The Business Lottery

In my years as a freelancer, I've seen countless businesses flounder and fail. Sometimes it's because the owner is inexperienced; sometimes it's because the market wasn't ready for the product; sometimes it seems simply to be a matter of luck. If you want to manipulate your own luck, though, there are some tricks you can use--little things that will make it easier for you to get your new small business off the ground and keep it there. In this new blog, I'll be sharing those tips and tricks with you and answering your questions on how to help yourself as much as possible.

The Ultimate Guide to Purchasing the Right Used Shipping Container for Your Needs

Business Blog

Although shipping containers have been around for decades, it is just in recent years that more and more people are realising the possibilities that these structures offer for both commercial and personal use. As sustainability has become a fundamental consideration for a range of applications, there has been a move towards enhancing the design of shipping containers to make them more functional as workspaces, living spaces and so on.

So if you are in search of a strong yet eco-friendly structure for your specific purposes, buying a shipping container could be a top priority for you. But with the sheer number of used options available, it can be tricky deciding what would be best based on price alone. To help you make an informed selection, here is an ultimate guide to purchasing the right used shipping container for your needs.

What is the grade of the shipping container?

While shipping containers are manufactured with the adherence to certain specifications, you should know that used containers are not the same. Therefore, depending on the current performance of the used shipping container, it will be classified under different grades. Knowing these grades is imperative if you are to buy a used shipping container that will be effective in the application that you have in mind. In terms of the highest performance, the cargo-worthy grades are the best.

These types of used containers have not acquired any defects in their previous use, which is likely in freight applications. The next grade you can consider is the watertight shipping containers which may have a few dings and dents but are still weatherproof. The last grade is the as-is variety, which, as implied by the name, is shipping containers that are sold with multiple defects.

Which material is best for your shipping container?

The second consideration to prioritise when shopping for a used shipping container is the type of material it is manufactured from. The two options available are steel and aluminium and both offer their pros and cons. Corten steel is a strong material, and these used shipping containers are highly resistant to impact. Thus, if you will be utilising the shipping container for transportation purposes, a cargo-worthy container made of steel will be the best protection that you can offer your goods.

Moreover, even when exposed to marine conditions, corten steel remains corrosion-resistant. The main drawback is that this material is expensive, so it may not be a suitable choice if your budget is limited. Fortunately, aluminium is a viable solution for individuals with restricted funds, as you will not have to comprise on rust resistance. Furthermore, aluminium shipping containers are lightweight, making them less of hassle to transport. Nonetheless, while used aluminium shipping containers are ideal for residential construction, they may not be a good fit for marine transportation.

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20 November 2020