Composites are Taking Cargo Transportation to New Depths and Heights

Composites are known for their strength, lightness of weight, resistance to corrosion, design flexibility, and durability. The market for composites is constantly evolving, with new and innovative uses for these versatile materials being implemented every year. One of the most exciting places carbon fiber composites are being used today is in the manufacturing of shipping containers, tanks and other such holding vessels, all of which are products manufactured utilizing MVP equipment.

Shipping Containers are Ubiquitous

Ever since American inventor Malcolm McLean came up with the idea for the shipping container in 1956, it has become the standard for transporting huge quantities of goods across the country and around the world. Before, most cargo was loaded and unloaded from ships by hand by longshoremen. Moving to shipping containers greatly reduced the time to load and unload ships, cutting the costs from $5.86 a ton to just 16 cents a ton – 36-fold savings. The versatile steel shipping container quickly became ubiquitous.

Steel Containers Have a Number of Drawbacks

Despite their many advantages, steel shipping containers have a number of disadvantages as well. First, since they are made to be reused and withstand the rigors of being transported long distances, they require a lot of steel to produce, making them relatively heavy. Next, as they get banged up, abraded, and dropped frequently over their life, they will lose their protective paint coating and quickly begin to corrode when exposed to sea air. Finally, they are often returned to their point of origin empty, meaning shippers lose money by paying to transport a huge container of air.

Composite Shipping Containers: A Better Solution

Composite shipping containers offer a number of exciting advantages over steel. Although composite shipping containers typically require a higher initial investment, the reduced weight – typically about half that of steel – creates fuel savings that quickly offset the premium price. For example, a composite container priced at $8300 would break even in overall costs when compared with a $3050 steel container after being shipped just 74,500 miles. And the advantages don’t stop there.

Composite materials don’t corrode and never need to be painted. The material also keeps cargo cool and free from condensation. In addition, composite containers can be made foldable, meaning they can be laid flat on their return trip. Finally, they are more secure than steel because they can be easily scanned with low-power X-rays without opening. And unlike steel, composite containers do not interfere with GPS signals and transmitters, so they can be easily fitted with tracking and monitoring devices to allow security scanning using special sensors too.

MVP Provides Innovative Composite Manufacturing Equipment 

Composite shipping containers offer many advantages when compared to those made from steel. At MVP, we’ve made it our mission is to provide the best experience in the composites equipment industry by delivering superior customer service and the most innovative solutions for our clients.

MVP. Customer Focused. Product Driven.

To learn more about our innovative products, visit https://www.mvpind.com/products/ today!

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

DXpedition
Icom Powers 3Y0K : Ham Radio’s Most Ambitious DXpedition to Remote Bouvet Island Part 1
July 11, 2025

Bouvet Island sits at the edge of the world. It is frozen, uninhabited, and almost impossible to access. Fewer people have set foot there than in space. That level of remoteness is exactly what makes it so valuable to amateur radio operators. The island ranks tenth on ClubLog’s list of Most Wanted DXCC entities,…

Read More
entrepreneurial success
The Hidden Key to Entrepreneurial Success: Build Momentum Through Personal Branding and Authentic Networking
July 10, 2025

What if the biggest pivot of your career started with a conversation?  In this episode of Professional Quotient, host Jason Winningham welcomes Fanny Dunagan, CEO and Content Strategist of PathLynks, LLC. Fanny shares her journey from high-pressure consulting in Singapore to founding her own media and branding company — and why learning to network…

Read More
Q2 2025
RM Q2 2025 Wrap Up
July 9, 2025

Rogue Marketing continues to lead with intention in a space often driven by noise. Q2 2025 reflected a strategic focus on substance, where each initiative supported long-term brand growth. The team transformed internal recognition efforts into enduring brand assets and refined event strategies through immersive, results-driven experiences. Website launches during the quarter balanced visual…

Read More
amateur radios
Hamvention Spotlight: Emergency Preparedness Led PrepHam Paul to Amateur Radios and a Rising Voice in the Field
July 9, 2025

PrepHam Paul (K5VLP) celebrated his first visit to Dayton Hamvention by marking a major channel milestone. He hosted a giveaway of the  IC-2370B mobile radio from Icom to thank viewers for helping him reach 10,000 subscribers. His passion for emergency preparedness, rooted in his experience as an Eagle Scout and later studies in emergency management,…

Read More