargo, and they play a huge role in world imports and exports. In fact, shipping constitutes about 90% of the world’s trade, and most of that is done through the magic of roughly 20 million weather-resistant, water-tight steel shipping containers.
Now, for the fun stuff. Custom containers can be created for just about anything you can think of. They are absolutely ideal for remote projects that you need housing for, and there are a ton of other great ways to repurpose them at an extremely low cost. Here are just a few of the most popular uses for steel shipping containers:
Portable office containers
There is no better solution for your portable office needs than shipping containers. It allows you to bring your work wherever it needs to be, and they’re also perfect to add to your existing workplace. In a recent study of more than 2,400 employees, it was found that the more employees work in tight quarters, the more they take sick days. While this is just an ancillary benefit of a portable office, it goes to show just how much they can do for your workplace.
Pop-up shop
Shipping containers can be outfitted with climate control, windows, doors with locks, and everything else you need to work out of what is essentially a small, inexpensive store. Whether it’s a boutique clothing store or your own little café, a shipping container can provide the tools you need to succeed. You can have them outfitted with shelves, lighting, awnings, and tons of other add-ons to accommodate your business.
Playroom for kids
One of the most popular trends in the steel shipping container industry is placing them in the backyard as a clubhouse for children. Every kid wants their own place to bring friends and play, and shipping containers make the perfect private space for your children to make their own. They allow kids to get creative and offer protection from rain and snow to let them play for as long as they’d like.
These are just three of the infinite ways that shipping containers can be useful to you. A great distributor can customize your container to fit your needs, and once you have them, you can do any number of things to truly personalize your shipping container experience. Have fun!
Why Should I Use Steel Shipping Containers to Create an Office Addition?
Is your small business expanding? Do you want to onboard a bunch of new employees but don’t have the space for them in your current office? Instead of going through the hassle of finding new office space or constructing a new office space altogether, you can invest in shipping container office addition construction. This method is a great way to meet your space requirements while remaining in your typical office space. They’re cheaper, highly durable, and simple to use. Here are three key advantages of using steel shipping containers for your office addition project.
Cost-Effectiveness
Building an office addition using shipping containers is more cost-effective than traditional building methods. According to Container Exchange, you can get a shipping container for as low as $2,000. Constructing your shipping container office addition requires fewer building materials and labor. All you need to do is find a reliable contractor to help you with the construction. Here at Integrated Equipment Sales, we specialize in office modifications for shipping containers!
Availability
According to Show House, there are around 17 million steel shipping containers worldwide. Of these, only six million are in use. This means about 11 million shipping containers are currently lying unused. These could be converted into structures for people to utilize. As you might imagine, this also means that finding a shipping container to use for your office addition won’t be a huge struggle. That, coupled with the fact that they’re quite affordable, makes them perfect for office additions.
Ease of Construction
Another advantage of using steel shipping containers to create an office addition is that structures built using containers are quick to construct. In fact, you can get a prefabricated addition. This significantly cuts down the time needed for construction. Plus, when you hire professional modifiers, you can focus on your business expansion and let the experts get to work!
There are countless advantages to using shipping containers for your office addition. It’s not only cheaper but you can quickly create a space for your new employees to work while remaining in your usual office. If you’re looking for steel shipping containers to use for your office addition, get in touch with Integrated Equipment Sales today! We’re happy to assist you in modifying a container so your business can expand and flourish.
3 Alternative Uses for a Steel Cargo Container
Once modified, a steel cargo container can have almost unlimited uses beyond its traditional use as a place to store or transport supplies. They also come in a variety of sizes, from 40 foot containers, which are fairly standard, to sizes as great as 180 feet wide and 1,3000 feet long. Furthermore, because shipping containers are meant to be moved around, they can be placed wherever you need them, like as a pop-up business or an addition to a work site. This means that there are endless options for a modified shipping container, limited only by what you want out of a steel cargo container.
Here are three of the many options for modifying a storage container:
They Can Act as a Modified Office
Many businesses are looking towards modified shipping containers as a new way of constructing their offices. This is because of the flexibility that they offer, as they can be moved where they are needed. This is great for a construction company, which won’t always work in the same location or other work that happens at off-site locations like an archeological dig. This environmentally friendly option is also customizable to fit the needs of the portable office. It’s not a one-size-fits-all all, generic office that you’d be getting. On top of all that, they’re also a great economic decision for a business. It’s both cheaper than building an office from scratch, but can also be sold later for a profit, or if not a profit then at least a portion of the initial cost.
They Make Great Concessions Stands
Almost every sporting event, from youth sports for children through professional sports, have concessions stands at them. Of course, sports aren’t the only place that you’ll find a concession stand. Fireworks, parades, air shows, fun runs, and any event that draws a notable crowd will need a concession stand to help keep everyone full and happy.
Steel cargo containers are easily converted into concession stands, and much like food trucks the mobility that is offered by a shipping container allows the shipping container to become a portable concession stand, going to events throughout the region. Furthermore, due to their size, shipping containers can offer some shelter to sit and eat at if there is bad weather for the event they’re serving, making them a great option to replace the traditional concession stand that typically amounts to some folding tables and a tent.
They Can Become a Seasonal Shop
In shopping malls, strip malls, empty lots, and parking lots across the country there are seasonal pop-up shops that appear over the course of the year. Around October they’ll sell costumes and Halloween decorations, and come the winter those spaces tend to be filled with Christmas trees, ornaments, and other winter holiday supplies. They’ll even pop up to sell fireworks at the start of summer in states where they’re legal.
A converted steel cargo container makes a great alternative to traditional pop-up shops. It can be moved wherever there is space or would be the best for the business, while also being customized to fit the needs of whichever particular season they’re in, versatile when necessary, and is easily turned over into different seasons. Furthermore, because modified shipping containers are a cheaper option than traditional structures it helps the bottom line of a pop-up seasonal shop.
Because these modified shipping containers are customizable, they can fit almost any need you can think of for them. These are just three options in a world full of possibilities beyond these. That’s the true strength of using a modified shipping container, their versatility in purpose.