container transport
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and freight handling by David Lowe
Charting container movements
• A giant magnetic wall chart is helping one of Europe's largest container operators keep track of the daily movements of its 10,500 containers and rolling stock.
The 64ft long, 5tt high stove-enamelled chart is one of the biggest ever made by Wondersigns Ltd., Brimsdown, Enfield, Middx. It circles an entire room at Atlantic Container Line Services Ltd., Overline House, Central Station, Southampton.
"The chart has vastly improved the control of our container business," said Mr. John Grob, equipment control manager, "It is used basically for tracking and controlling containers and rolling stock going to and from our European ports of call to North America.
"Now, anyone can see at a glance where any unit is—whether it is in Gothenburg, under repair. or on the high seas. Four girls are kept busy up-dating the picture and preparing statistics as the information is received in this office.
-The chart is used in conjunction with a multi-million dollar computer in the United States, "Sometimes we can produce information quicker than the computer," said Mr. Grob. "For instance, we have just received a telex message asking for a container to ship a load of fresh mushrooms to America. Within seconds by looking at the chart, I can say that a refrigerated unit is free in Le Havre."
The chart is made up of four different-sized boards, stove-enamelled grey with ports of call highlighted in white. Coloured magnetic strips are marked with each container's number; and different colours represent the various-sized units: white for 20ft containers: sage-green and yellow, 40ft units; brown indicates 40ft open-top containers; light green shows refrigerator units; whisky tanks are red; and insulated containers blue.
Another large container company is also keeping track of its fast growing export market with three Wondersigns magnetic control charts. These charts are in use at Crowe and Co. (London) Ltd., and show at a glarite the whereabouts of hundreds of containers.
"We have about 400 containers moving around our UK and foreign depots and by the end of 1970 we might have as many as 700. Without these boards we would never keep track of them at all," said Mr. James Gray, European group container controller.
"Now we know immediately where each container is, its size, whether or not it is under custom clearance and the date it is scheduled to leave a particular country."
Each board measures 3ft 6in. x 4ft and represents a different-sized container.
Different-shaped magnetic symbols give Crowe the information required. Scarlet circles indicate in which UK depot certain containers are lying or their depot destination. Black triangles show the containers under custom clearance. Each one has its own number plate in purple with white lettering.
Letters across the top of the container boards show "From UK" and -To UK", the particular month in which the containers are working and days of the month from 1 to 31.
Frameless container
• A new low-weight container, resulting from the use of profiled plastics-coated steel for the cladding, has been launched by Tiverton Body and Container Co. of Tiverton, Devon.
The strength of the profiled plastics-coated steel, Stelvetite, has enabled the makers to produce a virtually frameless container. This has not only reduced the weight, but the simplified construction gives increased load space. The overall interior width is only 3m. less than the exterior.
Basically, the unit is built around a subframe of galvanized folded steel sections, to which alloy bottom rails and folded galvanized steel corner stanchions are attached longitudinally along the sides and ends. The stanchions are linked along the roof-line by extruded aluminium longitudinal roof rails into which transverse folded galvanized steel roof-sticks are fitted. This is the only framework used. For the sides, 24g formed panels of Stelvetite 'G' comprise a self-supporting cladding, the profile of the steel sheet imparting the necessary strength.
Flat Stelvetite sheet is attached to the front bulkhead frame, and a galvanized steel roller shutter completes the rear. The roof is of tension-levelled aluminium.
Optional extra or alternative items include galvanized steel roof, interior lights, aluminium roller shutter, or doors, at the rear, and insulated lining. At small additional cost ISO corner castings can be added to the bottom corners so that the container can be mounted on a skeletal trailer. With only slight modification, the unit can be mounted as a rigid box van on to most commercial vehicle chassis, and a similar construction can be used for trailer-vans. Inside measurements are 7ft. 2in. high, 7ft. 6in. wide, but these can be altered to suit operating requirements. Lengths of up to 40ft, are available.
Garment hanging system
• A new type of vehicle loading-system, specifically designed for the transport of garments, has been introduced into the Shorfast range of cargo control equipment. The system comprises a special horizontal beam which slots into vertical metal tracks fitted to the vehicle or container walls.
The beam, produced from standard rectangular hollow section steel, carries beneath it the actual hanging rail which is a steel bar rigidly attached at four equi-spaced points. This allows for garments to be hung from hangers during transit, so eliminating soiling or creasing. The distance between the hanging rail and main beam has been calculated so that there is no danger of the hangers "lumping off" when the vehicle is moving.
The special beams can be supplied to any length in accordance with the vehicle's width and are made up to customer's specification: carrying capacity per beam is 5001b.
Supplied with the beams are special end brackets which slot into the standard Shorfast vertical track. This tracking, comprising a rolled slotted metal section, is fitted to the vehicle or freight container sides at any chosen position along the length.
The new system enables greater use to be made of vehicle carrying-capacity: two or more beams can be supported by the same vertical tracking so that the tun vehicle height can be used.