AN ECO-FRIENDLY AND CREATIVE CONCEPT: STARBUCKS SHIPPING CONTAINER STORES

Who ever thought shipping container can turn into a cool coffee shop? Starbucks did it! Starbucks succeed to get attention with their innovative concept of drive-thru shipping container stores.

On December 13, 2011, the first Starbucks shipping container was built in Tukwila, Washington. This concept came out from Puget Sound, the busiest shipping port in Washington. When Starbucks design team were thinking about an eco-friendly store idea, they looked at the Puget Sound and found an idea to reuse shipping containers as a sustainable store.

Starbucks uses shipping container to deliver coffee, tea, and other materials all across the world, so it seems fitting that they decided to use shipping containers to build their stores. By using unused shipping containers, Starbucks help to reduce their waste because after 20-25 years of lifespan, it will become scrap. This new concept turns out to be the breakthrough for Starbucks popularity. Many customers give very good response about this Starbucks’ new store. It’s not only an innovative idea, but also environmental and economical friendly.

However, it’s a little hard for Starbucks to arrange the equipments in the 40-foot shipping container stores because it is not a big space and also they can’t modify the dimensions. They need to figure it out exactly where all the equipment needs to go, so the six employees in there don’t end up bumping into one another.

Starbuck’s design team using this shipping container stores as their eco-friendly store ideas. They expect to achieve LEED certification. This shipping container stores have met the LEED standards: water efficient irrigation, energy performance optimization, use of green power, construction waste management, recycled content, low-emitting materials, and overall innovation and design.

Today, Starbucks have built a few of shipping container stores all over US:

1. Tukwila, Washington, the first Starbucks’ shipping container store.
2. Denver, Colorado
3. Portland, Oregon
4. Salt Lake City, Utah, opened September 2014
5. Chicago
6. Ballard, Seattle, opened February 2, 2014

It’s not only Starbucks that used shipping containers to build their stores. There is also a few unique shipping container restaurants all over the world:

Smoky Park Supper Club, Asheville, North Carolina, USA

Till the Cows Come Home, Berlin, Germany

Ska Brewing’s World Headquarters & Tasting Room, Durango, Colorado, USA

Ska Brewing’s World Headquarters & Tasting Room, Durango, Colorado, USA

Shipping containers are flexible for different uses. Look at Starbucks that succeed make a cool shipping container coffee shop. Some of unique restaurants also made from shipping container. These Starbucks stores and a few of shipping container restaurants are only a few example of the innovative idea of shipping containers.

Based in China, Shanghai Metal Corporation is one of the leading businesses in the manufacturing of metalworking industry. We can produce and export shipping containers and other metal products and service. We prioritize the efficient of manufacturing and environmental sustainability.

Want to know more about our company? Please visit our website and you can follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Feel free to download our new mobile application by scanning the QR code below.

Source: Containerhomeplans, Inhabitat, Starbucksmelody

 

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SMC at the 2015 Intermodal Asia Exhibition

from intermodal-asia.com/

On Tuesday 24 SMC Shanghai Metal Corporation attended the second Intermodal Asia Exhibition 2015 held in Shanghai. Wondering what the exhibition is about? Launched in Europe, the Intermodal Asia Exhibition is a new platform for Asia shipping and container industry. It is a great chance for professionals and companies to come together and exchange ideas and industries about the shipping and container market. As Mr Mai Bo Liang, Chairman of the CCIA and President of CIMC, stated, “it is the perfect opportunity for professionals fro throughout the world to come together to network, do business and encourage the healthy and sustainable development of modern intermodal transport.”

Opening Ceremony

Within a globalized world, where interactions and business between countries is growing exponentially, the three-day exhibition was the event that SMC Shanghai Metal Corporation could not miss. As you may know, China is rapidly growing in the market becoming the leading country in the business of containers and shipping. This is also do to the great emphasis that the government is giving to this market. New projects, such as “The New Silk Road Economic Region” and “21 Century Maritime Silk Road” will make China becoming the core of world commerce.

SMC Sales Assistant checking the conferences program

Not only the 2015  Intermodal Asia Exhibition was for suppliers the chance to promote their products and activities, but also a chance to know more about this evolving market. Three conference theaters (The Strategy Theater, The Innovation Theater and the brand new Technology Theater) offered the visitors the opportunity to attend numerous presentations and debates gave by industry leaders such as European Shippers’ Council Acting Secretary General Joost Sitskoorn who discussed about the “Wider Economic Perspective and Intermodal Market Update in the Spotlight.”

Conference at the Strategy Theater

SMC International Interns

SMC International Interns

SMC International Interns

The Exhibition Map

SMC Containers Department Manager and Sales Assistant

Remember! Shanghai Metal Corporation provides you with a great selection of containers. Visit our website and do not hesitate to contact us.

Scan the QR code below and stay informed about our latest updates:

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Stefano// SMC Editor

The History of Containers – When It All Began

Today, Shanghai Metal Corporation brings you back in time. Are you ready to take-off? Please fasten your seat belt, sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight. This is the story of containers.

The first stop of this journey is 1936 in Hoboken, New Jersey. The idea of containers, considered by many as “revolutionary”, must be attributed to Malcom McLean. As often is the case, the greatest ideas come in times of crisis. The Economist has described McLean’s early life as follows.

“He was a farmer’s son, one of seven children. His first business transaction was selling eggs for his mother, taking a small commission. But in the 1930s, the time of the Great Depression, farming was one of the worst-hit industries. Mr McLean got a job at a petrol station and saved enough money to buy a secondhand lorry, calling himself, grandly, the McLean Trucking Company. He did well enough to buy five more lorries, hired drivers for them, but continued to drive himself“.

from http://www.intra-plus.com

By observing how the loads of cotton were moved by the trucks of his company to the hold of the ship, McLean thought of using a fixed size “metal box” that could contain the voluminous material making the operations easier. Few years later, this insight would have proved to be revolutionary. Indeed, the “new container”, in addition to speed up the operations of loading and unloading, contributed to decrease transportation costs and to avoid the thefts committed in ports.

from investorsconundrum.com

According to The Economicst, the Ideal X was the first cargo ship transporting containers. It was an elderly oil tanker “whose deck had been strengthened to accommodate 58 well-filled boxes each some 30ft (9 metres) long”. It was on April 26, 1956, when the Ideal X left Newark for Port Hudson.

from people.hofstra.edu

According to Internazionale.it, McLean spent $0.16 per ton loaded, while the average cost of goods shipped at that time was $83 per ton. Moreover, from 1966 to 1983 the percentage of countries that used them has risen from 1 to 90 percent. The Economist claims that McLean was celebrated as the “man of the century” and the inventor of “the greatest advance in packaging since the paper bag”. Moreover, former United States President Bill Clinton said that containerisation helped to “fuel the world’s economy”.

from eaves.ca

Remember! Shanghai Metal Corporation provides you with a great selection of container houses. Visit our website and do not hesitate to contact us.

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Stefano// SMC Editor

The 2014 World’s Busiest Container Ports. The winner is…

Wondering which are the busiest container ports across the planet? And which is the world’s leading port city for 2014? This article will provide you with the answer. The list was made public a few weeks ago and, not surprisingly, eight of the top ten ports are Chinese. Moreover, according to Medi Telegraph, 14 is the number of the ports that, in 2014, have handled more than 10 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit), two more than 2013 (Kaohsiung and Dalian). In this chart the only non-Asian ports are Dubai and Rotterdam.

Here is the chart.

from scarbrough-intl.com

The winner is again Shanghai.

	Port	Country	Volume Million TEU	2014/2013
1	Shanghai	China	35.28	+5%
2	Singapore	Singapore	33.90	+4.1%
3	Shenzhen	China	24.03	+3.3%
4	Hong Kong	China	22.30	+0.1%
5	Ningbo	China	19.45	+12%
6	Busan	South Korea	18.65	+5.5%
7	Qindao	China	16.62	+7%
8	Guangzhou	China	16.16	+6%
9	Dubai	United Arab Emirates	15.24	+11.8%
10	Tianjin	China	14.05	+8.1%

Following, Rotterdam 12.30 million TEUs (+ 5.8%), Port Kelang 10, 94 million TEUs (+ 5.8%), Kaohsiung 10.59 million TEUs (+ 6.5%), Dalian 10.59 million TEUs (+ 2%). The Chinese ports alone have handled a total of 179 million TEUs, 6% more than the previous year. (from themeditelegraph.com)

‘Shanghai Port’ from chinarushonline.com

For the fifth consecutive time Shanghai is confirmed as the busiest port for containers in the world. Indeed, in 2010, Singapore lost its crown as leading world’s port remaining so far one step behind in Shanghai.

‘The Port of Singapore’ from forbes.com

Congrats Shaghai and… guess what! Shanghai Metal Corporation based in the city with the busiest world’s container port, provides you with a great selection of containers. Visit our website for more details and do not hesitate to contact us.

Scan the QR code below and stay informed about our latest updates:

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Stefano// SMC Editor

How to select the right type of container for different kinds of cargo

With the increased amount of international trade exchange that persists among countries all over the world, as people are constantly seeking to buy in regions of better quality, price and other preferences, the need for shipping containers can not be over emphasized.

Knowing the right type of shipping container to use to transport what kind of goods is therefore imperative, before one takes the decision of transporting goods.

As a leading manufacturer and supplier of shipping containers in China, Shanghai Metal Corporation offers several types of containers for different kinds of goods. We offer both dry bulk shipping containers and offshore containers. Our containers are all of international standard and are characterized by steel structural composition on the walls, timber flooring, secure and lockable doors, and most of all they are stackable, making them highly convenient.

The most popular type is the 20 feet and 40 feet, 40 feet high cube standard shipping containers which are used for dry bulk shipping.  This type of container can also be used for domestic transportation of goods, for instance on the back of a truck, in instances where people are moving goods such as furniture; or shipping of any dry bulk cargo. The open-top container is most convenient for heavy loads which can be unpacked with fork lifters.

Open-side containers are suitable for domestic transportation or can be used as self-storage structures. Open doors allow full access to goods, hence handling loading and offloading is made easy.

For cargo that needs to be kept regulated at certain cool temperatures, reefer containers are best.

Offshore containers are also handy as storage structures. Our selection of these are the waste skips, open-top offshore containers work well as storage in back yards etc. Half height offshore containers are commonly used for storing goods where there is limited space. Their relatively small surface area allows one to save space, as they can be stacked as well.

For more details about our full range of containers please visit our website.  If interested, please feel free to contact us for an inquiry . Scan the QR code below to see our latest updates, or follow us on these social media platforms:

    

Lebo Seopane//SMC Editor

Sources: SMC website,Google

Transport made easy!

As the one of leading supplier and manufacturer of metal products in China, we know best about what type of containers are suitable for transporting what type of goods. At SMC, containers being one of our most popular products, we assure you of the best quality, secured containers which enable goods to be transported safely.

Our open top containers are perfect for businesses that deal in large, industrial size equipment. This container enables goods of unusual shape and size to be loaded onto the container and transported to their place of need.  The removable top of this container comes handy especially when transporting goods such as mining and construction equipment,machinery,  building materials and other mega size equipment.

Open top allows goods to be secured and left in their natural shape, hence they are transported freely.

To learn more about how our open top containers can best suit your needs, visit our website and see our full product range.

Contact us for a free inquiry, our friendly staff will be available to help you.

Stay in touch with our latest news, scan the QR code below and download this app

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Lebo Seopane// SMC Editor

Credits: SMC website, Google images

 

 

Keep it Fresh!

As one of the leading manufacturers and suppliers of metal products in China,  one of our most popular products is the shipping containers. We offer shipping containers in different sizes and variations, among which is the Reefer Container, also known as the refrigerated container.

At SMC we ensure that your perishable goods are kept cool and fresh through the long journey of reaching the export market; or as they are being transported from the place of origin, that is the farm to the  market place in our temperature controlled cargo.  Our professional handling of perishable goods in these reefer containers is specifically beneficial to businesses that trade in the horticulture business farming products such as flowers, fruits, vegetables, sea food ,meat and other fresh produce.

Much like a cold room with controlled temperature, our reefer containers have a controlled atmosphere to ensure that the goods being transported remain as fresh as can be, thus quality products is not compromised.

This intense temperature control is particularly useful in ensuring food quality; so it comes a long way as a great benefit for countries that aren’t self sufficient in food production and are dependent on imported fresh produce.

Refridgerated containers are also essential for transporting other sensitive goods such as plants,medicines and vaccines which need to be under certain temperatures all the time.

These containers are also handy in transporting  food products to military personnel living in bush camps and are out of reach of fresh produce.

 

Our reefer containers are equipped with low power consuming refridgeration technology, which is essential for energy saving.

Seasons Greetings! Look no further and contact us for a free inquiry about to get more information about the reefer containers. They are essential for transporting all those flowers and Christmas trees during this peak season!

Stay up-to-date with our latest updates by scanning the QR code below or follow us on these social media platforms:

    

 

 

Visit our website for more product information.

Lebo Seopane//SMC Editor

Credits: SMC homepage, Google Images

Build your own safe haven!

At SMC, we not only recommend our shipping containers to be used for shipping, but we also have some other innovative ways to use them to share with you. We manufacture shipping containers of different dimensions, and different functionality, which can serve your specific needs accordingly. All our containers are characterized by durability, relatively inexpensive price, and sustainability.

If you are looking to build an underground shelter or basement to make into a safe haven for your family, for example in times of hurricanes and other natural disasters, containers are a good resource to build this shelter. They are easy-to-set up, highly durable, and can be fixed onto a foundation made from cement, bricks or even wood. This is merely just to ensure that the shelter is anchored well to the ground, and more secure.

Make yourself a comfortable underground bunker using our containers!

The idea of making a shelter out of containers also comes handy for military bases, which may be in remote areas where it isn’t so easy to build with conventional building materials; and can sometimes be of great use when making a secret hideout place for soldiers at war for instance. We have a variation of prefabricated containers which ensure great durability and are more sustainable  for containers used as shelter of a dwelling place in nature.

Our containers also come handy as affordable, easy to set up structures. In developing countries’ remote areas, where there may not be enough resources to build a hospital for instance, our containers can be used as a mobile clinic as it is can easily loaded onto the back of a truck and driven to the place of need.  

To make the perfect shelter for your needs, visit our website for more information about our various containers and other products. Contact us for free inquiry.

Get our latest news and updates by downloading the QR code below; follow us on the following social media platforms:

    

Lebogang Seopane// SMC Intern

Credits: Google images, SMC website

 

 

Re-use, Adapt, Attract!

As the leading manufacturer and supplier of metal products in China,  SMC is the go-to supplier when you are looking for shipping containers to reuse in a cheap and eco-friendly manner. For instance, for micro businesses that can’t afford office space, our shipping containers come handy as they can be easily converted to office space or working space.

We meet the needs of all business sectors. Tuck-shop and window store owners can also re-purpose our shipping containers into their working space. Use our shipping containers as affordable, spacious, easy to set-up structures and get your business up and running without the hassle of looking for office space or paying office rental! Save your money and energy and find adaptive uses of containers to meet your needs!

Since a shipping container is just a long hollow structure, it allows one to apply a great deal of creativity and innovation towards making it a comfortable working space, giving one limitless ideas of how to design their space.  Incorporate different kinds of art to make the space personal.

With the growing trends in the real estate industry and enhancement of architectural renaissance, urban  land owners are trying to attract tenants to want to live in their container apartments as they have a unique and sassy look. The first ever container apartments were built in Washington DC, and the trend is growing by the day.  SMC being a leading supplier in China, our market has spread out beyond China’s borders by a great deal. We have already penetrated the rest of Asia, US, UK, Australia and many other countries, thus, we are not too far from you!

Visit our website click here for  inquiry, our friendly staff will be available to help.

Get our latest updates by downloading our latest application. Scan the QR code below and follow us on the following social media platforms:

    

 

Lebogang Seopane//SMC Intern

Sources: Google images, SMC main website

Looks Prettier than It Costs!

Are you tired of high water bills? Think it’s too much effort maintaining your gardens and football pitch? Well, at SMC, we have the solution to your gardening problems!

Artificial lawn is becoming more and more popular by the day, as it is ever-green all year round, requires little maintenance, has easy installation, and creates a breath-taking scenery, and most of all saves you from high water bills!

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At SMC, our building systems subsection is concerned about all your building needs. Enhance the look of your gardens and sports arena with our artificial grass! While you are at it, take it up a notch and incorporate our shipping containers which you can recycle to create extra living space with an open patio setting. Recycled containers used in design and decor, are a great architectural success to creating contemporary gardens! They allow you to create your own lush and unique garden, at minimal cost. SAY BYE-BYE TO WATER BILLS and HELLO to beautiful lush gardens all year round! NO lawn mowing, no pruning, no watering! You save a lot!

SMC is a professional artificial grass manufacturer and is one of the leading building systems supplier in China. Having a world-wide market, we produce world-class artificial grass from synthetic turf; which is widely used in home gardens, golf landscape, and sports arena.

Moreover, our artificial grass is also safe for children to play on, hence it’s perfect for school play grounds.

Enjoy beautiful views in your homes and sports arena with our artificial grass, with no fuss of high maintenance. At SMC, we understand the problem of water scarcity; so come to SMC to save water and pay less money for your water bills and garden maintenance personnel. All that cost forgone is  accompanied by breath-taking landscape architecture!

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Read more about how best we can meet your building system needs by visiting our website or make an inquiry.

Get our latest updates, follow us on the following social media platforms

    

 

or scan the QR code to download our new application

Lebogang Seopane//SMC Intern

Sources: Google images, SMC website