What to Consider When Buying an ISO Container

Steel shipping containers are practical investments, whether you have goods to ship abroad or over long distances, storage needs or wish to explore alternative building options. Old or new, there are certain things that you should consider when shopping for ISO containers. Steel boxes may be rugged in construction, but along the way, they endure potentially damaging environments, leaving them with scratches, scrapes, and dents. Despite an exposure to these elements, the steel container you buy should still be able to protect your goods from damage. Here are some things you should look at when purchasing shipping containers, particularly, used ones:

• Miles traveled – Some containers log thousands of miles in transit, while moving cargo while others spend most of their time sitting in ports. You will find great benefits from this equipment, either way. Choose the first if you want something that has stood the test of rugged travel and the latter, if you want something that is closer to their brand new condition.

• Handling – Containers are mainly moved using forklifts. Check for dents and marks on places where the forklifts go. Many times, forklift dents are where rusting begins as paint is chipped from the container's interior or exterior.

• Environments endured – The types of environments and climates endured by the container during its stint in shipping or cargo travel also affects its overall quality and lifespan. Containers that spent time traveling in mild climates typically show less wear than those that travel through harsher weathers.

• Container age – The younger the container is, the better use you will get from it, and typically, the higher the price tag. There are quick ways to determine the age of the container. One is by looking at the CSC plate of the container and another by looking at the door style, the ones with flat doors are older (it was not until the early 90s that manufacturers switched to corrugated doors).

Tips on Buying Shipping Containers for Storing Temperature Sensitive Goods

There are many things that you should look out for when shopping for shipping containers, particularly those designed for storing temperature-sensitive goods and items. General guidelines apply when buying used reefers, but the following are some of the most important things you should remember as you source them from your chosen supplier:

• Look for Grade A quality containers that are still cargo worthy, if you wish to use your reefer for transport purposes instead of refrigerated storage. While grade A containers do cost more, you will be guaranteed quality and enjoy more miles on your shipping container, which makes your investment so much more worth the extra cost. Choose a unit that is still structurally sound and has not lost its wind and watertight properties. Standard used units are also good options, but go for Grade A units if you want relatively newer containers.

• Be sure to inspect the quality of the container before agreeing to the purchase. Price is often a good indicator of the container's grade and overall quality, but you should never look at the cost alone when sourcing used containers. A good rule of thumb is buying from established and reputable container dealers so you can be guaranteed about the quality of the containers you will be sold. Established dealers offer great benefits including strict quality control, excellent value or money, and peace of mind, as you get to purchase genuinely high quality containers for a wide range of purposes.

• Just like any other type of storage and shipping containers, you should also check reefers for structural damage. By simply checking the container's history, handling, and storage, you can easily determine whether or not it retains its structural integrity and overall quality throughout its years of use and disuse.

Huge Selection of Containers for Sale at Online Container Seller's Website

Storage containers come in a wide variety of forms and sizes. Container ‘types’ can, in fact, be categorized according to the different classes, unique design features, sizes, and characteristics of each unit. Container suppliers even offer units in varying stages of use. The following are only some of the most common types of containers you will find in their collections:

• New containers – Brand new containers are fresh from manufacturing plants and are ideal for purchase. The companies that are looking forward to upgrade their cargo containers or replace ones that have been in service for more than their metal boxes can handle.

• Refurbished containers – Refurbished containers are those that have been restored to good working and presentable conditions, either by a simple lick of paint or an overhaul of its main construction. Refurbishment may also mean replacing doors and mechanisms, spot priming rusty spots, or repairing floor bed damage.

• Wind and water-tight containers – Storage containers are by standard, wind and water tight, but they lose this attributes through time, as damage and rust start to invade. One of the easiest ways to test air and water tightness in containers is by inspecting the container from the inside for holes. Even the tiniest holes will be visible inside a shut container during daylight.

• As-is storage containers – As-is containers are not refurbished in any way, meaning you are literally buying them in their current state or virtually the same state as they have been, straight from the ports. As-is containers are economical alternatives, especially when you only need the container for storage for recycling.

• Cargo-worthy containers – Containers that are labeled cargo-worthy can either be new or used containers within the 5-year range of last inspection and are deemed cargo-worthy before requiring re-certification.

Building Structures Using High Quality Used Cargo Containers

Before they were used as modular building materials, freight containers spent their days being trucked, shipped, and railed from country to country, safely moving cargo. These containers can be used for shipping for about 10 to 15 years, but as modular building materials, their usefulness can be lengthened indefinitely. If you’re considering buying used shipping containers for your building project, you need to keep in mind a few quality considerations.

First of all, determine the age of the container. It will give you an idea of how much beating it has probably experienced. It’s quite easy to determine age. Containers each have unique serial numbers (called ISO reporting marks) to make them trackable while in transit, and to guarantee that they pass ISO standards. This number also reveals the age of the containers and their owners.

Next, look for any major dings and dents. Some dents are okay as long as long as they do not affect the structural integrity of the shipping container. You also want to check for presence of any toxic materials. Was the container used to transport hazardous waste? If yes, then it will need treatment to become safe and habitable.

Finally, you should also check for rust. Used shipping containers have typically been on long haul routes and are expected to have rust spots, but their non-corrosive steel construction means that the rust stays on the surface and does not impair the integrity of the unit. What you should be on the lookout for are deep areas of corrosion. Some suppliers will try to fool you into buying a low quality container by painting over deep rusts and hiding the problem. Don’t buy from those suppliers.

Like anything second hand or used cargo containerswon’t be shiny and spotless. Be prepared to find signs of wear and tear. The best way to get good value for your money is to inspect (preferably in person) the container you are looking to purchase.

Buy Shipping Containers Perfect for Your Industry

There is no such thing as an ‘ideal’ shipping container for all applications. The most suitable choice depends on the application and the industry. 

Office Containers

Do you wish to turn a shipping container into a semi-portable field office? Then you can use either new or used containers that can be modified based on your design. Work with a company that can add doors, windows, heating, electrics, and even a kitchen and toilet to the container. They can help you create mobile offices, home extensions, garden sheds, etc.

Refrigerated Containers

If you are in the food distribution or restaurant industry, then you may need cold storage and refrigerated containers. Your choices include walk-in coolers, refrigerated containers, and refrigerated trailers.    Coolers can maintain temperatures from 0°F to about 40°F, while refrigerated versions can go below 0°F and reach up to 75°F. These food-grade containers provide effective cold storage solutions for most kinds of perishable food items.

ISO Containers

An ISO seal tells you that a container is shipping- and transport-worthy. It is resilient and designed for repeated use, and is constructed following ISO-set dimensions and criteria. These standardised intermodal containers ensure the safety and security of its contents.  They come is a range of sizes. If you are engaged in importing and exporting as well as distribution, you need to use ISO containers.

Engineering, Construction, and Manufacturing

Do you need storage solutions? You will find used shipping containers very useful. These durable and secure containers can be used as stock / tool / machinery storage, workshops, filed offices, or even mess rooms. They are also ideal for storing chemicals and paints.

Agriculture and Farming

Shipping containers can be sued used as tack rooms, semi-mobile farm offices, and even as storage for animal feeds, grain, and general equipment and machinery. They require minimal set up and can provide wind and water-tight properties that makes them ideal for storage.

40ft Container: Provides Enough Space for Large Storage Needs

Along with asking about the many benefits of using shipping containers for storage, most buyers also ask about how big a container they need for their requirements. The shirt answer is this: a 20ft container is enough for small moves, and a 40ft container is ideal for large storage needs. 

A 20ft container can easily fit two compact city cars. If you only need to store everyday items like furniture, bikes, and lawnmowers, then this type of container may be sufficient. It can hold the contents of a typical 3-bedroom home. It is 20ft in length. The width is 8ft, and the height is also 8ft (about as tall as a football goal). Being inside a 20ft container is like being in a single garage. That should give you an idea of how much you can fit in this small freight container. 

For larger storage needs, a 40ft container may be more practical. It provides double the amount of storage space that a 20ft container can provide. It is twice as long and also higher, being 8 ft 6 inches high. To imagine how much you can put into a 40ft container, visualize what you can place in a double length garage. If you need to store more items, then this is the type of container for you. Note that you will also need considerable outdoor floor space—at least 9ft x 45ft—to house your 40ft container. If you need something taller, you can go for a 40ft high-cube container, which is 9ft 6inches tall. 

Aside from being useful for larger storage needs, 40ft freight containers are also great for temporary or even permanent accommodation requirements. They are big enough to function as small offices or even residential studios, as they can comfortably fit a kitchenette, a toilet, a big bed, and a sofa, with room left to move around.

Determining the Perfect Material for Shipping Container

Shipping containers are traditionally made out of steel, but other materials are also used to produce durable storage containers that are designed to withstand cargo transport. Some common materials used in manufacturing shipping containers include aluminium, fibreglass, and even plywood, all of which can be designed for frequent handling between various transport modes, from ships to trains, trucks, and trailers.

Contemporary shipping containers are manufactured and held to very high standards. They use quality materials like Corten Steel, which are very resistant to weather conditions, extreme temperatures, and damages caused by outside elements. High-grade paint is also used to help prevent corrosion and similar types of damages.

Steel is considered the best material for shipping containers due to its durability, relative lightweight-ness, and ability to withstand outside forces. Steel is also less expensive to produce than other materials, which is why steel shipping containers are increasingly being used as building materials for modular, pre-fabricated constructions, ranging from homes to office buildings, and the like.

Whether it is intended for shipping, storage, or construction, steel cargo containers are the perfect solution for many applications, as steel is a very versatile, durable, and lasting material. If you are looking for steel shipping containers for self-storage, volumetric shipping needs, business, or construction, choose companies that can provide you with a wide range of container choices to satisfy your requirements. Go for trusted manufacturers and distributors of used and brand new shipping and cargo units that are excellent for use in different kinds of storage, cargo, or architectural applications. The best companies will even allow you to rent containers for short-term and infrequent use, so you won't have to invest big money on huge shipping containers that you will only use once or twice in its lifetime.