If your business is related to the storage of temperature cargo, then sooner or later a situation arises in which a refrigerated warehouse is required. If you have additional financial resources for the design and implementation of such an expensive project, then of course you will not consider a refrigerated container as an option. But if you want to save on design, installation and commissioning of a stationary cold storage, then you should weigh the option of purchasing a refrigerated container.
First, unlike a stationary warehouse, the container is completely mobile and does not tie you to a place. If necessary, at any time you can easily transport the container. Thus, it can function as a stationary refrigeration room and a mobile refrigerator. By reloading the refrigerated container onto a trailer or a railway platform, you can easily deliver the goods to any point.
Another advantage of the refrigerated container is its relatively low power consumption. It is designed to work in all weather conditions and is capable of maintaining cargo temperatures from -30C to + 30C. This is another plus in favor of the ref, in comparison with a conventional refrigerator. After all, a refrigerating chamber designed for freezing, when operating in medium and high temperature conditions, will wear out and consume more electricity. Thus, purchasing a refrigerated container, you get a reliable unit designed to work in an active environment.
If you have weighed all the pros / cons and came to the conclusion that the refrigerated container is what you need, then you just have to decide (based on the free space for installation and the amount of goods) with the size. Containers are available in sizes 20 feet, 40 feet and 40 feet. Also on the market are High Cube Pallet Wide 45 feet (82 cubic meters) containers. However, it should be noted that the share of such containers on the market is extremely small. A distinctive feature of these types of containers is their increased capacity. In the chamber of such a container, 32 Euro pallets can be loaded.
You decided to purchase a container, but now you are faced with the question of choosing the year of production of the container and its technical condition. If you have the opportunity and desire to invest in a new ref, then you don't need to rack your brains for a long time, but simply decide which manufacturer you prefer. As a rule, there are no special differences in technical parameters and performance of the units, if we compare the main players in the market of refrigerated containers. But often in the secondary market, models are offered that have gone out of the turnover of shipping lines and written off ashore. This does not mean that the container is faulty and that instead of handing it over for nonferrous metal, the line companies decided to sell it for use in the secondary market. Indeed, many companies lease containers for a period of about 7 years and after this period they simply renew their container fleet. In recent years, due to a decrease in the turnover of world trade, the number of sea transportations and a decrease in the cost of their cost, companies are in no hurry to renew their fleet of containers. This leads to the fact that containers that have served 10 years or more are written off.The difference of several years between the year of container production is not always obvious in favor of a newer unit. When choosing, it is important to check the performance of the refrigeration unit, make sure there is no extraneous noise during operation, visually check the condition of the condenser, pipelines, etc. And do not forget to ask the seller to provide you with the PTI upload file.
You should not take a variety of patches, irregularities and scuffs on the body as a clear sign that the ref is not suitable for you. Do not forget that before entering the secondary market, it went through numerous processes of unloading, loading and transported from continent to continent for years. It is important that the tightness of the case is not compromised and its isothermal properties are preserved. If delamination of the hull skin is found (both internal and external), then it should be borne in mind that such a problem is fraught with an increase in energy consumption.
And do not forget to consider the fact that when you sell, you must make sure that the seller provides you with a guarantee. Moreover, just a guarantee in words or even documented does not always mean that you receive high-quality and timely service. It is worth making sure that the seller really has a decent material and technical base to provide service, a spare parts warehouse and qualified, trained and certified personnel.
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