ROI on shipping containers: an overlooked efficiency?

When considering ways to enhance efficiency and reduce costs within logistics, the focus often lies on optimizing routes, reducing fuel consumption, or improving packaging materials. However, an often-overlooked area ripe for improvement is the selection and utilization of shipping containers. Investing in high-quality, specialized containers can significantly impact the return on investment (ROI), particularly in industries dealing with fragile, hazardous, or high-value goods. 

Our extensive experience in creating shipping solutions for lithium-ion batteries, fragile goods, and hazardous materials gives Americase deep insight into how the right containers can boost efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness. In this post, we share some of what we’ve learned.

 The Role of Specialized Containers in Enhancing ROI

Specialized shipping containers are designed to meet the unique needs of various industries, when commonly available commercial options simply can’t do the same job. For companies shipping lithium-ion batteries, fragile items (such as medical, testing, or aerospace equipment), or hazardous materials, the choice of container can influence multiple aspects of their operations, from cost management to safety and compliance.

 Safety and Compliance

• Hazardous materials: Shipping hazardous materials, such as lithium-ion batteries, requires compliance with stringent safety regulations. Americase’s containers are engineered and tested to meet and exceed these requirements, ensuring safe transport and reducing the risk of incidents that can result in costly fees.
• Worker safety: Using ill-fitting containers not designed with the specific cargo in mind can increase the likelihood of accidents, which increases the likelihood of injury.
• Regulatory compliance: Adhering to regulations like those from the Department of Transportation (DOT) and/or international standards for shipping or storing hazardous materials is crucial. Americase’s experience and expertise ensure that their containers are designed with these regulations in mind to avoid compliance-related fines.

Durability and Protection

•  Fragile goods: For industries dealing with delicate items, container durability is paramount. Americase designs its containers to provide maximum protection against shocks and environmental factors, reducing the incidence of damaged goods and the associated costs of replacements and returns.
• Impact resistance: Americase containers offer enhanced impact resistance, crucial for preventing damage during the tumultuous shipping process. This not only protects the goods but also the reputation of the shipping company, leading to increased customer satisfaction and repeat business.
• Bespoke fit: For uniquely shaped items, containers that account for the exact dimensions and shapes of what they store provide better protection by design. For example, here at Americase, we have built custom containers for helicopter blades, which are challenging to transport. 

Cost Efficiency

•  Long-term savings: Investing in high-quality, durable shipping containers might seem costly initially, but the long-term savings are substantial. Reduced damage rates, lower risk of regulatory fines, and decreased need for repairs and replacements translate to significant cost savings over time.
• Operational efficiency: Efficiently designed containers can streamline packing and unpacking processes, saving time and labor costs. Americase’s solutions incorporate features that facilitate easier handling and storage, contributing to overall operational efficiency.
• Sustainability: Containers that can be used multiple times will provide even more efficiency in cost and operations, as well as environmental benefits. 

Benefits of Investing in Quality Shipping Containers

Investing in specialized shipping containers can have positive impacts across various aspects of a company’s operations. Here are some of the biggest advantages:

• Reduction in safety incidents: High-quality containers significantly reduce the risk of incidents during transportation, such as thermal runaways. This enhances overall safety and protects employees, customers, and the company’s products and operations.
• Compliance: Americase containers are designed to comply with, or exceed, all applicable safety standards, ensuring that companies meet regulatory requirements and avoid penalties.
• Lower insurance costs: Using compliant and safe containers can lead to lower insurance premiums, as the risk associated with transporting hazardous or fragile goods is minimized.
• Avoiding product damage: Durable and protective containers are designed to keep products safe so they arrive in the condition they were expected, avoiding returns and replacements, which translates into cost savings and higher customer satisfaction.
• Efficiency in handling: Well-designed containers facilitate easier handling, loading, and unloading, reducing labor costs and improving turnaround times.
• Reliability and trustworthiness: By investing in high-quality shipping solutions, companies demonstrate their commitment to safety and reliability. This builds trust with customers and partners, enhancing the company’s reputation.
•  Positive customer experience: Reduced damage rates and timely deliveries contribute to a positive customer experience, leading to repeat business and higher customer loyalty.

 The End Goal? Customer Satisfaction

The selection and use of specialized shipping containers play a crucial role in enhancing safety, efficiency, and ROI. Americase’s expertise in creating tailored solutions for hazmat and high value goods demonstrates the significant impact that high-quality containers can have on logistics operations. By investing in our innovative shipping solutions, customers can ensure compliance, reduce costs, and have the peace of mind that their valuable goods are transported safely. And in the end, customer satisfaction is the key driver of ROI. By providing high-quality, reliable shipping containers, Americase helps our clients enhance their own customer experiences.  Safe and timely deliveries with no product damage, and compliance with all applicable safety standards contribute to a positive customer experience, which can lead to repeat business and increased customer loyalty. 

As a trusted shipping container partner to numerous companies across a variety of industries, it is essential that we stay ahead of trends and technological advancements as well as current and upcoming regulations and safety codes. By continuously innovating and addressing the specific needs of our clients, Americase sets a benchmark for how specialized containers can transform logistics and shipping operations.

For companies looking to enhance their ROI, investing in high-quality, specialized shipping containers is not just an option but a necessity. Americase’s solutions offer a clear path to achieving greater efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness in the transportation of fragile, hazardous, and high-value goods.

Trust Our Expertise

Americase’s years of experience helping clients in some of the most demanding industries imaginable translates into peace of mind during often challenging times. 

Americase CEO Robby Kinsala says, “By putting so much attention into every detail and focusing on not just safety and compliance but also on our customers’ specific needs, we’re able to provide a solution that adds value in multiple ways.”

Some of the advantages we bring to help solve our customers’ shipping and storage challenges include:

• Safety: Americase’s containers for lithium-ion batteries, including Damaged, Defective, or Recalled (DDR) batteries, are meticulously designed and rigorously tested to ensure maximum safety by containing thermal runaway events should they occur during transport and storage..
• Regulatory expertise: We actively participate in the development of regulations and standards, working with the regulatory bodies on writing the regulations and assisting with the practical implementation of those codes. Our comprehensive knowledge of regulations and commitment to quality ensure that our client’s solutions are always compliant and always of the highest quality possible.
• Custom design: Americase offers custom-designed containers that provide tailored protection for each customer’s unique needs. Customizing the container design to meet specific requirements and challenges ensures safe shipping and arrival of the customers’ products. 

Whatever your challenge, and whatever kind of container you need, we are ready and able to help and look forward to hearing from you.