Glossary > #Open Side

Open Side Container

Open Side shipping containers are becoming an increasingly preferred solution in the field of transportation due to their significant flexibility. Designed with doors on the longer side of the container, they facilitate access to contents, which is ideal for transporting bulky, heavy, or irregularly shaped items. This aspect represents a fundamental shift in handling processes compared to traditional containers, where access to goods was limited only by doors on one side.

What is an Open Side Shipping Container?

Open Side containers are specially manufactured containers, often equipped with folding or fully openable doors along the entire length of the longer side. Thanks to construction from high-quality steel and a marinized floor, this type of container ensures robustness and long service life even in the most demanding conditions of transportation and storage.

Key Features of Open Side Shipping Containers

  1. Side doors: These containers allow full access thanks to doors that can open up to 270 degrees. This facilitates handling of bulky and irregular items and increases the possibilities for utilizing space inside the container.
  2. Material durability: Increasingly, these containers are equipped with high-quality steel panels, which guarantees their resistance to corrosion, extreme temperatures, and humidity. They are designed for long-term usability even in very unfavorable conditions.
  3. Dimensions and capacity: Commonly available in 20′ and 40′ versions, including high-cube variants. This selection of sizes and capacities allows easy adaptation to your special needs.
  4. Security systems: To ensure the safety of contents, these containers can be equipped with special locks and security boxes on doors, which eliminate the risk of unauthorized access.

Benefits of Using Open Side Shipping Containers

  1. Easy handling of goods: Containers allow easier loading and unloading thanks to accessible doors, making these solutions ideal for bulky or heavy cargo.
  2. Efficient space utilization: Side doors ensure better utilization of internal space, which is key to increasing transportation efficiency and reducing handling costs.
  3. Quick access to contents: Thanks to side doors, it is easy and quick to retrieve goods without the need to remove all container contents. This feature is especially valued during frequent operations in local markets or logistics centers.
  4. Versatility: These containers are extremely versatile and suitable for various applications including construction projects, retail and hospitality facilities.

Open Side Containers Available for Sale:

Use of Open Side Shipping Containers

Open Side containers find extensive application in industrial sectors such as construction, logistics, and manufacturing, where handling of difficult-to-access goods is a daily occurrence. They can serve as mobile warehouses, transport vehicles for oversized cargo, or be converted into offices or apartments. Special construction allows unconventional use, for example in the form of pop-up shops, cafes, or exhibition stands.

What is a Shipping Container with an OPEN SIDE?

A shipping container with an OPEN SIDE is a specialized intermodal freight container that has one of the long sides fully equipped with folding doors. This unique feature allows complete access to the interior of the container, which is especially suitable for loading and unloading oversized, irregularly shaped, or palletized goods. Unlike standard shipping containers, which have double doors only at one end, containers with an OPEN SIDE offer greater accessibility and flexibility.

These containers are very versatile and have wide use not only in transportation. They are often used in sectors such as retail, construction, and event organization, but also in creating innovative spaces such as offices, workshops, or pop-up shops. All containers with an OPEN SIDE comply with ISO standards (International Organization for Standardization), which ensures that they meet global requirements for transportation and logistics.

Key Dimensions of Containers with OPEN SIDE

Understanding the exact dimensions of containers with an OPEN SIDE is essential for determining their suitability for specific use. These containers are available primarily in sizes 20 feet and 40 feet, with variants in standard and high cube (elevated). Below is a detailed overview:

External Dimensions

  • Length:
    • 20 feet: 6.06 meters (20 feet)
    • 40 feet: 12.19 meters (40 feet)
  • Width: 2.44 meters (8 feet)
  • Height:
    • Standard: 2.59 meters (8 feet 6 inches)
    • High Cube: 2.9 meters (9 feet 6 inches)

Internal Dimensions

  • Length:
    • 20 feet: 5.89 meters (19 feet 4 inches)
    • 40 feet: 11.87 meters (39 feet 3 inches)
  • Width: 2.34 meters (7 feet 8 inches)
  • Height:
    • Standard: 2.39 meters (7 feet 9 inches)
    • High Cube: 2.69 meters (8 feet 10 inches)

Door Opening (Side and End)

  • Width: 2.34 meters (7 feet 8 inches)
  • Height:
    • Standard: 2.26 meters (7 feet 5 inches)
    • High Cube: 2.56 meters (8 feet 5 inches)

Volume Capacity

  • 20 feet Standard: ~33 cubic meters (1,165 cubic feet)
  • 40 feet High Cube: ~70 cubic meters (2,469 cubic feet)

Weight

  • Tare Weight (empty):
    • 20 feet: ~2,100–2,940 kg (4,630–6,482 pounds)
    • 40 feet: ~5,200 kg (11,465 pounds)
  • Maximum gross weight: 28,000–30,510 kg (61,729–67,200 pounds)
  • Useful load capacity: 24,340–25,000 kg (53,660–55,115 pounds)

Features of Containers with OPEN SIDE

  1. Side access doors:
    • The main characteristic of containers with an OPEN SIDE are folding side doors that allow opening of the entire side of the container. This feature is ideal for loading long or oversized items and also for improving accessibility.
  2. Double doors at one end:
    • In addition to side doors, containers with an OPEN SIDE typically have standard double doors at one end, offering multiple access points.
  3. Material and durability:
    • Made from Corten steel, known for its resistance to corrosion and adverse weather conditions.
    • The floor is often made of marine plywood or bamboo, designed to handle heavy cargo.
  4. ISO certification:
    • All containers with an OPEN SIDE are ISO certified, which ensures their compatibility with global shipping networks for ships, trains, and trucks.
  5. Ventilation:
  6. Security features:
    • Contains lock boxes and protective mechanisms for padlocks, which increases resistance to theft and unauthorized handling.
  7. Resistance to weather and pests:
    • Construction ensures resistance to weather conditions and pests, which guarantees the safety of stored goods.

Use of Containers with OPEN SIDE

Transportation and Logistics

Containers with an OPEN SIDE excel in transporting goods that cannot be loaded through standard end doors. Examples include:

  • Long materials such as pipes, steel rods, and wood
  • Machinery or oversized equipment
  • Palletized goods requiring direct access by forklift

Storage

Their accessibility is ideal for on-site storage:

  • Construction tools and equipment
  • Seasonal retail inventory
  • Agricultural machinery or products

Retail and Events

These containers are often adapted for creative projects such as:

  • Pop-up shops: Ideal for customer engagement and product presentation.
  • Exhibition stands: Perfect for trade fairs, offering accessibility and design flexibility.
  • Stages and platforms: Often used at concerts and public events.

Residential and Commercial Use

Containers with an OPEN SIDE can be converted into:

  • Offices: Insulated and equipped with electricity for functional workspaces.
  • Garages and workshops: Side doors improve accessibility and ventilation.
  • Homes: Modular and affordable, suitable for residential projects.

Types of Containers with OPEN SIDE

  1. Standard vs. High Cube
    • Standard: Height 2.59 meters (8 feet 6 inches).
    • High Cube: Offers one foot more vertical space, ideal for taller cargo.
  2. New vs. Used
    • New (one-time use): Usually in excellent condition, used only once for transportation.
    • Used: More affordable, but may show signs of wear such as dents or rust.

Advantages of Containers with OPEN SIDE

  1. Easy loading and unloading: Side doors provide unique flexibility, especially for irregularly shaped or oversized items.
  2. Efficient space utilization: Items can be easily accessed without the need to unload the entire container.
  3. Versatility: These containers can be easily adapted for a wide range of uses, from retail to residential.
  4. Durability: Manufactured for long-term use, they withstand extreme weather conditions and heavy cargo.
  5. Global compatibility: ISO certification ensures seamless integration with international shipping systems.

Alternatives to Open Side Shipping Containers

  1. Double doors (Tunnel Containers): Offer access from both sides, making handling easier in tight spaces.
  2. End-opening containers: Standard variants that are ideal for common use with lower maintenance costs.
  3. Roll-up door containers: Quick access to contents through easily openable shutters.
  4. Curtain-sided containers: Flexible side access, facilitating handling of goods without the need to use solid doors.

Despite their higher acquisition costs, Open Side shipping containers represent a practical solution for a range of logistics and commercial applications. Their versatility and flexibility facilitate everyday operations and provide invaluable advantages in today’s rapidly changing transportation and storage market environment.