Rail Freight, a brief introduction

 Rail Freight, a brief introduction.

What is rail logistics?

Rail freight transport is the usage of railroads and trains to transport cargo on land. It can be used for transporting various kinds of goods all, or some of the way between the shipper and the intended destination. A few examples of cargo that rails transport are Agriculture, automotive, chemicals, raw construction material, energy (coal, oil, wind turbines), forest productions. Since railcar transportation is often cheaper and more eco-friendly than over-the-road (OTR) shipping, it is worth considering this mode. Rail is a great solution for pre-planned long-hauls, and moving from OTR to rail could benefit your supply chain in several ways. 

Freight trains can haul bulk cargo, standardized shipping containers, or specially designed cars for a specific type of freight. There is a 1.1 million km line of railroads worldwide. America takes the biggest share out of this – 32%. Then comes Asia with 30%, Europe – 24%.The statistics from last year show that rail freight traffic has a growing tendency worldwide, with an exception of Africa.

Rail freight is much faster than ocean freight. It is more expensive than sea freight but cheaper than air freight. Moving goods by train is perfect for high-value industrial products such as vehicles, electronics, and computer equipment, as well as promotional equipment that must reach their final destination as quickly as possible.

The global rail freight market is expected to grow from $247.39 billion in 2020 to $271.87 billion in 2021 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.9%. The growth is mainly due to the companies rearranging their operations and recovering from the COVID-19 impact, which had earlier led to restrictive containment measures involving social distancing, remote working, and the closure of commercial activities that resulted in operational challenges. The market is expected to reach $351 billion in 2025 at a CAGR of 7%.

Common Types of Rail Cars for Freight Shipping

BOXCARS

Common boxcar freight includes:

Consumer packaged goods

Auto parts

Paper reams

Canned goods

Bagged products

HOPPER CARS

Common hopper freight includes:

Coal

Ore

Salt

Sand

Grain & wheat

Corn

Sugar

Fertilizer

FLATCARS

Common flatcar freight includes:

Long poles & pipes

Logs & cut lumber

Steel plates & beams

Wind turbines

Oversized machinery & equipment

Intermodal containers

TANK CARS

Common tank car freight includes:

Oil

Water

Chemicals

Petroleum-based products

Liquid hydrogen

GONDOLAS

Common tank car freight includes:

Scrap metal

Steel plates & coils

Rail track & ties

Gravel

Construction debris

Miscellaneous waste

COIL CARS

Steel coils

Copper coils

Plastic tubing

REFRIGERATOR CARS

Frozen meat & fish

Fresh produce

Milk

Beer

Ice

SPECIALTY CARS

Automotive vehicles

Ballast

Aggregate

Miscellaneous items

ICD and Rail Freight

Dutch firm markets ‘one-way’ containers

 

The one-way containers are complementary to carriers’ own equipment – specifically that share of their containers that won’t be filled with return cargo.

Some 20m ocean containers move across the planet, carrying freight to every corner of the globe. After being unloaded at their destination port, 40% of the containers continue over land, while 20% are returned empty by sea.

The Rotterdam firm K-tainer has come up with a new sustainable alternative to this procedure: one-way containers.

The new and used containers offered by K-tainer Trading and K-tainer Leasing come with a unique arrangement that reduces carbon emissions and completely refunds these savings to the user transporting the container as there is a third party in K-tainer’s concept, between the buyer and the seller, namely the carrier. Container shipping lines, exporters and road haulage firms have up to 30 days to use the containers free of charge, and can leave them with the buyer after unloading.

A diverse range of clients are already taking advantage of this option. The main draw for users is that the carbon savings refund enables them to increase the sustainability of their logistics service.

The one-way containers are complementary to carriers’ own equipment – specifically that share of their containers that won’t be filled with return cargo.

“Imagine a shipping company sends 10 containers per week to Ireland, but only has enough freight to fill six containers on the return voyage. In this situation, the shipping company can benefit from henceforth using four of our one-way containers on its Ireland route, and leaving them there,” explained K-Tainer director Walter Ferreira.

K-tainer has been rewarded for this novel concept with a Lean & Green star, an international award recognising logistics companies that have truly explored every angle to reduce the sector’s carbon emissions.

“We have a new fleet of containers built in China, but of course, we don’t ship those empty either: we get a party to fill them with cargo,” said Ferreira.

Source : Splash

#reefercontainerknowledge #shippingcontainer #shippingnews #logistics

Container Demand, A Boost For Indian Makers

 

An acute shortage of marine containers since October 2020 due to a global equipment imbalance has severely affected Indian trade. However, it has also come as a blessing in disguise for it has led to an awakening — both in the government and in the trade — on the need for India to aggressively restart container manufacturing locally and be less dependent on China, which has a monopoly with over 90 per cent market share globally.

Local container manufacturing is also critical for the success of Centre’s AatmaNirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) programme.

Container manufacturing is not new to India. As containerisation started to flourish two decades ago, Indian companies manufactured them locally. However, the momentum fizzled out as Chinese companies gained dominance due to cheap labour, availability of abundant raw material and the ability to scale quickly — all of which were largely missing in India.

But action is now being taken — albeit a bit late — to revive local container manufacturing. Earlier this month, Container Corporation of India (Concor) placed orders for 1,000 containers each from Braithwaite & Company Ltd and Public Sector undertaking BHEL. Concor, which earlier always sourced containers from China, discovered that locally made containers were cheaper by about 25 per cent. Each container costs about ₹2.5 lakh. It is looking to source more from within India.

There are reports that Gujarat government is exploring a plan to make Bhavnagar a hub for container manufacturing.

Bijoy Paulose, Managing Director of the Chennai-based VS&B Containers, said the company annually procures around 4,000 boxes, and all from China. India once had container manufacturers such as Balmer Lawrie (Chennai and Kochi); DCM Hyundai (Chennai); Nathaniel and Transfreight (Mumbai) and HIM Containers (Kolkata). However, these companies all shut down 10-20 years ago. Only DCM is doing local containers in Delhi, he added.

China has a monopoly and can quickly undercut the prices and squeeze the Indian initiative unless the government looks at serious intervention to prevent dumping. There is an annual demand for nearly 4,000 boxes in India. India now has raw materials such as Corten steel needed for the manufacture of these containers. However, 25 years ago even screws were imported, he added.

In the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, local production will benefit the domestic trade during any future disruption, said Sai Krishna, Assistant Vice President, ICRA Ltd, an investment information and credit rating agency. However, matching China on the costs will be a challenge for Indian container manufacturers, he added.

The government can help by providing exemptions for manufacturers on key inputs such as steel or steel scrap. The key to success will be to build scale, else on the cost front the initiative might not take off, he said.

According to Sunil Vaswani, Executive Director, Container Shipping Lines Association (India), the limited access to available containers is driving up the buying price of new containers since manufacturers charge a premium due to the high demand.

A relaxation of 40.8 per cent import duty after 18 per cent GST on Corten steel and/or suspension of iron ore exports will help Indian container manufacturers. Favourable policy framework, cost/price competitiveness and quality will boost the business. This would not only help India become self-reliant in the sector but also give the world another option — which would help during the peak demand months of the year — for sourcing of containers, so far largely restricted to China.
Source: The Hindu Business Line

#maersk #container #shipping #reefer #teu #madeinindia #

India looks to enter container manufacturing

 

India is looking to enter the container manufacturing sector in a big way as the country aims to boost its exports.

Container manufacturing is expected to be part of India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat programme, which is a vision for India envisaged by prime minister Narendra Modi to make India a self-reliant nation. Under the program, five pillars were outlined – economy, infrastructure, system, vibrant demography and demand.

The country’s decision comes at a time when there is a major container shortage on major liner routes resulting in substantial freight rate hikes. The shortage of containers has also been causing delays in shipment of India’s major export goods including rice.

“We need to address the issue of containers at the earliest especially as we focus on boosting exports on one hand and reducing imports on the other,” Ajay Sahai, director general, Federation of Indian Export Organisation told India Narrative.

India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has already set up a committee to study the feasibility of manufacturing containers at Bhavnagar in Gujarat.

Currently China is the largest container manufacturing country in the world with a market share of more than 95%.

Commenting on the news, Andy Lane from Singapore-based CTI Consultancy told Splash: “Currently there is some demand for additional production. Longer term the global container fleet will remain at around 1.6 times the liner ship capacity, and India will need to compete with China here. China has an additional advantage that the containers roll out of the factory straight for export stuffing.”

Source - Splash

#containers #asis #india #manufacturing #china #atamnirbhar #madeinindia 

Thermo King Launches Mobile Refrigerated Containers ColdCube Connect FLEX

 Thermo King Launches #Mobile #Refrigerated #Containers #ColdCube Connect FLEX

Thermo King announced ColdCube Connect Flex, the latest addition to its portfolio of flexible, portable cooling, #freezing and #heating mobile containers. The new Connect FLEX models come with an integrated #battery, which offers at least 12 hours of autonomous cooling capacity, fully independent from the vehicle battery.

Thermo King ColdCube Connect FLEX containers are a lightweight, durable, flexible solution available in three sizes that fit a standard van or truck. The containers allow customers to ensure an autonomous temperature controlled environment in non-refrigerated vehicles and fulfill a variety of transport and storage needs including Pharma, retail, catering and last mile deliveries. Bluetooth connectivity enables customers to wirelessly control the temperature set-point and provides full visibility of temperature and status without opening the container. For additional connectivity, ColdCube Connect FLEX comes with a preinstalled temperature sensor, compatible with Thermo King telematics systems.

“ColdCube containers provide a simple and flexible way to ensure that Pharma, fresh or catering temperature-sensitive products are moved and stored in the right, controlled environment,” said Oscar Sanz de Acedo Pollan, aftermarket engineering leader at Thermo King.” The new FLEX models, thanks to the integrated battery and autonomous operations, give customers even more flexibility. They can now store the container outside the vehicle whenever needed, without looking for an external power source to connect to.”

ColdCube Connect FLEX Pharma certified models offer powerful, automatic cooling, freezing and heating operation reaching temperature ranges from -30 degrees Celsius to +30 degrees Celsius depending on the version, and efficient internal ventilation. This meets the stringent requirements for secure transport of biomedical products, like blood bags, blood tubes, vaccines and biological samples in the most demanding environment conditions.

Key features of the Thermo King ColdCube Connect FLEX containers:

• Integrated battery for at least 12 hours of autonomous, wireless operation. Simply recharged at any 115 or 230V AC outlet

• Fully independent of vehicle battery and compatible with electric vans.

• Available in 140, 330 and 720L versions.

• Bluetooth connectivity and telematics ready.

CO2 refrigeration system for a new supermarket in Larnaca

For Cyprus, energy conservation is one of the main issues when opening a store, as electricity has a very high price. Considering the need to save energy and the hot climate of Cyprus, as well as in accordance with the European Union legislation on the use of refrigerants, the refrigeration system for the new supermarket in Larnaca was designed and manufactured with CO2.

In this project, Aisberg acted as a manufacturer of refrigeration furniture, antifreeze defrosting system and a supplier of Adap-Kool (Danfoss) computer monitoring system.

The anti-freeze thawing system developed and patented by Aisberg Ltd in this project is used for all low-temperature display cases, medium-temperature display cases for meat and preserves, refrigerators and freezers. Glycol is heated by solar energy. The heat exchange equipment of Aisberg refrigerated showcases is adapted for the use of CO2.

The line of counters in the Cube design includes modules of various designs and temperature conditions, assembled in a line in a single design with wood finish.
Fresh baked goods are sold in self-service mode in a neutral Cube Bakery display case with wide natural wood shelves. For hot baking, there is a thermal vertical display case with heated shelves made of natural stone, located at an angle to the customer.

Another innovative patented development of Aisberg Ltd is applied in the Cube refrigerated display case for fresh meat. The Cross Cooling System maintains a stable temperature in the display case, even during the thawing period, which ensures the freshness and quality of meat products. Showcases are equipped with hydraulic lifting of the front windows, blowing of the front windows to avoid fogging, a shelf for shopping bags and baskets.

Taking into account the geometry of the store, for the convenience of customers' aisles, compact wall-mounted display cases Medusa Horizont were used - a double-sided island version with a body width of 1330 mm. The showcase is equipped with energy-efficient glass doors.

#refrigeration #reefer #co2 #newtechnology #danfoss #cyprus

Carrier Transicold launches solar power system for reefers.

Innovative new TRU-Mount charging panels designed to deliver transport refrigeration units more power, faster.

Carrier Transicold’s newest solar charging system for transport refrigeration unit (TRU) batteries features an innovative design that conveniently fits on top of the TRU.

The new TRU-Mount Solar Charging System boasts 2.0-amp power delivery by combining ultrapure silicon cells with a high-performance charge controller, the company said. “With a significantly smaller footprint than our prior solar panels, the new system provides up to 18% greater power delivery for faster, more complete charging of a 12-volt TRU battery, helping ensure uninterrupted performance,” said Jason Forman, associate director of sales and marketing for performance parts.

Refrigerated haulers are adopting solar panels to help offset battery draws from ancillary devices, such as fuel-level sensors, interior trailer lighting and telematics systems. During periods when the TRU is not running, such power draws can potentially drain the battery too low to start the TRU engine, resulting in a service callout or battery replacement, Carrier maintained. Solar panels can also help conserve fuel by minimizing the need to run the TRU engine to charge the battery.

The innovative panel design provides a custom fit on the narrow, curved top surface of Carrier Transicold X4 and X2 series trailer refrigeration units and Vector 8000 and 6000 series units. The charge controller is integrated in the panel, which simplifies installation.

“The location of the TRU-Mount panel has multiple advantages,” Forman said. “The lower positioning on the TRU makes it less susceptible to overhead scrapes that can affect trailer-top-mounted panels. Unlike some competitive units, Carrier’s TRU-Mount system is not suspended over the exhaust path, helping to avoid efficiency losses that occur when solar cells are exposed to high temperatures. The system also conveniently stays with the TRU if the TRU is removed and reinstalled on another trailer.”

The panel uses three engineered layers to maximize strength and efficiency. The light-trapping upper layer is scratch-, impact- and weather-resistant. The middle layer is composed of uncut monocrystalline cells that maximize output and minimize power loss from intermittent shading. The copper bottom layer serves as a heat sink that keeps the panel cooler for greater efficiency.

The new TRU-Mount Solar Charging System is now available for field installation and will be offered as a factory-installed option later this year, the company said.

#reefer #solar #charging #panel #carrier #container #TRU

Visit transicold.carrier.com for more information.