Insulated Shipping Containers

When you need to ship loose cargo that must arrive fresh and unspoiled, you are probably looking for either an insulated shipping container or a refrigerated shipping container. Do not confuse the two as they have different operating parameters and produce different outcomes.

Consider these factors when deciding if you need an insulated or refrigerated container:

How sensitive is the cargo to high and low temperatures and changes in temperature?

Given the specific distribution system from door to door, what is the worst case expectations in terms of time taken and temperatures experienced?

Are there regulatory requirements either at point of departure or destination?

What is the specific combination of packaging components and materials in use?

Some items don’t store well in some forms of packaging. As well there can be chemical reactions simply by placing two different items adjacent to each other, even if they are in approved containers. You must know the properties and hazards posed by your cargo and its packaging.

If the journey is liable to run the risk of being delayed for any reason (industrial dispute, mechanical breakdown, volume of traffic, natural disaster or inclement weather etc) then that will effect the mode of transportation.

Some cargoes must maintain a temperature that varies less than a few degrees, an insulated shipping container may not guarantee that standard of performance. Consider the risk and potential harm or loss if the container is delayed for any reason. Will the insulation do the job or do you need to move to a refrigerated container?

When shipping international cargoes around, keep in mind the temperature variations along the route. A steel storage container shipped from London to Tokyo in January will experience cold, heat, humidity and back to cold again. Steel storage containers do absorb the heat and radiate it inside the container, the same for cold. Insulated shipping containers repel a lot of the heat and cold and maintain fairly stable interior temperatures.

Shipping container prices for insulated units will be higher than for plain steel storage containers and container shipping rates might be higher also as they may not be so freely stacked as most ordinary cargo can be.

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