Container Transport
Page 17
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New lined freight containers Another entirely new type of 30ft freight container, incorporating -Salwall" lining and providing access for loading and unloading along one end and one side of the unit, has just been produced by the Duramin Engineering Co.. Ltd., Harbour Road, Lydney, Glos. These are now in Production, and the first batch is being supplied to meet a contract obtained from MAT Transport, Switzerland.
The Salwall cargo control system allows loads of all shapes and sizes to be anchored at any point along the container walls. Adjustments are made by means of dunnage bars with special end clips which fit securely into the walls at 0.5in. centres.
The new Duramin containers have overall dimensions of 29ft. 111in. long, 8ft. wide and 8ft. high. Internal dimensions are approximately 29ft. 5i-in. long, 7ft. 5-'in. wide and 7ft. 4in. high. giving a capacity of just over 1,560 Cu. ft. Gross rating is 30 tons, the unladen weight 3 tons 11 cwt. and the carrying capacity 26 tons 9 cwt.
The containers meet the proposed ISO and British Standard recommendations, and comply with the latest UIC regulations permitting the carriage of ISO standard-sized units. They are in high-yield steel to B.S. 968, with high-strength aluminium alloy intermediate side sections. The base frame is of high-yield steel construction, with folded sections and lipped channel cross-members. The whole assembly is welded, clench-bolted and riveted to form a very robust structure.
The rear end is framed in steel box section to provide an opening of approximately 7ft. 6in, wide by 7ft. high for double doors. These doors are of 1in. thick plywood. with 24g aluminium alloy sheet bonded to the interior and exterior surfaces. They are fully sealed, fitted with cam locking gear. and are hinged to swing round flush with the container sides.
Panelled sections, each about 1ft. wide, are provided at either end of the nearside, leaving a central side opening of about 27ft. 6in. wide by 7ft. high. A folded steel member divides this central side opening into two sections, into each of which is fitted a pair of doors. These are so arranged that the centre doors hinge back over the end doors which, in turn, fold back on special double-action hinges to be retained against the fixed panels at' either end of the container. Four Salwall lining panels, each measuring 5ft. by 5ft., are fitted internally to each of the four nearside doors, with four similar panels fitted internally along the opposite side wall.
Recessed into the floor of the container are two rows of 12 lashing rings, while substantial lashing rings are also welded to the inside of each of the top corner castings. Bracing bars are fitted between the top of every other side pillar and the roof cantrail.
Savings through Scotload
Big savings in time and cost are expected from a road container service running between Scotland and Western Europe. The new service has been introduced by Scotload, a consortium formed by George Gibson and Co., and William Martin (Marine). with John Barrie (Contractor) as the main contractor to the consortium.
It is expected that a load will take three or four days to go from Scotland to Spain, compared with the present 21 to 25 days. Similarly, a 2cwt shipment to Paris will cost about £3 compared with a prevailing level of £6 15s if the goods are first sent to London for containerization.
Tor service extended
The Tor Line Ltd., which operates ferry services between Immingham Dock, Grimsby, Gothenburg and Amsterdam, has expanded its container capacity by adding 50 ISO units to its fleet of hire containers.
This brings the company's container strength up to approximately 400 units, which are placed at the disposal of shippers free of charge for a period of six days in England and six days at the port of destination. Demurrage is charged after these periods have elapsed.
The company also announces that from the middle of next year two additional freight ferries will come into operation on its services. Each ship will have a container capacity of 175 units or a trailer capacity of 55.
Containerization—the facts A new work of reference, the Containerization Data Book, is to be published this year by Kelly's Directories in collaboration with our associated journal, Freight Management. The book is being edited by M. K. D. Pritchard, editor of Freight Management and will contain contributions from leading authorities on all aspects of containerization. In addition, there will be a list of container facilities for air, sea, road and rail transport and a comprehensive classified buyers' guide.
All inquiries should be addressed to the publishers, Kelly's Directories Ltd., Neville House, Eden Street, Kingston, Surrey.