What Are Shipping Containers Used For?

What Are Shipping Containers?

Before we can answer the question ‘What are shipping containers used for?’, we need to know what they actually are. Shipping containers are the massive steel boxes that crisscross the world’s oceans on huge container ships. They’re synonymous with international trade and can contain anything from electrical parts, toys, bikes and chemicals to cars, boats and other large items.

There’s a good chance that most of your possessions were in a shipping container at one time or another, and you’ve probably seen them on the backs of lorries, freight trains and maybe even in cargo ports. But their usefulness doesn’t end with a life at sea.

With an increased drive for innovative, sustainable solutions, shipping containers are now adopted and repurposed for other uses, from small-scale applications like pop-up coffee shops and event kiosks to more ambitious projects like stylish modular homes and office buildings, a testament to their robustness and versatility.

Common Uses for Shipping Containers

 Storage:

Shipping containers are inherently secure, with their steel construction and built-in tamper proof features designed to keep goods safe on their journey around the world. That’s why they make ideal COSHH containers, housing anything from valuable equipment to chemical storage and even fuel secure storage.

Transit:

Even when their seafaring is over, used shipping containers still make an excellent way of delivering goods around the country, whether it be large items or bulk deliveries of smaller components. They’re built with lifting lugs and craning points making them easy to lift onto and off the backs of lorries.

Construction Sites:

Building sites are hazardous places where health and safety is a serious consideration for every moment of every day. Shipping containers make great additions to these kinds of environments with their robust construction and inherent portability, from secure and portable offices to storage containers and portable changing rooms blocks with showers and toilets.

Classrooms:

Shipping containers are also finding use as affordable, eco-friendly alternatives to traditional brick and mortar classrooms when schools need more space. Portable classrooms make a lot of sense as they are robust and can be fitted out to the same standards expected of any modern educational facility, being exceptionally versatile and even portable.

Housing:

As well as being ideal for temporary housing when more homes are needed in double quick time, modular homes are also becoming a permanent way to live comfortably, efficiently and differently. Being modular in their nature, shipping container homes can start small and grow as finances allow or to meet growing needs.

Pop-Up Shops

Shipping containers can be converted into an array of layouts and fit outs for the retail sector – from retail shipping containers that travel to different events, carnivals and festivals to permanent additions such as food outlets on industrial estates. What are shipping containers used for? Anything you can imagine!

ModCon Cabins – Your Shipping Container Conversion Specialist 

With over 25 years of experience, we’ve mastered the art of converting new and used shipping containers into innovative, versatile and affordable modular structures that serve many purposes. Our range of services extend wide, whether for commercial, construction, education, healthcare or residential. We understand each client has unique needs, which is why we specialise in bespoke solutions that cater to your exact specifications.

Our in-house team will guide you through the whole process, from the initial planning stages to delivering fully fitted-out cabins, ready for immediate use. We focus on providing an excellent customer experience with quick turnaround times, ensuring your modular building is delivered on time and budget. With our eco-friendly options, you can also contribute to a greener planet while enjoying all the comforts and conveniences of modern construction.

We hope this blog has answered the question ‘What are shipping containers used for?’, and that you can now see the endless possibilities afforded by converted shipping contains for easily movable, robust and reliable facilities across many different sectors. Let us help you turn your modular dream into reality – contact us today for a free, no-obligation quote by calling 0333 404 8822, emailing info@modconcabins.co.uk or using our online contact form.