If you are looking to purchase used or second hand shipping containers then you need to be aware of important factors to check. Here are some things to keep in mind.
Second hand containers have been used to transport goods all around the globe, via road and sea. During their life, these containers have been lifted on and off trucks and ships and loaded with an assortment of different products. This beating can cause odours to appear, depending largely on what cargo was kept in the containers and how often its doors were opened and shut.
The best second hand containers are just a few years old and are still suitable for shipping and road transport. Those that are a little older—about 10 to 15 years old—are still useful for static storage. Be sure to buy only from suppliers who check their used containers prior to selling or releasing them. Before you buy a used shipping container, make sure it meets the following criteria:
1. Good quality used containers are still structurally sound and watertight. You shouldn’t see daylight from inside when all the doors are closed.
2. It should have a lock box for security.
3. The door hinges and door locking bar handles should work freely.
4. The wooden floors should be fairly intact. A shipping container’s floorboards are usually held in place by steel cross members.
5. It’s okay to have scratches and surface rust,and dents.
Used steel shipping containers that satisfy theabovementioned criteria can last another 10 to15 years with little to no maintenance. As a general rule is, the longer the container was used for shipping, the faster it will deteriorate. Try to buy containers that are not yet too old to be useful. Ask the supplier to give you information about the history of the container you are interested in buying.
Second hand containers have been used to transport goods all around the globe, via road and sea. During their life, these containers have been lifted on and off trucks and ships and loaded with an assortment of different products. This beating can cause odours to appear, depending largely on what cargo was kept in the containers and how often its doors were opened and shut.
The best second hand containers are just a few years old and are still suitable for shipping and road transport. Those that are a little older—about 10 to 15 years old—are still useful for static storage. Be sure to buy only from suppliers who check their used containers prior to selling or releasing them. Before you buy a used shipping container, make sure it meets the following criteria:
1. Good quality used containers are still structurally sound and watertight. You shouldn’t see daylight from inside when all the doors are closed.
2. It should have a lock box for security.
3. The door hinges and door locking bar handles should work freely.
4. The wooden floors should be fairly intact. A shipping container’s floorboards are usually held in place by steel cross members.
5. It’s okay to have scratches and surface rust,and dents.
Used steel shipping containers that satisfy theabovementioned criteria can last another 10 to15 years with little to no maintenance. As a general rule is, the longer the container was used for shipping, the faster it will deteriorate. Try to buy containers that are not yet too old to be useful. Ask the supplier to give you information about the history of the container you are interested in buying.