Freezer Containers Give You the Benefits of Mobile Cold Rooms

Maintaining product at the optimum temperature is essential in the food and medicine industries. Operators know they need to avoid thawing or defrosting at all costs. Or else they have to dispose of their damaged product in accordance with national safety rules.

This discipline applies equally to when the goods are in transit. Handling freezer containers outside the controlled zone must be kept to a bare minimum, and goods must be carefully restacked on arrival. Much value can be lost during handling. Everything may be ruined during a lengthy grid outage.

Hence wise operators back their stainless-steel freezer and chiller rooms with standby petrol and diesel generators. However, their thundering sounds are not conducive to enjoying quiet conversations in upmarket restaurants and hotels. Supermarket chains are coming to the same conclusion: site them elsewhere.

The Solution is Converting Shipping Containers to Freezer Containers

A gleaming stainless-steel chiller room or freezer room is not a stand-alone structure. Refrigeration engineers design them as rooms-within-rooms meaning you first need to build your structure and then install your cooler room.

After that, you are stuck with your location. Although you could theoretically dismantle the insulated panels and reassemble them elsewhere. However, your costs are racking up all the time. Moreover, we have had some chefs tell us the panels never work as well the second time around. They are concerned about residue building up in the joints.

What We Do Instead to Save You Money and Time

We convert 6-metre and 12-metre intermodal shipping containers into freezer containers and cool rooms. After we line them with new, industry-standard ceilings, walls and floors, they can do temperatures as low as -18ºC on 380 volts. However, if you only need a cold room running at say +5ºC we can achieve this with 240 volts.

After you apply power and allow the room to cool down, you have a cold room or freezer room as good as any regular one. We can say that with confidence because we use the same insulating materials. Moreover, we have a jump on the rest because our freezer containers are portable.

That’s right! Our converted shipping containers are as good as having freezer rooms and cooler rooms on wheels. One seafood wholesaler loads his portable freezer container directly from trawlers moored alongside wharves.

Then he takes it back to his depot on a flatbed with a lifting crane. That way he has perfect control over his frozen stock at all times!

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20ft Container: 6.096 Metres Long with a Second Life

We have to be precise about the length of every 20ft container we supply. That’s because they have to fit on top of each other and squeeze easily into tight spaces. There were freight containers in the UK in the 1830’s for transferring coal from railways to horse-drawn carts.

However they only really took off in the 1950’s after the U.S. Army developed rigid steel containers with lifting rings. Hence container lengths measure in feet not meters.

The Advantages of the Intermodal 20ft Container

The 20ft container is the smallest in the standard range. Thus this container design is popular for transporting goods to locations with less sophisticated lifting and carrying equipment. We call them intermodal containers because they can travel in different modes of transport.

There are other names for these amazing devices that can travel by ship and rail and truck. These include cargo / freight container, iso container, shipping / sea / ocean container, container van, sea can, or just container.

How a 20ft Container Adds Value to a Warming World

Every ounce of energy we use contributes to greenhouse gas, and humans are currently causing too much of it. Moreover, the same applies to building construction. Our lightweight 20ft containers are in aluminium because this considerably reduces lifting and transportation costs. Moreover when their intermodal days are over they find other uses as transportable buildings.

The Secret Life of a 20ft Intermodal Container

A 20ft container becomes a habitable building when we add a door and window and fit it out. Moreover being lightweight aluminium makes this a fairly easy task. The attachment points on all eight corners simplify transport by ship and rail and truck, and even cargo airplanes. As a consequence, our engineers are able to assist with these cost / time saving projects:

Are These the Most Amazing Second-Life Containers Ever?

Qatar is building a modular, demountable soccer stadium for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. This 40,000-seater is rising from the desert immediately southeast of Doha on the Persian Gulf. The modified shipping containers sit within a steel framework creating the perimeter wall and tiered seating.

A variety of reinforced 20ft container versions and larger types will have pre-installed stairs, concessions, and bathrooms. This uses fewer materials, creates less waste, and leaves a lighter carbon footprint. They can move the Ras Abu Aboud Stadium to its first legacy location when the games are over. A renewable soccer stadium, who would have thought of that…

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Container Agent Services – Things You May Not Know

We should ask about the goods and services we purchase. Especially since there is so much information on the internet, although it may not all be true. If you had the time and patience, you could probably figure out the container business yourself. However, a container agent with a finger on the pulse could simplify things for you.

Not All Storage Units are the Same – Our Container Agent Explains

The container industry is imperfectly regulated space. There are standards, but there is nothing preventing you making your own containers. Nothing that is, until you have an insurance claim returned with a rejection letter.

So what are the standards you have to meet - unless you employ a container agent to represent your interests?

What a Container Agent Can Learn from This Information

The International Container Bureau is a registry for intermodal shipping containers. It founded in 1933 to set mandatory parameters for cranes, conveyors and other lifting gear. These factors include.

A container agent uses the information referenced in ISO 346 to verify information regarding a particular container, and current owner. In this regard it’s important to note the insurance angle. Shipping and all risks insurers may base their rates on the information on the ISO 346 register.

How Do I Know Whether a Particular Container Is Right for Me?

Our container agent can help you right-size and type a container whether for shipping, or storage. Or for one of the alternative conversions that are proving increasingly popular. The sky really is the limit for these incredibly versatile devices.

We can help you select and ship your containerised solution to South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Dubai, or Saudi Arabia. Please contact us as soon as you are ready to start your next project.

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South African High Cube Container Ban Imminent

The international standard for intermodal shipping containers ensures their footprints are the same so they are stackable. The standard height is approximately 2,5 meters, although the high cube container version at approximately 2.9 meters has become increasingly popular. Shippers say this reduces handling slightly because there is more volume per vehicle.

So Why Does South Africa Want to Ban the High Cube Container?

The South African Department of Transport wants to ban the high cube container version from the nation’s roads. They say it exceeds the permitted vehicle height when on a transporter.

The country would face chaos at its ports if the Department meets its avowed intention to ban them outright on January 1, 2019. Just imagine incoming high cube containers stacking up at container handling depots in Cape Town and Durban. The chaos at inland border posts would be unimaginable.

High Cube Container

Cape Town Chamber of Commerce Fights High Cube Container Ban

The Cape Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted a Transport and Transport Infrastructure Portfolio Committee meeting on 6 August, 2018. It wanted to know the effect of a high cube container ban on trade.

The chair of the Exporters Club Western Cape said it was vital for the industry to reach an agreement with government. This was because more containers would be crossing South Africa’s borders under the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement.

“There is an incredible potential, he said. “We can’t say, ‘We’re sorry, you can’t use your trailers, because trailers in Zimbabwe are different to South Africa.’ “Every bit of trade that we have we’ve got to fight for,” he added.

The president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry expressed concerns over the cost of converting high cube container transporters. This could be in the region of R300,000 per trailer (US$ 25,000 at 12:1).

Transport Minister Blade Nzimande Steps In and Calms Waters

After the high cube container task team failed to reach consensus, the minister announced there would be no penalties during 2019. However it is unclear whether officials and shippers will come any closer during next year. Perhaps it is time to take the high road and put workers in the transport and agriculture industries first.

If there is a road bridge in South Africa a high cube container could damage, could somebody please send the coordinates and a photo?

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Mobile Containers for Sale in Southern Africa

Steel shipping containers are used for mobile storage of freight and other bulky items including vehicles and furniture all over the world. They may also be used for static storage either temporarily or on a permanent basis instead of traditional warehousing. Of course, mobile containers may also be converted for other uses and shipped off to become container offices, clinics, workshops, and even homes or temporary accommodation.

The beauty of shipping containers is that they are modular and relatively easy to move and transport. Also, they are incredibly versatile and available in just about every country in the world. A large percentage of companies offer one-way lease options, which means you can hire a container, have it transported, and then leave it where it is once you are done. Another client will then have the option of hiring where you left off.

Almar Container Group offers mobile containers for sale and lease in Southern Africa and in the Middle East, which is convenient for companies operating in one or both of these primary regions.

Where to Find Mobile Containers for Sale

When looking for mobile containers for sale the best option is to find units that are available locally, where you live or operate. Then you simply need to price them and make sure that delivery to your destination will be both possible and affordable. If you are planning to lease a unit, it’s best to find a company that will allow you to terminate the lease in the country and/or at the destination you are heading for.

Almar’s head office in is Durban, KZN, but the company has a global reach with offices and production facilities in Namibia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, as well as South Africa. The company is also active in the Middle East in the United Arab Emirates (in Dubai) and in Saudi Arabia. So, if you are indeed looking for mobile containers for sale, you will need to identify the centre closest to you if you want to inspect the container yourself and finalise the deal. You might also want to discuss the possibility of selling the unit back at a later stage if you aren’t going to use it anymore.

Alternatively, you can buy a shipping container from a private seller off the Internet, via a site like OLX or Gumtree. If you do this it is particularly important to make sure that you are buying a good quality mobile container that has been manufactured according to ISO standards. You need to establish age and condition and make sure you agree on transportation costs.

Mobile Containers for Sale From Almar

Almar Container Group has new and used shipping mobile containers for sale throughout Southern Africa and in the Middle East. Previously used containers are in good condition and most are eight to 12 years old.

The company has a wide range of mobile containers for sale and for lease, all of which have been manufactured to ISO standards. Call us to see how we can help you meet your needs.

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Refrigerated Containers for Sale

Transporting furniture and dry freight in shipping containers is one thing, but what happens when you need to transport perishable or frozen goods? This is where reefer containers come into play and you will need to look specifically for refrigerated containers for sale or hire to meet your needs.

Reefer containers are manufactured specifically for goods that need to be kept refrigerated and they generally offer temperature ranges of between -25 °C and +25 °C. ISO-standard refrigerated containers for sale will allow you to control temperatures up to one-tenth of a degree, which will ensure that whatever you are transporting or storing will be kept at exactly the temperature you require.

Like all shipping containers, reefers are highly mobile, so if you are using them for storage (rather than transportation) you can move the container if and when you decide to move the location of your business.

Specifications and Sizes of Refrigerated Containers for Sale

Like all steel shipping containers, refrigerated containers for sale are modular. They come in 20 ft and 40 ft lengths as specified by the ISO. The standard 20 ft (or 6 m) reefer measures 6.058 m x 2.438 m and is 2.591 m high. The 40 ft (12 m) reefer is a “high cube” measuring 12.192 m x 2.438 m and it is 2.896 m high. Both are perfect for the transportation and storage of perishable cargo.

There are also specially designed refrigerated containers for sale that are intended for the static storage market, that may be located at factory facilities or in warehouses prior to delivery of perishable items.

Features of reefers can include:

Refrigerators for Sale From Almar

Almar offers versatile containerised cold storage solutions that provide an alternative to tradition cold-storage applications. Also available for lease, they are ideal for frozen or chilled products, and can also be used for transportation.

Because we at Almar realize that every business is unique, we offer specialised modifications in addition to our standard product range. These include special butcher doors, blast freezers, offshore DNV-certified reefers, as well as split reefer modifications that incorporate both freezers and chiller rooms.

If you are in the market for an Almar reefer, you need to bear our basic installation requirements in mind:

It is also important to check the electrical specifications for refrigerators for sale. Contact us today to discuss your needs with our friendly sale team.

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Container Fraud: Ten Tips to Keep You Safe

With a rising interest in converted shipping containers, there has been a drastic increase in container fraud and bogus operators, particularly in South Africa. Many people go online to see what the shipping container cost will be. They find a website that features what appear to be brand spanking new containers at exceptionally low prices and decide to buy.

Like phishing, which entails fraudsters purporting to be from reputable companies inducing people to reveal banking and other details, container fraud relies on people’s trust and is virtually impossible to track down.

In addition, this is largely a cash industry, so people are expected to pay the shipping container cost before it is delivered. Because containers are generally sold in large volumes from working depots, inspections are difficult. Also, entry barriers for newcomers to the industry are very low; all that is needed is a website and a phone number of some sort and you can start buying and selling containers.

So how does container fraud happen?

Modus Operandi to Make People Buy Shipping Container Online

Shopping online today is easy – sometimes too easy. Whether you are looking for a frying pan, a new outfit, or converted shipping containers, you are likely to find a website that offers exactly what you want. While there are many reputable online stores, it is so easy to create a website and sell items online, it is often difficult to identify those that have been set up to swindle us.

This is how easy a fraudulent operation can be to set up and manage.

This makes it very difficult to track down fraudsters and virtually impossible to hold them accountable. But there are some warning flags to look out for when you buy shipping container units.

Top Ten Tips to Avoid Container Fraud

  1. Shop around to see what companies in general are charging for shipping containers (or converted shipping containers if this is what you are looking for). If you find a source that is offering containers at a price that seems to be too good to be true, it often is!
  2. Only deal with companies that have been in business for some time and have a historical reputation you can track - www.containerfraud.co.za
  3. Ensure other customers are happy with their service, but don’t rely on their website references or testimonials as these are easy to fabricate. Google+ and Facebook referrals are often more reliable, but it’s always a good idea to try and make direct contact with several customers to verify their authenticity.
  4. Ideally you should meet the seller in person before committing yourself to the deal. You should also insist of inspecting the container prior to payment. Don’t be bullied into the sale by claims that this is the last container at this price, or anything similar.
  5. If you phone the person (and you should), if the seller has a distinctly foreign accent, this might be an alarm bell. Some fraudsters operate from other countries, having no intention of delivering the shipping containers they offer for sale. This also makes it impossible to inspect the container and meet the seller.
  6. Contact container associations like CTIA www.containa.org and COA www.containerownersassociation.org to see if the company is registered. If not, ask the seller if they belong to another associations or, if not, why not. In South Africa, sites such as containerfraud.co.za are trying to help users identify reliable and fraudulent operators - https://www.containerfraud.co.za/almar
  7. If there isn’t a landline number on the website, this could be a sign that the company has no physical presence. This should be another alarm bell.
  8. If there is a physical address on the website, don’t take it for granted that it is genuine. Rather check on Google Maps to make sure it really is a valid address.
  9. Check the creation date of the website domain using a domain search website like Who Is www.whois.com. If the website was created in recent months, this too should be an alarm bell. Beware!
  10. If you are asked to confirm which bank account you are going to use for payment, don’t provide this information other than possibly stating which financial institution you use. Chances are they are buying time while waiting to open up a suitable bank account to be able to get your payment.

Only Deal With Reliable Suppliers

Almar Container Group has been a reliable supplier of used steel shipping containers for more than 30 years. If you have any questions regarding the validity of a quote for containers for sale or containers for rent, or even if you want a reference for an alternative container supplier, please contact us as we will be able to provide an honest and objective opinion and provide correction information.

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Container Accommodation to Help Save KZN Rhinos

Almar Container Group has donated a 40-foot (12 m) general purpose (GP) shipping container to the Zululand Rhino Orphanage to provide accommodation for rhino facilities and make life easier for staff members at the orphanage working hard to eradicate rhino poaching in South Africa. The company worked closely with Container Conversions (Pty) Ltd, a longstanding partner of the rhino orphanage that has played a pivotal role in providing container accommodation and containers that have been used to establish other critical facilities to help save the rhino.

While the fight to save South Africa’s rhinos has been ongoing for decades, the Zululand Rhino Orphanage is a relatively new undertaking that was launched after a local KZN sanctuary, the Thula Thula Rhino Orphanage was attacked on 20th February 2017. Two baby rhino orphans were killed, several staff members were beaten savagely, and a young woman was sexually assaulted. The long-term implication of this horrific attack was that the orphanage, which had been operating since 2014, was forced to close its doors forever. The reason was, quite simply, that they couldn't guarantee the safety of either the animals or staff working there.

Containers Used for Urgent Rehoming of the Rhinos

With no time to waste, the Zululand Conservation Trust decided to do the impossible and create a new orphanage to save the displaced orphans and continue with their rehabilitation.

The two oldest animals, both black rhinos, were moved to a new 3.5-hectare boma on 14th March. But more formal facilities were needed for the less independent remaining three orphans, two of which were white rhinos, and a baby hippo. These animals needed to be fed every three to four hours, and they needed to be monitored 24/7. The vital requirements were a kitchen where milk could be prepared and a warm, secure place where they could sleep.

Container Conversions stepped in, and by the end of April, the young orphans were moved to their new container accommodation. Around this time, the Zululand Conservation Trust reached out to Almar after learning the company had indicated it would donate a shipping container to help increase the much-needed container accommodation and facilities.

Not long after this, in mid-May, the Zululand Rhino Orphanage received a plea for help from another KZN reserve to accept a four-month-old orphan that had survived nearly a week next to the lifeless carcass of his mother, ruthlessly killed by poachers. More temporary living space was added and extra carers brought in to help keep the animals alive.

According to the orphanage, all four youngsters are doing well and the aim is to return them to the wild once they are old enough and strong enough to survive.

About Container Accommodation

Shipping containers are strong and robust and can be converted for a multitude of uses as offices, storage facilities, clinics, classrooms, laboratories, and of course for container accommodation.

They can be stacked easily and joined together to create secure units that are much larger than a single container. They are ideal for use where the environment is rugged or where safety and security is an issue.

While Almar has provided containers for a host of uses, including remote on-site accommodation, since it was established in 1988, providing container accommodation for rhino orphans is a first. Our donation was made even more rewarding when representatives of the company were invited to visit the orphanage earlier this month (July 2018).

It was amazing to witness the dedication that the staff at the orphanage have. Well done to the team at the Zululand Rhino Orphanage and thank you for the opportunity to participate in this very deserving cause.

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Converted Shipping Containers for Homes and Offices

Steel shipping containers have been used for mobile storage and to transport goods since the 1950s, initially by road and then via railways and by sea. Today there are millions of shipping containers worldwide, mostly used for transportation of cargo between major cities. There are also millions of ISO container units that are no longer in use, largely because they are frequently used to ship goods one way only. In the past few decades, many of these are now converted shipping containers that are used for modular offices and homes.

The Idea of Using Converted Shipping Containers for Accommodation

Even though Phillip C Clark is generally considered to have been the first person to consider shipping container buildings feasible, there is evidence of earlier interest. For instance, Betjemann Christopher of the Insbrandtsen Company (originally founded in Denmark as the Isbrandtsen Steamship Company) invented a mobile showcase for trade fairs made from a rectangular cargo shipping container. The container was divided into two sections and featured two side doors that could be raised to form a canopy. These portable “showcases” were intended for use at international trade fairs and could be used to transport whatever was to be exhibited between continents. He applied for a US patent in 1962 and it was granted in May 1965.

Clark only filed for a US patent in 1987 and it was granted in 1989. He detailed a method that could be used to convert “one or more steel shipping containers into a habitable building at a building site” as well as the resulting “product”, a building that could be used as a home. He specified that multiple containers could be spaced or abutted side-by-side or mounted on top of one another. Inner side walls could be removed to increase open areas of space, a dropped ceiling installed under the top walls, and at least one window and one door provided for access and ventilation.

In 1996, James G Wiley, Jr, and Steve Forney applied for a US patent for a modular building that would have a steel shipping container core. Both inner and outer walls would be secured to the corrugated container walls and a laminate ceiling secured inside the “roof.” The container floor would become sub-flooring. Their motivation was that Clark’s invention had major disadvantages including the fact that his shipping container buildings were not prefabricated and had to be constructed on site, making them more expensive. The patent was granted to Forney in 1998.

In 1998, CMH Manufacturing applied for a US patent for a “container for prefabricated transportable buildings”. Rather than buy shipping container units, this invention proposed a self-contained, rectangular steel shipping container built to “substantially conform to standard shipping container sizes.” Built from components of the prefabricated building, it was designed to contain all the elements required to build either a two-storey duplex or double-storey detached family home. While water and sewer connections would have to be installed on site, conduits for electricity could be installed in the walls before shipping. Several suitable foundation types were specified in the patent which was eventually granted in 2002. Founded in 1987, CMH Manufacturing specialises in building modular and manufactured homes and commercial buildings and it supplies homes according to its patent.

The First Shipping Container Buildings

There are many shipping container buildings that have been widely publicised, some old, some new. They range from converted shipping containers made into tiny houses to huge mansions that utilise dozens of containers that are cleverly connected and clad with materials that cover the corrugated steel both inside and out.

Some of the first shipping container buildings were used for the 1985 low-budget movie Space Rage: Breakout on Prison Planet. A typical “wild west” cowboy movie it was set in a futuristic town that featured the regular general store, saloon, various houses, and of course the prison. What was different was that just about every building, including the sheriff’s house, was built from 20 and 40 ft shipping containers.

Probably the first ISO container converted for use as an office belonged to American inventor and designer, Stewart Brand, author of the acclaimed 1994 book, How Buildings Learn: What Happens After They’re Built, which was basically a study of buildings in time. Three years later, in 1997, Brand presented a six-part series for BBC TV, based on the book. He also co-wrote the series.

Another early project incorporating shipping container design was the original Container City in east London, UK, that featured 40 ft converted shipping containers used for low-cost office and accommodation in 2001. Designed by UK architect Nicholas Lacey, the concept involves the use of Container City units that are bolted together but can be easily unbolted and relocated or stored until needed somewhere else. They have subsequently been used for classrooms, youth centres, workspace, retail space, offices, and for artists’ studios.

Today there are many companies that specialise in shipping container design for both homes and offices. With its head office in South Africa, Almar has a range of container conversion products that are suitable for offices, workshops, clinics, and accommodation of various kinds. If you are in the market for converted shipping containers call us for more information.

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ISO Container Specifications

Known as intermodal containers, the standard steel boxes used for mobile storage across land and sea are made according to strict specifications established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that develops and publishes international standards for just about everything. These shipping container design standards cover everything from size to the quality of steel used for construction, as well as the allowed gross weight of the ISO container.

Standards for an ISO Container

There are a number of different standards that specify standards for shipping container design. While the vast majority of containers are categorized for general purpose use, there are separate standards for reefers – an insulated shipping container that is also refrigerated – and other even more specialised units.

All ISO standards are available for purchase and they cannot be accessed unless paid for, although there are some “informative sections” of the ISO standards that are available publicly. These include the accepted definition of an ISO container and of a freight container.

  1. A freight container is intended for permanent and repeated use and should be designed specifically to facilitate transportation of goods. It should also be fitted with devices that will make it easy to handle and to transfer from one type of transportation to another. Freight containers that meet ISO specifications should be both easy to fill and empty and they should have an internal volume of at least one cubic meter.
  2. An ISO container is a type of freight container that meets the relevant ISO container standards.

In addition, there are freely available definitions for both container structures and components.

These are some of the more important standards that relate to any ISO container used for shipping:

In addition, there are several standards that cover the specification and testing of:

There is also a standard, ISO 3874: 1997, that covers handling and securing of containers that are generally used for mobile storage.

Buy or Rent an ISO Container From Almar

Almar sells and rents out both new and used shipping containers in South Africa, Africa, and parts of the Middles East. All our containers are made to ISO standards. Contact us for details.

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