Shipping containers

Containers are structures designed according to certain conditions, to ensure their ability to transport goods.

The containers which are available in the present day are mostly made of aluminium and steel. Aluminium dry containers have a slightly larger payload compared to steel dry containers. Steel dry containers have a slightly larger internal cube therefore the volume of the container is more in steel dry containers. Steel shipping containers are the most commonly used type of containers.

Containers are typically made of steel, because of their ability to carry heavy loads, withstand harsh climate conditions, in addition to, their strength and high durability. They incorporate trapezoidal metal sheets to form the walls and roof and profiles to form the ‘‘box’’ edges and the grid to support the wooden floor.

Shipping containers are containers, particularly used for sea transportation (trading goods, and food). On the surface of steel containers heavy duty coating is applied for the optimal strength and corrosion resistance.

In the market, there are shipping containers with several external dimensions. The most common ones have lengths with 6.0, 9.0, and 12.0 m and heights with 2.4, 2.55, and 2.7 m. The width is usually 2.4 m. For housing buildings, the most commonly used containers have 6.0 and 12.0 m long and 2.7 m high because it provides a bigger ceiling height.

In 1956, the first container was made, and the demand for their mass production has been increased.

Depending on the use of the container, shipping containers are designed and manufactured to cope with a long and arduous life moving goods around the world, accordingly they are very sturdy and secure.

The typical lifespan of a container in shipping service is 10-12 years, once it comes out of shipping services, it could be sold for other uses i.e. storage or housing purposes, which surpass its lifespan by 10 +years.
Shipping containers

Main types of packaging materials

Packaging of food articles should be done in a way that chances of contamination, reaction with packed material, decomposition etc. is avoided. Packaging must be done in appropriate way or as per the norms recommended authority.

Packaging materials can be grouped into two main types:
*Shipping containers, which contain and protect the contents during transport and distribution but have no marketing function. Examples include sacks, corrugated fiberboard (cardboard) cartons, shrink-wrapped or stretch-wrapped containers, crates, barrels or drums.

Corrugated boxes that are widely used today were developed in the 1850s, to hold a number of smaller packages and as a shipping container.

Wooden shipping containers are still used extensively as a protective outer package for bottles and other delicate items and enjoy increasing use for single-use field crates. They remain in common use for wine, tea and beer. Wooden chests have high impact resistance and are stackable.

*Retail containers, which protect and advertise the food for retail sale and home storage. Examples include metal cans, glass or plastic bottles and jars, plastic tubs, pots and trays, collapsible tube.

Advances in food packaging have facilitated the development of modern retailformats that offer consumers the convenience of 1-stop shopping and the availability of food from around the world.

Plastic container is a retail containers or consumer units that protect, attract, contain and inform consumers in convenient quantities for retail sale and home storage and use.
Main types of packaging materials