Are Folding Containers the Future of Shipping?

swellconvivialguy writes "Earlier this year Maersk ordered 20 super-size container ships—each to have '16 percent larger capacity than today's largest container vessel, Emma Maersk.' But instead of embracing the bigger/more-is-better mentality, Staxxon, a NJ-based startup, has engineered a folding steel container (it folds like a toddler's playpen), which is designed to make shipping more efficient by 'reducing the number of container ship movements.' No one has yet succeeded in the marketplace with a collapsible container, but Staxxon has made a point of learning from the mistakes of others."

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[Stephenmg]

So why are we posting ads written as articles on Slashdot? I fail to see how this is news for Nerds. It really has nothing to do with the normal topics of slashdot as well as being an ad.

Tradeoff

[PhattyMatty]

Looks like a cool concept, though it looks like it takes much more human contact than regular shipping containers do (when being folded). This could be a problem, as a lot of the bigger shipping yards are automated and/or move containers around using large machines.

We'll have to see if the increase in human contact is worth the space saved when shipping empty containers around.

Or perhaps we could sell things to asia ...

[perpenso]

Or perhaps we could sell things to asia. If the containers going from the US to asia were not empty then there would be no need for them to fold.

Indian one looks interesting

[YesIAmAScript]

The Dutch one is too lightweight. And having the sides fold might seem like a great idea, but when you stack 4 more containers on it and go crashing through waves, you have to start wondering if it's going to fold up when it isn't supposed to.

Also, a roll-up door on the end? You must be kidding me. What happens when the contents shift? You may end up with something leaning on the door and keeping it from rolling up or just flat out bending the door so it won't roll. The sturdy doors of a standard container (or the Indian one) are stronger and open outward so you don't have to give up space inside for the door tracks and stowage space.

Re:"Reducing the number of container ship movement

[roskakori]

Once those containers get back to China and are loaded up with cargo, you now have 5 ships worth of cargo containers, but only 2 ships to transport them. Those 3 ships you left in the U.S.

Good point. Seems they need to find a way to fold ships, too.

Similar to bikes [wikipedia.org], planes [wikipedia.org] and (to some extent) cars [automotto.com].