Industrial containers are used for containing materials, shipping and storage.  These containers include bags, basins, bins, boxes, buckets, crates, cylinders, drums, IBCs, tanks, and ISO containers. They also include insulated containers, refrigerated containers, intermodal containers, tote boxes, bulk containers, waterproof containers, collapsible containers, and other vessels.

A bag is typically a flexible container that may be closed for holding, storing, or carrying materials.  A basin or trough is a long shallow vessel with sloping or curving sides for holding liquids or solids.  A bin is a large box, frame, or enclosed place used for storage.  A box is a rigid, typically rectangular, container with or without a cover. A tote is an example of a box.  A bucket, basket or pail is typically a cylindrical vessel for catching, holding, or carrying liquids or solids.  A cooler or insulated container is used for storing or transporting of perishable goods, such as food or blood.  Insulated containers protect the contents from the environment.  A crate is an open box with slats, or a protective case or framework for shipping.  Drums and barrels are large cylindrical industrial containers, usually for moving or storing liquids.  An IBC is an Intermediate Bulk Container.  They have a capacity of not more than 3 cubic meters and are designed for mechanical handling.  This includes Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers (FIBCs) such as bulk bags or super sacks.  Some industrial containers are ISO or Intermodal rated.  These freight containers conform to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) container manufacturing standards.  ISO is an international standards organization headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.  The term intermodal refers to the transport of freight in one shipping container by two or modes of transportation, such as truck and rail, or rail and ship.

Industrial containers are used for containing materials, shipping and storage.  These containers include bags, basins, bins, boxes, buckets, crates, cylinders, drums, IBCs, tanks, and ISO containers. They also include insulated containers, refrigerated containers, intermodal containers, tote boxes, bulk containers, waterproof containers, collapsible containers, and other vessels.

A bag is typically a flexible container that may be closed for holding, storing, or carrying materials.  A basin or trough is a long shallow vessel with sloping or curving sides for holding liquids or solids.  A bin is a large box, frame, or enclosed place used for storage.  A box is a rigid, typically rectangular, container with or without a cover. A tote is an example of a box.  A bucket, basket or pail is typically a cylindrical vessel for catching, holding, or carrying liquids or solids.  A cooler or insulated container is used for storing or transporting of perishable goods, such as food or blood.  Insulated containers protect the contents from the environment.  A crate is an open box with slats, or a protective case or framework for shipping.  Drums and barrels are large cylindrical industrial containers, usually for moving or storing liquids.  An IBC is an Intermediate Bulk Container.  They have a capacity of not more than 3 cubic meters and are designed for mechanical handling.  This includes Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers (FIBCs) such as bulk bags or super sacks.  Some industrial containers are ISO or Intermodal rated.  These freight containers conform to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) container manufacturing standards.  ISO is an international standards organization headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.  The term intermodal refers to the transport of freight in one shipping container by two or modes of transportation, such as truck and rail, or rail and ship.

ISO or Intermodal container types can be general purpose or dry, insulated, flat rack or platform, open top, refrigerated, or tank.  General purpose containers are enclosed, box type containers used for general-purpose transportation.  These industrial containers are also called cube containers.  Standard heights for dry containers are 8 feet 6 inches.  These containers are also manufactured with extended heights of 9 feet 6 inches, and are referred to as high cube containers.  Cargo is loaded from the end of the container.  Insulated or thermal containers are used to transport of chilled and frozen goods.  They are also used for temperature sensitive materials and products.  The container walls are insulated, but the container does not have a refrigeration unit.  Flat racks and platforms have no sidewalls, but may have end bulkheads.  They are used to transport heavy machinery.  Collapsible flat rack containers are open sided containers with end bulkheads that can be folded down when the rack is empty.  Open top containers are box type containers with no top.  These containers can be used to carry heavy, tall or hard to load cargo, and bulk material, such as coal or grain.  Cargo can be loaded from the top or end of the container.  Refrigerated, or reefer containers are used to transport of chilled and frozen goods.  They are also used for temperature sensitive materials and products where a steady temperature must be maintained during shipping.  Tank containers have a cylindrical tank mounted within a rectangular steel framework.  These containers are built to the same standard dimensions as other ISO containers.  They are used to transport liquid or bulk materials.

Important specifications when considering industrial containers are volume capacity, weight capacity, tare weight, diameter, length, width and height.  The tare weight is the weight of the container when empty.  The most common lengths for ISO / intermodal containers are 20 feet and 40 feet.  Less common lengths include 24, 28, 44, 45, 46, 48, 53, and 56 feet.  The standard width of ISO containers is 8 feet.  Standard heights for ISO containers are 8 feet 6 inches, and 9 feet 6 inches.

Features common to industrial containers include collapsible, covers, EMI/RFI shielding, handles, hazardous materials storage, locking or restricted access, stackable, and wheels.