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OPNBar Trucker Tool for Shipping Container & Truck Trailers - Made in USA
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Used Shipping Containers for Sale

SCS International is now an affiliate reseller of new and used shipping containers/conex boxes, shipping container doors and parts! For more information, please contact us.

SCS International is now an affiliate reseller of new and used shipping containers/conex boxes, shipping container doors and parts! For more information, please contact us or browse on Amazon/eBay:

REUSING SHIPPING CONTAINERS: ADVANTAGES AND CHALLENGES

Boots are made for walking; planes are made for flying, containers are made for shipping, are you agree with it? Well, not everyone agrees with it. Today, we see exciting creativity in the reuse of shipping containers – living spaces, hotels, bars, pop-up stores, emergency shelters, bridges, art projects, and urban farming – the list goes on.

URBAN FARMING- GROWING CROPS INSIDE THE SHIPPING CONTAINERS

A hydroponic farming system called The Leafy Green Machine uses hi-tech growing technology to alter relinquished shipping containers into mobile farm units. Each farm can produce as much food as a two-acre plot of land on a much small plot than is required by traditional crops. In this case, the outdoor climate has no impact on the inside condition of the container.

Credit: Basil growing at the Square Roots farm in Brooklyn.

THREE REASONS FOR REUSING SHIPPING CONTAINERS

The reason for reusing shipping containers for other purposes than shipping is not only that they are incredibly flexible, can solve a bunch of problems, and be used in such innovative, unique, creative, and fresh ways. For example, there is much more to it.

Shipping containers are excellent construction material

From a constructional and structural point of view, containers are excellent construction material. As they spend the majority of their lifetime outdoors, the content is ideal for exposure to the elements of nature.

Buying empty shipping containers can be cost-efficient

The reuse of shipping containers can be cost-efficient. A shipping container’s initial purpose is to carry cargo at sea. Therefore it has to be cargo worthy throughout its lifespan

Reusing shipping containers is sustainable construction practice

Recycling of any sort is eco-friendly. It is especially true when it comes to reusing shipping containers. It is, without doubt, sustainable construction practice; recycling unused containers for construction material puts an unused product to use while at the same time cleaning up spaces such as ports and shipyards.

ADVANTAGES AND CHALLENGES IN THE WAY OF REUSING SHIPPING CONTAINERS

Let’s talk about the advantages and challenges in the way of reusing shipping containers.

Environmental Friendly

An increasing number of people are looking to building with shipping containers as a possible way to generate new housing while being more environmentally friendly. The world’s growing population, dwindling supplies of finite resources, and changing climate is causing many people to be more aware of their impact on the environment.

When we talk about sustainability in the context of construction, we’re usually referring to its more relevant subset, sustainable development. Sustainable development speaks to building in a way that doesn’t negatively impact future generations with pollution, reduced access to natural resources, etc. Said another way, it’s meeting the needs of people today without preventing the people in future years to meet their own needs. Concerned global citizens are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint and become more eco-conscious. It, in turn, is leading many to look for more responsible and sustainable means of construction.

Using recycled materials or giving previously used materials a second life are two great ways to achieve this. After all, if we can use materials we already have, that’s less new material we need to extract from the earth and turn into products. However, containers aren’t universally a goldmine of eco-friendliness. They need to be used in the right way to see a net benefit.

An intermodal container is a standardized reusable steel box used for the safe and movement of materials and products within a global containerized intermodal freight transport system.

Time and cost-effectiveness

One of the essential benefits of using a shipping container is that they are very budget-friendly and affordable to anyone. Most containers are finished as shipping containers after ten years in service, and they are being replaced. Even though container stock is tight for most shipping lines, there is a big aftermarket for those replaced units retired from service at sea. To use those units as a building material is inexpensive compared to traditional materials, such as wood, bricks, or steel.”

Structurally durable

The steel construction and design provide protection and strength as well as structural support and a long lifespan. The corner assemblies and locking mechanism also provide stability when multiple containers are being used in the construction of a building.

POSSIBLE CHALLENGES IN REUSING SHIPPING CONTAINERS

Temperature and Insulation

Controlling the temperature is one of the biggest challenges of reusing a shipping container, especially as a housing unit. As a result of being made of steel, containers readily absorb both cold and heat, which means the temperatures could quickly get very low in winter, and too high in summer. So, insulation is an essential process and needs to be done very carefully.

Corrosion and Rust

Containers are not corrosion or rust-proof, so they need continuous care and attention. The reaction between steel, water, and oxygen can cause rust and corrosion on containers. Climate conditions may speed up this process. The weather needs to be mostly dry, and not too rainy and wet, to avoid these issues. Water can cause a container to corrode and rust.

They are Toxic Material

It is peremptory to be aware of which shipping containers were exposed to many insecticides, lawfully, in meeting global import and export procedures. This can cause toxic exposure when repurposing. To be on the safe side, a container’s wooden floor must be removed, and the inside surface of containers should be covered with bare metal and painted with non-toxic paint. These steps should be taken before refurbishing the used container.

Wear and Tear

Shipping containers often take a beating, traveling around the world, being exposed to freezing conditions, and rust due to seawater or when the frost has melted.

During the cold season, and in freezing parts of the world, our shipping container tool can benefit the opening of frozen shipping container doors in freezing conditions and hard to open or rusted containers once the winter has ended.

Injuries often occur as a result of personnel trying to open and close difficult container doors, often the result of inappropriate techniques being used to open them.

Shipping container doors are not typical doors and there are 4-5 hinges per door.  The hinge pins must be lined up correctly for the doors to be free to fully open and close.

Here are some likely reasons a Shipping Container door will not open or close.  Our hand leverage tool / shipping container door extension handle helps to address these issues.

  • Rust and Corrosion: The hinge pins and blade are seized due to corrosion.  As shipping containers navigate through diverse weather conditions and environments over time, they become susceptible to rust and corrosion. These corrosive agents can target the locking mechanisms and hinges, ultimately impeding the smooth operation of the container's doors. This accumulation of rust and corrosion introduces a layer of complexity to unlocking and opening the container.
  • Maintenance Neglect: Regular maintenance is pivotal to sustaining the functionality of shipping containers. The absence of consistent upkeep can lead to complications with the locking mechanisms, hinges, and seals. Without proper lubrication and care, these components might stiffen or become challenging to manipulate, thereby escalating the difficulty of opening the container.
  • Physical Impact: The nature of shipping exposes containers to a barrage of wear and tear, stemming from transportation and handling activities. Consequently, the containers might acquire dents, twists, or misalignments. These physical distortions can hinder the proper alignment of the doors, rendering the opening process arduous.
  • Uneven Placement: Placing a shipping container on uneven ground can disrupt its frame's equilibrium. This misalignment can extend to the doors, making them difficult to open or close. The uneven stance of the container introduces an extra layer of complexity when trying to access its interior.  Doors and lock rods may warp or the container frame is racked so that the door gear will not operate correctly. This may be caused by cargo shifting during transit. Look at the container to make sure that the doors are aligned and level, both top, and bottom.
  • Temperature Influences: Drastic temperature variations encountered during transportation can trigger material expansion and contraction. This phenomenon reverberates through the locking mechanisms and hinges, potentially impairing their normal operation. The impact of temperature fluctuations compounds the challenges associated with opening the container.  Water has become trapped between frozen shipping container doors, particularly relevant to refrigerated cargoes, or containers with moisture-releasing cargoes in cold weather.
  • Inadequate Tools: The task of opening a shipping container may necessitate specialized tools such as heavy-duty bolt cutters or unique locking mechanism tools. In the absence of these tools, the process can become considerably more demanding.
  • Sealing Complexity: Some shipping containers employ adhesive materials or seals to ensure the contents remain shielded from environmental elements. Over time, these seals can harden and resist breaking. Consequently, accessing the container requires overcoming this intricate sealing mechanism. 
  • The door gasket has been damaged and is preventing opening. Door gaskets are designed to present two or more fins against the structure or adjacent door. These are generally flexible but when the gasket is damaged, they may become hard or blocked thus jamming the door closed, or preventing it from being closed. 
  • Security Enhancements: Certain shipping containers incorporate robust security features to discourage unauthorized access and potential theft. Although these features are indispensable for safeguarding the contents, they can inadvertently increase the intricacy of opening the container.
  • The Covid economy had also released many shipping containers in the world which are now often reused and the issue of hard-to-open/close used shipping containers is now a more common issue than ever.


Please be sure to read OPNBar Extended Instructions & Precautions
This leverage tool uses the principles of leverage to do the difficult work. By providing an extended area on which to grasp, with both hands, a more stable platform to manipulate the latch handle is achieved.

Designed to fit and extend the door latch handles on side by side doors found on the following units with the safety of the truck driver, operator, and worker foremost in mind:

This intermodal container (also known as ISO Container, Conex Box, or Railroad Container) cargo inspection tool and leverage safety bar is to aid in opening and closing side-by-side doors found within Dismountable Shipping Cargo Container Transportation Industries (Railroad, Harbor, and Trucking Industries).

Eliminates the Need for a crescent wrench, screwdriver, hammer, and crowbar which are commonly needed/used to open stuck frozen shipping container doors.

Related: Injuries from Opening/Closing Hard to Open/Close Shipping Container Doors

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