Shipping Containers – 8 Reasons Why They Still Make Perfect Sense After 65 Years

When Malcom McLean invented the shipping container in 1956, the concept made so much obvious sense that it was adopted rather quickly. Today, according to the International Maritime Organization (ISO), there are 34,000,000 of the containers around the world. Statista documents that about $14 billion of the global economy’s goods will travel in those steel boxes each year. 

Then, what happens when shipping contains reach the end of their useful lives? That Next has become a riveting story of financial opportunities, design breakthroughs, and environmentalism which are also making perfect sense.

The Repurposing of Shipping Containers  

Given proper maintenance, the containers will be loaded onto cargo ships and then unloaded for about 10 to 12 years. Of course, it would turn out to be an economic and eco apocalypse if they were simply dumped in a scrapheap after that. 

The good news is such a scenario is not playing out. Instead, many of them are being repurposed for other uses. That has been such a success that now even new containers are being manufactured solely for those same kinds of applications. They never serve as containers on cargo ships.

What are some of those uses? They include storage, personal housing, commercial housing as for dorms, retailing, recreation, garaging autos, office space, and infinite other possibilities. 

Those reimaginings make perfect sense for 8 important reasons.

Very Affordable

Here at SteelSTORED our mission is to ensure customers will have exactly the right shipping container at what for them is at the right price point. 

One repurposing growing in popularity is creating living space. For example, place a number of containers horizontally or vertically and the dream of homeownership can happen. Since the specialty steel used is weldable that reduces the expense of retrofitting the containers for a home. A foundation is not needed. Compare that with, as HomeGuide indicates, the cost of building a traditional house: $100 to $155 a square foot. 

Since 1987, when Philip C. Clark patented his approach for that kind of conversion, a whole design industry has emerged for exterior and interior decorating of shipping containers. Some of those “looks” have become the new cool. 

No Frustrating Waits

The container already exists. Therefore, there is no wait for materials in this era of supply-chain bottlenecks. SteelSTORED delivers promptly to the customer’s location. Because of its simple structure, modifications represent add-ons, not time-consuming teardowns. Whatever the use, be it an above-ground swimming pool or corporate headquarters, it can be implemented quickly.

Red Tape-Free Zone

In the majority of applications, the shipping container is classified as a “temporary structure.” That eliminates the need for a planning permit or contracting for professional legal services about zoning. The example SteelSTORED points to is the above-ground pool. Since it is not permanently installed it does not mandate any permit. Just jump in and enjoy.

Entrepreneurial Experimentation

Startups are about trying out what seems like a financially promising idea. That could be the concept for used outdoor clothing and equipment. Setting up the store as a pop-up in a shipping container makes the experiment affordable. Location is everything. If that location does not pan out the pop-up is portable. The store can be transported to another area. Actually, the marketing strategy could be about total mobility. In winter, the store could be southern Arizona. In summer, in Maine.

Standing Up to Mother Nature

Climate change has introduced unexpected weather extremes. Because it travels the rough seas, the shipping container is unique in its ability to stand up to all acts of nature. The primary material used – corten steel – is rust-resistant. The cross members, that is the beams or joists, support the container in a way that creates space between the floor and the ground. Moisture from below does not seep in. 

Thieves Not Welcome 

From the get-go, the design of shipping containers has been to deter theft. They are heavy, so they cannot be easily carried off. They are sealed. Those features make them a low-cost solution for security. For instance, businesses can keep inventory in them. 

Transportability and Stackability

Inventor Malcolm McLean saw the need for a standard container size. That enabled maximum use of space on ships because the containers can be stacked. That feature facilitates easy transportation. It can be loaded on a truck, plane, or plane. When relocating to another part of the state or the nation, homeowners can take their shipping-container house and/or garage with them.

In addition, because of stackability, shipping containers can serve to construct multistory buildings. For instance, there can be the four-story dorm. 

Sustainability

Repurposing used containers represents a huge initiative in recycling. The weight of a 20-footer is about 4,409 pounds, most of that steel and marine plywood or bamboo. After being retired from shipping, the life span can be another 25 years. 

No Limits on Repurposings – So Share Your Ideas

There is the adage that businesses learn the most from their customers. The customers for SteelSTORED continue to conjure up wonderful new ideas for how they will use shipping containers. Then we help make those happen. Please contact SteelSTORED to share your dreams. We also can provide some recommendations.