Over the years, the function of shipping containers has drastically evolved. It’s no longer surprising to see container units being used other than conveying goods. Architectural innovations have transformed them into restaurants, clinics, offices, and even homes.
The fantastic news is that you don’t have to purchase one. Some companies are providers of shipping container hire or for sale. One of the benefits of renting shipping containers is their cost-effectiveness. Whether you’re on a tight budget or need a unit for a short-term project, you can take advantage of their affordable price. Renting these containers is also convenient, considering you can access customized units that meet your needs.
Furthermore, they’re a resource that you can use in multiple sectors. Keep reading to learn more about the many industrial uses of shipping containers.
Industrial Uses Of Shipping Containers For Hire
Shipping containers for hire are used in many industries, such as construction, healthcare, and agriculture.
- Construction Industry
In the construction industry, shipping containers are used in different ways.
- Storage Facilities
Shipping containers are used to store construction equipment and resources. Building materials and tools can be quite expensive and should thus be kept securely to prevent financial loss or project delays.
One feature that makes them a safe and secure storage location is the high-grade steel exterior. The containers are also air- and waterproof, safeguarding construction equipment and resources from extreme weather conditions and moisture that could cause damage through rust.
- Accommodation Facilities
Shipping containers are also used in the construction industry as accommodation facilities. They serve as a safe enclosure for workers to have meals and relax. In addition, the personnel guarding the site or workers staying overnight may also need somewhere to eat, shower, and rest. To fill this gap, construction companies can hire and transform shipping containers into accommodation facilities or breakrooms, depending on their needs.
- First Aid Stations
Additionally, shipping containers are converted into first aid stations within a construction site. Project sites are prone to accidents. As with most accidents, first aid is vital to preserving the injured person’s life until medical help arrives.
Containers are hence used as rooms to administer first aid. They also double as a storage room for first aid kits and other essential supplies. They are furnished with an examination bed, a dressing table, a drug safe for medical supplies, and a privacy screen.
- Office Space
Furthermore, shipping containers can provide office space for administrative tasks. The office space can also accommodate other project stakeholders, such as contractors, architects, and project managers.
Access to an onsite workspace allows them to fulfil their office work while at the site.
- Healthcare Industry
Healthcare facilities experience logistical issues often due to the nature of their operations. As a result, challenges such as transport complications and overcrowding are pretty prevalent. Fortunately, renting shipping containers can be an effective way of addressing these challenges.
- Mobile Clinics
Overcrowding in hospitals is a problem that has affected the healthcare sector for years. Healthcare facilities often report having a shortage of beds or overcrowded waiting rooms and wards. This can strain the hospital staff and minimize the effectiveness of their treatment efforts. In some instances, understaffing in health centers is due to insufficient space.
However, some healthcare facilities are becoming creative in how they deliver care. Instead of going through the lengthy construction process, these facilities opt to rent shipping containers and transform them into mobile medical centers.
Mobile hospitals have also enhanced care delivery to populations living in remote areas that would otherwise not have access to proper health care. This contributes to the healthcare system’s goal of improving the health and well-being of populations.
- Transportation For Medical Equipment And Supplies
Healthcare shipping containers are also used to transport medical equipment and supplies. For example, vaccines and certain medications must be shipped at specific temperatures to maintain their efficacy.
The shipping containers used for this purpose are insulated and fitted with a refrigeration system to prevent the supplies from being compromised. This further promotes improved health and well-being across populations.
- Agricultural Industry
The agricultural sector hasn’t been left behind in using shipping containers for hire. Container units are used as animal stables or storage facilities for animal feeds, farm equipment, and machinery.
- Storage Units
Shipping containers for hire serve as storage units in the agricultural industry. One of the things you can store is livestock feed. Safe and secure storage of animal feed supplies is essential to keeping pests, rodents, and insects away. Consequently, this minimizes the spread of diseases and damage.
Additionally, storing animal feed in a shipping container safeguards it from extreme weather conditions. This restricts the growth of bacteria, fungi, and mold, which can make livestock ill.
Shipping containers are also used to store farm equipment and machinery. Keeping the tools locked in a container unit protects them from thieves. Considering how expensive they are, this reduces the risk of financial losses.
The air and waterproof nature of the container units prevent the collection of dust, grease, or rust on the farm tools. This keeps them in good condition and enhances their longevity. As a result, it saves you money because you don’t have to replace them frequently, which means your farm expenses become reasonable and sustainable.
- Animal Stable
Using shipping containers for hire as animal stables is also a brilliant idea. For one, the cost of constructing a barn is higher than you’d spend hiring one. In addition, despite being transformed into a stable, a shipping container retains its protective features that keep out harsh weather. This safeguards the animals and their feeds, minimizing the risk of illness.
Nonetheless, the shipping container should be well-ventilated to make it favorable to house livestock. Therefore, it’s also essential to fit them with windows for enhanced ventilation and a door to create a point of entry.
The industrial uses discussed above contribute to efficient operations across the respective sectors. Besides their cost-effectiveness, more information exists on the usefulness of shipping containers for hire. For example, shipping containers solve accommodation and storage challenges in the aforementioned industries.
Summing Up
Shipping containers for hire are affordable whether you’re on a tight budget or need a container unit for a short-term project. Their functionality is what makes them useful across multiple sectors.
Shipping containers for hire in the construction industry serve as storage and accommodation facilities, first aid stations, and office spaces. Similarly, the healthcare industry hires shipping containers to solve overcrowding and transport challenges. They achieve this by converting the containers into mobile clinics or using them to ship medical supplies and tools. More notably, the agricultural sector utilizes shipping containers for storage purposes and to house livestock.
Considering the needs you’d like to fulfill before hiring shipping containers will ensure you make an informed decision.