AUTOMATED SELF-COLLAPSIBLE ISO CONTAINER

摘要

AKDC (Automated self-collapsible container or Automated knock-down container, or Automated self-collapsible maritime container) embodies an innovation destined to revolutionise shipping and transport of goods around the world. Over sixty years have passed since the ISO CONTAINER made its first appearance becoming the most widely used system in the world for the movement of goods. Though chiefly used for transport by sea, over time the container has been adapted for carrying goods by road and rail as well; thousands of intermodal centres and port terminals have arisen to cope with the quantity of containers that are moved every day. But stocking space at the ports, though greatly increased may well be insufficient for the future. AKDC can therefore fulfil an important role from this point of view. The shipping companies are certainly those who will gain the greatest economic benefits from using the AKDC by cutting their storage and handling charges at ports and intermodal centres and, even more important, their costs for returning empties to various ports in the world, with reductions of up to one sixth of present levels (price per TEU), especially in areas where trading imbalance is a constant factor. Use of the AKDC also means a lower environmental and social impact in that less stocking surface is needed, allied to a reduction in the transport of empty units; last but not least the possibility of reducing accidents and pollution due to there being fewer vehicles on the roads. It follows that the AKDC will shortly be able to replace the obsolete DV container and open a brighter future with new models.