What is a Conex Box
Conex Boxes are also known as shipping containers, and are the cargo containers that allow goods to be stored for transport in trucks, trains and boats, making intermodal transport possible. They are typically used to transport heavy materials or palletized goods.
This type shipping term was referred to as Container Express and became to be abbreviated as “ConEx.” Conex became universal and was later used to identify the entire category of shipping containers. Connex is also an accepted spelling.
Conex is also referred to as shipping container, ISO container, conex box, railroad container, intermodal container and certain truck trailers. This industry term refers to the International Standards Organization (ISO), the largest developer of international standards and the organization that developed the standard dimension specifications for steel shipping containers used worldwide.
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The design of the ISO standard containers allows for intermodal shipping, which is the movement of containers from one mode of transport to another, like ship, rail, or truck, without the need of having to load and unload, and reload its contents.
Conex Boxes are used to protect transported cargo from shock and bad weather conditions, as well as keep storage products intact. They were first used in the 1950s and were initially developed for the purpose of commercial shipping.
Depending on the type of product that is going to be sent, the Conex box can vary in dimension, structure, material, etc. Characteristics of these shipping containers were later standardized, something that expedited transport without the need to load and unload the merchandise along the way.
There are different types of Conex Boxes for different types of transportation:
Common types include:
– Dry Storage Conex Boxes
– Refrigerated Conex Boxes
– Open Top Conex Boxes
– Flat Rack Conex Boxes
– Open Side Conex Boxes
– Tank Conex Boxes
– Ventilated Conex Boxes
Dry Storage Conex Box Container
Dry Storage Conex Box shipping containers are your typical standard shipping containers. Basic construction is made of steel, and hermetically sealed, without cooling or ventilation. Sizes typically come in 20 ‘, 40’ or 40 ‘High Cube. The High Cube category facilitates an increase of 13% of the internal cubic capacity and can handle the heaviest loads (coal, tobacco, etc.)
Refrigerated Conex Box Container
Reefer Conex Box containers provide a temperature controlled environment. They have a power supply that connects to energy sources during transport. This allows the products to be transported at a constant temperature throughout the journey. They have the possibility to lower temperature from -18 ° to 30 °. There are 20 and 40 foot models, in addition to the High Cube. This type of Conex Box container is especially recommended for transporting food or products that need a low storage temperature.
Open Top Conex Box
Open Top Conex Box containers have the same measurements as the standard containers, but are open at the top because they have a removable canvas roof. These containers facilitate the transport of bulky loads.
Flat Rack Conex Box
Flat Rack Conex Box containers are like the Open Top, but also lack side walls and even, in some cases, front and rear walls. They are used for atypical loads and pay supplements in the same way as Open Top.
Open Side Conex Box
Open Side Conex Box containers have the same measurements as standard containers; 20 or 40 feet, with the difference that they have a side opening. This allows for transporting very long merchandise, whose dimensions prevent it from being loaded by the back door.
Tank Conex Box Container
Tank Conex Box containers are used for the liquid transport and made to carry dangerous as toxic, corrosive, highly combustible chemicals, as well as oil, milk, beers, wine, mineral water, etc. They have the same dimensions as a Dry Conex Box Containers, but their structure is different, as they include a polyethylene tank inside.
Ventilated Conex Box Containers
Ventilated Conex Box containers are made for transporting products such as coffee or cocoa beans, which must be ventilated in transit; sometimes these units are called “coffee containers”.
Now we are going to run through the essential parts of a conex box.
For a door to work, you need hinges. Pins hold the conex box’s hinges together through a barrel. In certain cases when doors are difficult to open, hinge pins and blades may be seized due to corrosion.
Each door is fitted with 2 to 4 vertical lock rods to enable opening, closing and locking of the doors.
The door handle rotates the lockbar to initiate the door opening process by forcing the cams out of their keepers. Each door handle has a door locking handle retainer that slides over the door handle when in locked position.
At the end of each lock rod is a cam welded in place which engages with knuckles, also known as cam keepers. The action of engaging the cams to the keepers forms an anti-racking function. In certain cases, often unfortunately too many, contents of the conex box may have shifted causing conex box doors and lockrods to warp.
When opening a conex box, start with the right hand door first. Swivel the handles, engage the cams and keepers, and twist both door handles. Closing the doors is just a reverse of this process.
The lock box is a steel box welded to the right hand door which overlaps a staple welded to the left hand door. A padlock, normally CISA type 285 66 can then be attached inside the lock box through the staple and is then protected from direct attack, hindering attempts to gain entry to the container.
ISO markings and a consolidated data plate allow worldwide intermodal transport and are updated as necessary.
Take note that customs authorities in some countries may also have their own container seal regulations as part of their national security.
Rubber gaskets are fitted to the container doors during the manufacturing process and prevent water ingress. 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 stiff thus jamming the door closed, or preventing it from being closed.
Conex boxes 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 conex box tool can benefit the opening and closing of frozen conex box doors and hard to open or rusted containers.
Injuries often occur as a result of personnel trying to open and close difficult container doors, and often are the result of inappropriate techniques being used to open them.
Conex Box
Opening and Closing Tool
A Conex Box (also known as Intermodal Container, ISO Container,Railroad Container, and certain Truck Trailers) is a large standardized shipping container, designed and built for intermodal freight transport. Conex Boxes can be used across different modes of transport. They can go from ship to rail to truck, without unloading and reloading their cargo.
The metal doors on the shipping containers on these containers are standardized. Conex Box containers use the same type and style of doors and locking bars, which our tool can be used.
Lengths are as follows: 20′, 40′, 45′, 48′, 50′, 53′. All these containers are globally used to transport cargo. The 53′ length is now, the new the standard length.
Here are some likely reasons a Conex Box shipping container door will not open or close. Our tool helps to address these issues.
– Doors and lockrods may warp or 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.
– The hinge pins and blade are seized due to corrosion.
– 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 being closed.
– Water has become trapped between frozen shipping container doors, particularly relevant to refrigerated cargoes, or containers with moisture releasing cargoes in cold weather.
To aid in opening and closing conex box doors, we introduce OPNBar.
Our conex box tool can simplify the opening/closing of conex boxes in freezing or wet conditions. It’s versatility can also help to open/close rusted or worn out containers, thump tires, and release tractor from trailer.
Our 3 in 1 conex box tool gives you the best bang for your buck in addition to the safety and savings our tool provides to trucking companies and their safety departments, along with insurance companies, reduced workman’s comp claims.
Trucking Company Safety – Reduce Injury / Workmans Comp Risk
Did you know that cargo and insurance companies lose billions a year due to operator injury? We introduce 3 Trucker Tools in 1! A conex box safety hand leverage tool, designed for opening and closing trucking and conex boxes, a Tire Thumper, and 5th Wheel Pull Hook, designed with the safety of the driver, operator, and worker foremost in mind.
For more information, visit: http://www.shippingcontainertool.com
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Choosing the Right Company for Buying a Conex Box
When doing research in finding the right conex box, follow some of these tips:
Research Online
Choose which companies have a good track record of excellence and reputation. Read reviews and what other customers have to say.
Check for Availability
If you are shipping from various locations, check for availability if containers can be delivered to your required areas.
Check for Best Pricing
If money matters, you can find used container resellers online that might be able to offer half the price on used containers.
Check for Good Customer Service
If you plan to order often, you might want to check for good customer service. Ask potential container companies a question through email or their online customer service. See how fast they respond.
Check for Warranty
Check with companies to see if they offer any warranties or buy back or trade in plans.
There are millions of Conex Boxes in use around the world, and a lucky few get a second life as repurposed shipping container structures. While they look a bit plain and boxy to the untrained eye, shipping containers play a critical role in our lives, whether embarking on ocean crossings to deliver the goods we use every day or venturing into a second life as a container structure.
Here are Some Fascinating Facts about Conex Boxes
– Conex Box shipping containers can be safely stacked nine-high.
– Well-maintained Conex Box shipping containers hold 759, of their original value for 25+ years.
– There are over 37 million Conex Box shipping containers in use around the world.
– A Conex box floor can hold up 55,000 lb. of goods without warping.
– Conex Box flooring is made of 1-1/8” marine grade plywood.
– Most Conex Box containers are 20 feet or 40-feet long.
– Conex Box shipping containers are made of 16-gauge corten steel.
– Common container modifications include: personnel doors, windows flooring, shelving, work stations, insulation, climate control & even restrooms.
