There are many things that are shipped in containers overseas, each with its own specific requirement. Shipping container manufacturers have made several variations to the basic shipping container we all know, to accommodate for all the items of varying size, type and material carried within them. Many of these different types of shipping container are available in Cape Town.
Some items in transit, for instance, require temperature control, others are simply too large to fit inside a container, while others require modifications to the container to allow for efficient loading and offloading. Removable panels, hinged sides, and refrigeration units are all employed to meet the specific requirements of the items in transit.
Here is a list of the kinds of shipping container layouts that are commonly manufactured and are available in Cape Town, South Africa:
Dry or Refrigerated
Dry Shipping Containers have no refrigeration systems attached to them. A Refrigerated Container has a refrigeration system attached to the rear. Some are not functional and some are fully functional, an application for this would be a mobile cold room, for cold storage.
Double Door Shipping Container
A shipping container that has 2 doors that swing open on the front completely opening one side of the container. Each door interlocks into the other so one has to be opened before the other, as the other locks the first door in place.
Non Operational Reefers
A reefer is also known as a refrigerated container, this is one that is non-functioning but it still has its refrigeration unit attached.
Operational Reefers
This is the opposite of a non-functional reefer container, as its refrigeration unit is still functional, these can be priced into R150 000 rand and upwards, they are well serviced units that require costly maintenance.
Side Opener
This is a shipping container where one long side of the container is able to open, it is split into 2 doors, which fold in half along additional hinges. These also have double doors on one side of the shipping container. Very applicable in pop up shops.
Open Top
This is a shipping container where the roof is detachable, or does not have a roof at all and a tarpaulin or canvas material is stretched to cover the opening. Can be used as a rubble skip and has even been lined and used as a swimming pool in some applications.
Flat Rack
This container has no roof or sidewalls. It is just a base and front back walls. It is used to transport and ship items that cannot be contained by the walls of the shipping container and thus have been removed and the item is then secured in place on either end via the existing upright front and back walls.
Tunnel Shipping Container
This is a container that has 2 sets of interlocking double doors at its front and rear panel. Both can open up giving the a tunnel like structure where items can be passed through the interior of the container.
