Electronic floor scales, electronic crane scales, electronic balances, hook scales, explosion-proof electronic scales, various refrigerated containers, and basic container size overview:
20-foot container: internal dimensions 5.69m x 2.13m x 2.18m / gross cargo weight generally 17.5 tons / volume 24-26 cubic meters
40-foot container: internal dimensions 11.8m x 2.13m x 2.18m / gross cargo weight generally 22 tons / volume 54 cubic meters
40-foot high cube container: internal dimensions 11.8m x 2.13m x 2.72m / gross cargo weight generally 22 tons / volume 68 cubic meters
20-foot freezer container: internal dimensions 5.42m x 2.26m x 2.24m / gross cargo weight generally 17 tons / volume 26 cubic meters
40-foot freezer container: internal dimensions 11.20m x 2.24m x 2.18m / gross cargo weight generally 22 tons / volume 54 cubic meters
40-foot high cube freezer container: internal dimensions 11.62m x 2.29m x 2.50m / gross cargo weight generally 22 tons / volume 67 cubic meters
45-foot freezer container: internal dimensions 13.10m x 2.29m x 2.50m / gross cargo weight generally 29 tons / volume 75 cubic meters
20-foot open top container: internal dimensions 5.89m x 2.32m x 2.31m / gross cargo weight 20 tons / volume 31.5 cubic meters
40-foot open top container: internal dimensions 12.01m x 2.33m x 2.15m / gross cargo weight 30.4 tons / volume 65 cubic meters
20-foot flat rack container: internal dimensions 5.85m x 2.23m x 2.15m / gross cargo weight 23 tons / volume 28 cubic meters
40-foot flat rack container: internal dimensions 12.05m x 2.12m x 1.96m / gross cargo weight 36 tons / volume 50 cubic meters
45-foot container: internal dimensions 13.58m x 2.34m x 2.71m / gross cargo weight generally 29 tons / volume 86 cubic meters
Container size overview: If you have the chance to pass by or enter a port's container yard, the towering piles of containers and the shuttle-like movements of container trucks will surely leave a deep impression on you. The colorful painted containers with various shipping company logos and patterns can be dazzling. You might marvel at the variety of containers. However, what you see most often are just a few standard 20-foot and 40-foot containers and some 40-foot high cube containers. In fact, there is a large family of containers, including many special containers that you may not have seen before. Now let me introduce you to this container family.
The most commonly seen 20-foot and 40-foot containers are called dry cargo containers (Dry Cargo Container), also known as general cargo containers or simply containers. These containers are used to transport piece goods that do not require temperature control. They come in two common sizes: 20 feet and 40 feet. There is also a 40-foot high cube container that falls under the category of dry cargo containers. The structural characteristic of these containers is that they are usually closed, with doors located at one end or on the side. Inside, there are devices for securing cargo. When using these containers, cleanliness, no water leakage, and appropriate packaging of the goods are required to fully utilize the container's capacity.
Now let's take a detailed look at the external dimensions and internal volumes of these three types of less frequently used dry cargo containers:
20-foot container: Abbreviated as 20-foot container (20GP), external dimensions 6.1m x 2.44m x 2.59m (20ft x 8ft x 8ft6in).
Internal volume: 5.69m x 2.13m x 2.18m.
This type of container typically carries heavy cargo, with a gross cargo weight limit of around 17.5 tons and a cargo volume of approximately 24-26 cubic meters.
20-foot foldable platform container: Internal dimensions 5.946m x 2.216m x 2.233m, gross cargo weight 27.1 tons.
40-foot container: Abbreviated as 40-foot container (40GP), external dimensions 12.2m x 2.44m x 2.59m (40ft x 8ft x 8ft6in).
Internal volume: 11.8m x 2.13m x 2.18m.
This type of container typically carries light bulky cargo, with a gross cargo weight limit of around 22 tons and a cargo volume of approximately 54 cubic meters.
40-foot high cube container: Abbreviated as 40-foot high cube container (40HQ), external dimensions 12.2m x 2.44m x 2.9m (40ft x 8ft x 9ft6in).
Internal volume: 11.8m x 2.13m x 2.72m.
This type of container also carries light bulky cargo, with a gross cargo weight limit of around 22 tons and a cargo volume of approximately 68 cubic meters.
40-foot foldable platform container: Internal dimensions 12.080m x 2.126m x 2.043m, gross cargo weight 29.2 tons.
45-foot high cube container: Internal volume 13.58m x 2.34m x 2.70m, individual gross cargo weight 29 tons, volume 86 cubic meters.
Besides these three commonly used containers, other varieties are generally referred to as specialized containers. If your cargo requires a specialized container, it should be reserved when booking with the shipping company, as such specialized containers may not be available at every port. Here are the introductions of specialized containers:
Open-top container (Open Top Container): The feature of this type of container is that its top can be conveniently removed and installed. The top comes in both hard and soft versions. Hard tops are made of thin steel plates, while soft tops are usually made of canvas, plastic sheets, or coated plastic sheets. To open the top, you simply roll it up from one end. This type of container is suitable for transporting large cargo and heavy goods, such as steel, timber, machinery, especially fragile heavy goods like glass panels. Using a crane to load the goods into the container from the top reduces the risk of damage and facilitates movement within the container.
20-foot open-top container: Internal volume 5.89m x 2.32m x 2.31m, gross cargo weight 20 tons, volume 31.5 cubic meters.
40-foot open-top container: Internal volume 12.01m x 2.33m x 2.15m, gross cargo weight 30.4 tons, volume 65 cubic meters.
Ventilated container (Ventilated Container): The feature of this type of container is that it has several ventilation windows on its side walls or top walls. It is suitable for transporting goods that require certain ventilation and moisture protection, such as fruits and vegetables. If the ventilation windows are closed, it can also be used as a general cargo container.
Flat-rack container (Platform Based Container): This type of container does not have a top or side walls, and even lacks end walls, leaving only a base plate and four corner posts. This allows loading and unloading from all sides, including above, making it ideal for long and heavy items like heavy machinery, steel, timber, and ingots. Flat-rack containers are not waterproof, so water-sensitive goods cannot be transported unless covered with tarpaulins.
Platform container (Platform Container): This type of container is even simpler than the flat-rack container, retaining only the base plate. It is mainly used for loading long and heavy items such as heavy machinery and equipment, steel, etc. The length and width of the platform are the same as the base dimensions of standard domestic containers, allowing the use of the same securing and lifting equipment as other containers. The adoption of this type of container breaks the traditional concept that containers must have a certain volume.
Refrigerated container (Reefer Container): Refrigerated containers, also known as cold containers, are primarily used for transporting frozen food and maintaining a set low temperature. They are specially designed for transporting fish, meat, fresh fruits, vegetables, etc. Currently, there are basically two types of refrigerated containers used domestically: one with a built-in refrigerator inside the container called mechanical refrigerated container; the other without a refrigerator but with insulation equipment, featuring intake and exhaust holes on the end wall of the container. When loaded onto the ship's hold, the container is cooled by the ship's refrigeration system, called split-type refrigerated container (also known as external-type refrigerated container).
Tank container (Tank Container): As the name suggests, this type of container is specifically designed for transporting liquid cargo such as alcohol, gasoline, chemicals. It consists of a tank and a frame. The tank is used for loading liquids, and the frame supports and fixes the tank. The outer wall of the tank uses insulating material to keep the tank insulated, and the inner wall is polished to prevent liquid residue. To reduce the viscosity of the liquid, heaters are installed at the bottom of the tank, and the internal temperature of the tank can be observed through thermometers installed on the top. For convenience of loading and unloading, the tank top has a loading port, and the bottom has a discharge valve. During loading, the liquid enters through the loading port on the top of the tank, and during unloading, it flows out through the discharge hole, or can be sucked out from the top loading port with a tube.
Car container (Car Container): This type of container is specifically designed for transporting small cars. Its structure features no side walls, only a frame and a base plate. To prevent the car from sliding inside the container, the base plate is specially equipped with binding devices and anti-slip steel plates. Most car containers are designed with two layers, capable of carrying multiple small cars.
Livestock container (Pen Container or Live Stock Container): This is a special container for transporting live animals such as chickens, ducks, pigs, and cattle. To prevent sunlight exposure, the roof and side walls of the livestock container are made of fiberglass reinforced plastic. Additionally, to ensure relatively fresh air inside the container, aluminum wire mesh windows are installed on the sides and ends to enhance ventilation. Cleaning ports and drainage ports are located below the side walls, and movable pull doors are provided to clean out garbage. Feeding ports are also installed on the side walls. Livestock containers are typically loaded on the deck of the ship, where there is good airflow and it is convenient for cleaning and maintenance.
Garment container (Garment Container): Also known as a hanging clothing container. The feature of this type of container is that many horizontal rods are installed on the upper side beams inside the container. Each rod has several belt buckles, nylon buckles, or ropes hanging down. The hooks on the garment hangers are directly hung on the buckles or ropes. This type of clothing loading method belongs to package-free transportation, which not only saves packaging materials and costs but also reduces labor, improving the quality of clothing transportation.
Bulk container (Solid Bulk Container): This type of container is used for transporting powdered or granular goods such as soybeans, rice, various feeds, etc. It has 2-3 loading ports on the top and an unloading port on the bottom of the door. Using this type of container for bulk cargo improves both loading and unloading efficiency and freight quality, reducing dust hazards to human health and the environment.
20-foot heavy-duty container (Heavy Container): This type of container is specifically designed for transporting goods that are not large in volume but very heavy, such as cast iron products, hardware products, tiles, etc. Its size is the standard 20 feet. Since a regular standard 20-foot container can only carry 17.5 tons of cargo, which does not meet the requirements for certain goods, the carrier provides a 20-foot heavy-duty container that can carry up to 26 tons or even 28 tons.
If you are an exporter, after familiarizing yourself with the container family, you should now have a clear idea of which type of container suits your import goods. If your goods fit into a regular dry cargo container, after understanding the internal length, width, and height dimensions of the standard container, you can design the length, width, and height dimensions of your packaging box in proportion to the container's dimensions. This way, when loading, you can minimize wasted space and maximize cargo. Of course, the container cargo must never be overweight, as it is dangerous and strictly controlled in many countries. Many countries have established reward and punishment regulations for overweight.
Classification by purpose:
Containers are classified based on the type of cargo they carry:
1. General-purpose dry cargo containers (Dry Cargo Container): These containers are also known as general cargo containers and are used to transport miscellaneous goods that do not require temperature control. Their application range is extremely wide. According to statistics from 1983, among the world's 3 million containers, general cargo containers accounted for 85%, approximately 2.54 million. These containers are usually closed, with a door at one end or on the side. These containers are typically used to transport civilian goods, chemical products, electronic machinery, crafts, medicine, daily necessities, textiles, and instrument parts. Various solid bulk goods, granules, or powders that are unaffected by temperature changes can also be transported by these containers. This is the most commonly used container in everyday life.
2. Insulated containers (Keep Constant Temperature Container): These are used to transport goods that need to be refrigerated or kept at a constant temperature. All container walls are made with low thermal conductivity materials for insulation. They can be divided into the following three types:
① Refrigerated containers (Reefer Container): Primarily used for transporting frozen foods and maintaining a set temperature. Specifically designed for transporting goods like fish, meat, fresh fruits, and vegetables. Currently, there are basically two types of refrigerated containers used domestically: one with a built-in refrigerator inside the container called a mechanical refrigerated container; the other without a refrigerator but with an insulating structure, featuring intake and exhaust holes on the end wall of the container. When loaded onto the ship's hold, the container is cooled by the ship's refrigeration system, called a split-type refrigerated container (also known as an external-type or clamp-type refrigerated container).
② Insulated containers: These are used for transporting goods like fruits and vegetables, preventing excessive temperature rise to maintain freshness. Ice is typically used as a refrigerant, with an insulation time of about 72 hours.
③ Ventilated containers (Ventilated Container): These are used for transporting goods like fruits and vegetables that do not require freezing but have respiration. They have ventilation holes on the end wall and side walls. If the ventilation openings are closed, they can also be used as general cargo containers.
3. Tank containers (Tank Container): These are specifically designed for transporting liquid goods such as alcohol, oil (like animal and vegetable oils), liquid food, and chemicals. They can also transport other liquid hazardous goods. These containers come in single-tank and multi-tank varieties. The former, due to its strong sidewall strength, is typically used for loading malt and chemicals with higher relative densities, while the latter is used for loading grains with lower relative densities. Bulk containers should have watertight covers on their top loading ports to prevent rainwater from entering the container.
4. Platform-based containers (Platform Based Container): These containers do not have a top or side walls, and sometimes even lack end walls, leaving only a base plate and four corner posts. They allow loading and unloading from all directions, including above, making them suitable for long and heavy items such as heavy machinery, steel, pipes, timber, and ingots. Platform-based containers are not watertight, so water-sensitive goods cannot be transported unless covered with a tarpaulin.
5. Platform containers (Platform Container): These containers are simplified versions of platform-based containers, retaining only the base plate. The length and width of the platform are the same as the base dimensions of standard domestic containers, allowing the use of the same securing and lifting equipment as other containers. The adoption of this type of container breaks the traditional concept that containers must have a certain volume.
6. Open-top containers (Open Top Container): These are containers without a rigid top but with a canopy made of foldable or retractable top beams supporting canvas, plastic sheeting, or coated fabric. Other components are similar to general-purpose containers. These containers are suitable for transporting large and heavy goods, such as steel, timber, especially fragile heavy goods like glass panels. Using a crane to load the goods into the container from the top reduces the risk of damage and facilitates movement within the container.
7. Car containers (Car Container): These are specialized containers for transporting small cars. They consist of a simple steel frame mounted on a container base, typically without side walls (including end walls and side walls). These containers come in single-layer and double-layer varieties. Since the height of small cars ranges from 1.35 meters to 1.45 meters, if loaded into an 8-foot (2.438 meters) standard container, more than 25% of the container's volume would be wasted. Therefore, double-layer containers have appeared. These double-layer containers come in two heights: one is 10.5 feet (3.2 meters), and the other is twice the height of an 8.5-foot container. Therefore, car containers are generally not standard domestic containers.
Shanghai Qinchou Industrial Co., Ltd. specializes in selling electronic floor scales, electronic crane scales, electronic balances, hook scales, and explosion-proof electronic scales.
Company Address: No. 1588, Qixing Road, Minhang District, Shanghai
TEL: 86-021-34092770-8007
Mobile: 15121053817
Fax: 86-021-61927269
Postal Code: 201101
Website: http://www.qinchoush.com
E-mail: [email protected]