• Dry Container
• Flat Rack Container
• Open Top Container
• Refrigerated ISO Containers
• ISO Tanks

Dry containers are the most common containers used in the shipping industry. They come in lengths of 20, 40 and 45 feet, and they are designed to transport dry goods. These containers do not allow for temperature controls, so they are not suited for moving food or chemicals that require refrigeration. There are about seventeen million intermodal containers in the world, and a large proportion of the world’s long-distance freight generated by international trade is transported in shipping containers. Their invention made a major contribution to the globalization of commerce in the second half of the 20th century, dramatically reducing the cost of transporting goods and hence of long-distance trade.

This type of container is handled by Spreaders. There is a very wide variety of spreaders according to the number of cycles and to the type of cranes to be used.

A flat rack container has no top and only two sides. This makes room for heavy loads to be set the rack from above or from the side. Most flat rack containers are either 20 or 40 feet long, and they are made from steel for strength and durability. Some flat rack containers are collapsible, and some come with additional walls that can be attached to the frame.

This type of equipment is handled by Overheight Frames.

This type of container is basically a Dry Storage type but without top. This allows for easy loading of bulk cargo. There is a roof structure, plastic, that can be secured to the container with ropes, and that provides protection against rain and other forms of precipitation.

This type of equipment is handled by Overheight Frames as the cargo might protrude from the top of the container. If the cargo does not protrude a standard Spreader can do the job.

A refrigerated container or reefer is an intermodal container used in intermodal freight transport that is refrigerated for the transportation of temperature-sensitive cargo. While a reefer will have an integral refrigeration unit, they rely on external power, from electrical power points (“reefer points”) at a land-based site, a container ship or on quay. When being transported over the road on a trailer or over rail wagon, they can be powered from diesel powered generators (“gen sets”) which attach to the container whilst on road journeys. Refrigerated containers are capable of controlling temperature ranging from -65 °C up to 40 °C.

This type of container is handled by Spreaders.

Tanks are storage containers designed to hold liquids. They are usually constructed out of anti-corrosive materials because of the chemicals they are used to carry. As the Refrigerated container or the normal Dry storage this container is handled by standard spreaders.