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The Development Of Nitrogen Purged Shipping Containers

By Helene Norris


The interconnected series of roads we know as the interstate system was designed with military goods in mind, and there was even a requirement that for every five miles of surface, one mile must be straight, for emergency aircraft use. But the added benefit of this complex of asphalt surfaces was the explosion of trucking, now a critical part of national logistics. Taking the system to the next level required the invention of Nitrogen Purged Shipping Containers.

The humble transport container gets very little press or respect, yet is a primary reason for transportation efficiency. Standardizing the size and shape of inter-model freight containers, was accomplished by commercial shipping experts and the US military in the 1950s. While it now seems obvious that a standardized package would be the smartest way to move things, it was a breakthrough achievement.

The industrial military complex came together to develop a device that would allow for the movement of material either on land or sea. Despite the faster and perhaps more exotic aura of air transportation, more than 95 percent of things are moved on the surface of the earth, even in wartime. What was needed was a standardized vessel in which things could be packed and then fitted onto trucks, trains or ships interchangeably.

The requirements of such a device were that it had be strong, large enough to handle almost every type of material, and designed for rapid cross loading from one transport mechanism to another. In addition, they had to be a stand alone device, but one that could also be easily stacked for rail and oceanic movement.

In addition to their universality of use and ease of transition from truck to train to ship and back, they also needed to be sturdy. All the products encased within had to be able to endure the extremes of the journey, no matter how short or long. This mean the devices had to be durable and strong, yet not so heavy they could not be handled.

Occasionally, special parameters must be met for specialized types of cargo, this usually has a time constraint on the transportation as a whole. These types of shipments include perishables such as foodstuff, fruits and vegetables, which not only can ripen or spoil en route, but affect the atmosphere within a closed vessel accelerating the problem. The use of an inert gas to keep the proper oxygen to carbon dioxide ration can greatly extend the life of the product.

The control of the atmosphere within the vessels also had the advantage of making very volatile liquids far less dangerous. Without this ability, it would not be possible to move these materials along with other products. It allows for the near elimination of the probability of explosions, when monitored carefully.

The use of nitrogen purged shipping containers is essential for the overall logistics system, as there is now so much hazardous material that must move on a daily basis. There is insufficient capacity to simply dedicate sections of global logistics systems to the hydrocarbon rich movements. And when people ad cargo move together, the risks are too high not to take advantage of safety procedures.




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