Collapsible Containers Help Port Of Mobile

The Alabama Port Authority has a new system that relies on custom collapsible containers to create “a continuous logistics cycle,” AL.com reports. When in use, the containers resemble conventional 20-ft shipping containers. However, they dodge one of the drawbacks of the standard model, which is the simple fact that empty containers take up just as much room as full ones. These containers fold flat when not in use. They’re used to bring stainless-steel scrap from Mexico to the Outokumpu steel mill in Calvert, where it’s melted down for reuse. Then, they’re folded and stacked for the return trip. Four of the boxes can be stacked in the space normally needed for a single empty unit. The process lowers transportation costs, reduces emissions and helps recover and recycle valuable scrap. Outokumpu annually ships approximately 230,000 T. of cargo through the Port of Mobile.