Leading shipping container supplier Royal Wolf and KiwiRail have jointly developed a new logging container that improves efficiencies and capacity when transporting logs to the Port of Tauranga.
The 484 logging cradle cassette containers, built by Royal Wolf’s intermodal business unit, were specially designed as a replacement for KiwiRail’s old log wagons which could only carry logs.
The new 20-foot cassette containers can be loaded and secured onto different types of railway wagons to increase compatibility and capacity across KiwiRail’s network.
Royal Wolf intermodal general manager Michael Horne says the new containers were built for KiwiRail’s specific logistics and transport needs.
The two companies worked closely to develop a prototype container followed by the manufacturing of a batch of containers and then the final product.
“There are a wide range of commodities and products transported in our containers but coming up with a solution for the safe transportation of logs required a very specific design.
“The cassette containers are functional but also highly innovative because they are able to be secured to a range of different wagons in the KiwiRail fleet,” Horne says.
KiwiRail’s network extends the length of the country with approximately one third of New Zealand’s export goods transported by rail. Each week KiwiRail operate 800 freight services carrying goods around the country.
“We support sustainable practices and rail is certainly an environmentally friendly and cost-efficient transport solution. Companies are always looking at opportunities to reduce costs and we help them do that with simple, yet highly efficient containerised solutions.”
As well as creating bespoke intermodal and freight solutions, Royal Wolf’s standard intermodal and freight range includes 20, 25, 40 and 48-foot curtainside and hardside containers, and a selection of side door containers which allow easy access to goods.
Royal Wolf is the largest provider of shipping container solutions in Australasia from high volume fit for purpose storage containers for hire, through to tailored modifications.
