It is outside the shipping industry that steel shipping containers become multi-purpose thanks to their durability and flexible design. You can modify a steel shipping container to fit your needs, whether it’s for commercial or domestic use. Luckily we have enough supply of new and used shipping containers, given that more than 17 million shipping containers are in circulation today. Of these, five million are actively involved in the shipping industry, and they make around 200 million trips a year, as Billie Box says.
Why, though, are steel shipping containers so reliable even beyond the shipping industry? Here’s how their use extends beyond the shipping industry, into the military and government, as well as why their qualities lend to such flexible uses.
Steel Shipping Containers are Made Using Sturdy Materials
Corten steel is the primary material used to make shipping containers. From the corrugated walls, cross members to cargo doors and frames of a shipping container, sturdy corten steel is utilized. Corten steel is also known as weathering steel. It’s a group of steel alloys specially made to be rust-resistant, weldable, and eliminate the need for painting shipping containers. For this reason, steel shipping containers can withstand adverse weather conditions with zero to minimum damage. For instance, if you’re a contractor who works in remote areas with harsh climates, you can modify a steel shipping container into a site office or a storage facility for your tools, machinery, and equipment.
Shipping Containers are Easily Portable
Steel shipping containers are specifically designed to allow for crane rigging. The corner castings of a steel cargo container are reinforced to make the container strong enough for crane lifting even when it’s loaded to the maximum. The forklift pockets and twist locks also enhance the portability of a shipping container. Since steel shipping containers are easy to move, you can make a portable concession stand, mobile offices, or container pop up shops. Having the capacity to take your services and products where the customers are is necessary in the modern business world. Even as you move around showcasing your products, you’ll not worry about your products’ security because steel shipping containers are secure and hard to break into. Additionally, you can have reinforced cargo doors and install an alarm and monitoring system to enhance your products’ security.
Steel Shipping Containers Can Accommodate Various Modifications
Being made from weldable steel, it’s easy for technicians to make modifications to a shipping container without incurring huge costs. You can install doors, windows, ventilation, shelves, cabinets, and insulation to custom-make a shipping container to fit your needs. The ease of modifications on steel shipping containers increases not only their efficiency but also their utility. Many businesses in different industries can modify a shipping container to serve twin purposes in their line of work. For instance, a logistics company may modify a 40 feet container to serve as a pick-up office and a temporary storage facility.
A business can also modify a shipping container to capitalize on branding. The exterior walls of a shipping container are a perfect space for a business to paint its logo, corporate colors, and advertising message. Since steel shipping containers are easy to modify, it’s faster and affordable for a business to customize several containers to fit their brand’s needs.
Steel Shipping Containers are Long Lasting
The corrugated steel used to make shipping containers has no elements of organic materials, and it’s likely to last a lifetime. Ultimately, 98% of shipping container parts are recyclable. Therefore, when your shipping containers have outlived their usefulness, you can send them to a steel recycling company instead of the dumpsite. After doing a solid 10 or 12 years in the shipping industry, a shipping container can last for another 15 years in different services. If you modify a new steel shipping container and maintain it well, it may serve your business for a lifetime.
These are the qualities that make steel shipping containers extremely useful outside the shipping industry. The good thing is that shipping containers are plenty in supply and easy to customize to serve different business purposes.
Government and Military Usage
Shipping lines own almost half of all shipping containers. However, such containers are popular with the military and government as they serve many purposes. Shipping containers are made of steel which makes them very strong and durable. They are also weatherproof and can withstand all types of climates. Here are some ways the military puts steel containers to good use.
Storage
These containers conveniently store many items ranging from food and water to ammunition and medical supplies. Shipping containers can also store equipment and vehicles. During deployments, soldiers may be in harsh conditions and need to be able to access supplies quickly. Storing food and equipment supplies in a steel container provides a temperature-controlled environment and keeps supplies organized.
Barracks
Steel shipping containers are used by the military to create barracks when soldiers are away from an official military base. They can be stacked on top of each other to create two or three-story barracks. The military can also place them side-by-side to create long, linear barracks. These containers can be outfitted with all the necessary amenities to provide soldiers with a temp home, including electricity and running water.
Offices
When working in remote locations, the military often uses steel containers as offices and command centers. They are outfitted with furniture and supplies to provide a private space for soldiers to work. They provide a secure location for soldiers to coordinate operations and communicate with other units.
Training
The military always needs ongoing training. Luckily, shipping containers become training facilities for a variety of purposes. They can be used as mockups for urban warfare, provide a realistic environment for medical training, and make a suitable location for target practice.
Barrier
Shipping containers can become strong barriers. By placing them in the water to create a floating barrier or on the ground to create a barricade, they can block roads or create checkpoints.
The military has no problems putting steel shipping containers to good use. They are strong, durable, and weatherproof. They can be used for storage, housing, training, and barriers. In other words, soldiers have reliable steel shipping containers to thank for many of their comforts while deployed.
The versatility of steel shipping containers makes them incredibly useful in the business world. The design, size, and shape of shipping containers makes them appropriate for different uses such as storage, pop up shops, mobile offices, and portable concession stands. Today, businesses of all sizes are modifying shipping containers to provide solutions for their various needs. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons steel shipping containers are so popular among business owners right now.
Readily Available for Purchase and Use
Billie Box estimates that there’re more than 17 million shipping containers in circulation globally. After their service in the shipping industry, most steel containers are still in great shape and can be reused for different purposes. Therefore, you can buy used shipping containers at an affordable price. Alternatively, you can buy new shipping containers for sale from a dealer near you. Since new and used shipping containers are plenty in the market, you can buy one at a great price.
Easy and Affordable to Modify
It is convenient to modify your shipping container to fit different applications. You can custom-modify your new or used shipping containers at an affordable price. For instance, you can install windows, doors, storage cabinets, ventilation, insulation, and air conditioning for a mobile office container. It doesn’t take long to modify a shipping container and install all the extra amenities that you need for your operations. This makes it particularly attractive for big companies looking for quick turn-around solutions to provide extra office space or storage space. Even when you conduct extensive modifications to your shipping container, it will still be more affordable than the traditional brick-and-mortar offices.
Sturdy and Long-Lasting
According to Container Auction, shipping containers can last for more than two decades if they are taken care of with regular maintenance. It does not take much to maintain your steel shipping container. You only need to dust it down and pressure-wash it occasionally. Other than that, your shipping container will withstand adverse weather conditions without sustaining damage. This is because steel shipping containers are made from corrugated steel that can accommodate heavy loads and hostile weather conditions. That is why steel shipping containers will endure adverse conditions such as heavy ocean waves, high pressure, gale-force winds, or hammering rain. Additionally, the corrugated steel is mold and rust-resistant because it contains zero organic material. For this reason, steel shipping containers are ideal for specialty projects that may require you to work in remote places with inhospitable climates.
Sufficient Space for Your Goods
Steel shipping containers vary in size. The most common size is 40 feet and 20 feet shipping containers. Depending on your application, you may need a bigger or smaller container. It is therefore convenient that shipping containers vary in size. If you need extra space, you can buy another container and stack it on the existing one. This also saves you ground space, as you can stack several containers without eating up your warehouse space.
Steel shipping containers provide handy solutions for companies in need of storage or office space. Since it is easy to modify shipping containers, they’re convenient for companies of all sizes in search of custom solutions. Steel shipping containers are sturdy, affordable, and durable, making them ideal for any number of uses.
To learn more about securing used and new steel shipping containers, contact Integrated Equipment Sales today! We’re happy to provide you with these products and assist you with utilizing them in accordance with the industry they’re needed in.
