CONTAINERS WITH FORK POCKETS

Sunday 11 August 2013
Updated: Wednesday 9 March 2022
Filed in: General

Are you planning to handle your storage container using a fork lift? In that case you'll need to choose a container that has fork pockets. While most 20ft shipping containers come with these as standard nowadays, and it's not uncommon to find them on 40fts too, smaller sized containers are not generally manufactured with fork pockets. The good news is that Containers Direct can now supply all our containers for sale with fork pockets, upon request.

What is a fork pocket?

Quite simply, it's an opening in the base of the container for the insertion of the prongs of a forklift. The two fit together like a jigsaw and without these pockets it would only be possible to handle the container from the top using a crane.

Why choose fork pockets?

While lifting from the top may be the most efficient and convenient way to handle heavy containers at the docks, it's an unnecessary performance for say a 10ft container used for dry land storage, so it's common place for most containers used in the storage market to be regularly moved around using fork lifts.

How we fit fork pockets to our containers

We can fit fork pockets to any container. This is done in our on site workshop by cutting the pockets into the base of the container and then lining the pocket with steel, for reinforcement. We offer two levels of reinforcement, which determines the weight capacity the fork pockets can handle:

• Level 1: Suitable for lifting weights up to 3 tonnes (as a guide, this covers a 10ft container, either empty or with light cargo.
• Level 2: Suitable for lifting weights up 10 tonnes (as a guide this covers a 10ft container loaded to maximum capacity) - we use thicker steel for lining.

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