The container manufacturing industry produces millions of different types of conex boxes annually. These boxes are shipping containers utilised in the storage and transportation of goods for transcontinentally and internationally. It is available in different types and sizes depending upon the requirement of the goods to be transported and are globally used to ship different types of cargo. Since the trade industry is constantly working to keep up with the supply chain demands, it becomes crucial to look for reliable and durable means of shipping goods. Conex boxes have been modified over the years to facilitate intermodal transport and offer safer transportation. Let us look at the role of conex boxes in the shipping industry.
History of conex boxes.
Conex is an abbreviation for container express. These shipping containers have their roots in the political unrest in Korea and Vietnam. During the wars of 1914 and 1939, an urgent need for convenient, reliable and faster methods of transport arose in the U.S. military. Soldiers needed supplies on the front line, and it was challenging to ferry goods for intermodal transport. The cargo had to be loaded twice, once onto container vessels and then again unloaded and reloaded onto trucks.
Further, the aluminium boxes provided little durability or weather resistance. The transportation process took time, and most cargo got damaged or lost during transit. Conex boxes were developed and used in the late 1952s to counter this logistical challenge. The early model of the conex box was called a ‘transporter’ that was built to store and transport supplies.
What is a conex shipping container?
Shipping containers have been a boon to the trade industry for decades. A conex box widely circulated as a shipping container during the Great War to ship war supplies quickly and reliably. In the aftermath of the war, these containers began to be utilised throughout the trade industry to supply goods worldwide. Manufacturers customised the basic structure of these conex boxes to modify them into different types of shipping containers to transport goods other than military cargo. Later, Malcolm McLean revolutionised the shipping industry by introducing standard intermodal shipping containers. Since then, the global supply chain has been utilising the multiple benefits of these container boxes.
Features of conex boxes
Conex boxes were built considering the need for durability and reliability for cargo shipment.
- The aluminium boxes were improvised and built with corrugated steel to provide excess durability and reliability.
- The conex container could accommodate and transport 9,000 pounds of cargo in one go.
- Their framework is built by welding 14 gauge steel to provide additional durability.
- Manufacturers installed a well-built locking system to prevent thefts.
- These containers were made with interlocking mechanisms to stack and connect adjacent boxes for added support.
- Later, skids were added at the bottoms to prevent the boxes from toppling or slipping off each other during transit.
- Transporter was 8’6″ in length, 6’3″ wide, with a height of 6’10”. The modern-day conex boxes are available in 20 ft and 40 ft length with a height of 8’6″ and a width of 8ft.
Role of conex boxes in the shipping industry
- These boxes were fit to accommodate in trucks or trailers and even on ships; therefore, the task of interchanging boxes for every mode of delivery was minimised.
- They are weather resistant to protect against external conditions. It eases the transit of perishables by maintaining the internal environment of the container.
- Shipping containers are conex boxes that are versatile, can fit any size and shape of cargo, and can also be customised based on the requirement of goods.
- Equipped with newer technology, the containers can be tracked at all times during transit, making shipping more reliable.
- Shipping containers are made out of corrugated steel that is recyclable, thereby making them eco-friendly and sustainable.
- The container boxes can be repurposed after exhausting their years in logistics. Consumers often convert containers into commercial spaces to extract the maximum benefit.
Conex boxes have been modified multiple times to fit the durable and reliable shipping standards to facilitate the trade industry.
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