German container shipping company Hapag-Lloyd unveiled a new steel floor container, what it claims to be the future of container shipping. Compared to conventional boxes with wooden floors, this development enables much larger loads into it per running metre, which makes it particularly interesting for heavy goods like machines, noted David Piel, Senior Manager Special Cargo, Hapag-Lloyd.
By way of comparison, a 20’ wooden floor container can load 4.6 t/m (tonnes per metre), but a steel floor container of equal size can load 7.6 t/m. The difference is even greater with the 40’ box. While the one with a wooden floor can withstand a load of 3 t/m, the steel floor one can withstand twice as much,
…he explained.
Through this innovation, the company is also meant to contribute to more sustainable shipping. The higher stability of the container means that it can be used for much longer. What’s more, the floor wears away much more slowly, which means that it needs to be repaired less often and that doing so requires less effort.
This, in turn, means that fewer resources are used and that less effort is needed to clean it. But the biggest factor making the container more sustainable is that it is made entirely of steel, which makes it 100% recyclable.
What’s more, the container can always be delivered clean and free of residues from the previous loading. For example, a container which has just transported oil drums, machine part or animals skins, will be then supposed to transport food or clothing.
Unlike wooden floors, steel does not absorb any odours or liquids resulting from possible leaks. The slightly wavy shape of the floor also prevents the cargo from sitting in any moisture if liquids have escaped or if condensation has formed.
Meanwhile, the tare weight of steel floor containers is also about 150 kg lighter than those with traditional floors. This, in turn, means that the customer can load a higher load weight.
