Giving Used Shipping Containers a New Lease of Life

Refurbished containers offer a balance between the affordability of a used unit and the more polished appearance associated with a new container.

A typical used shipping container may have already spent 15 to 20 years transporting goods around the world. However, when it reaches the end of its international shipping life, it can still provide many additional years of secure static storage.

Repainting helps extend the container’s usable lifespan by protecting and refreshing its external surfaces while significantly improving its appearance.

For many businesses, this means gaining a secure and professional-looking storage solution without needing to stretch their budget to a new one-trip container.

A More Sustainable Storage Option

Repurposing an existing shipping container can also be a more environmentally conscious choice.

By refurbishing containers that are already available in the UK, customers can reduce the demand for additional one-trip units to be manufactured overseas and transported from China.

Rather than allowing a structurally sound container to go unused, refurbishment enables it to continue serving a valuable purpose as storage, workspace or the foundation for a bespoke conversion.

This circular approach helps extend the life of existing materials and reduces the need for new resources.

Repainted in Any RAL Colour

Used containers do not have to retain their original shipping-line colours.

Boxtor can repaint refurbished containers externally, internally or both, using virtually any RAL paint colour.

This gives customers the opportunity to select a finish that complements:

• Company branding
• Existing commercial buildings
• Agricultural surroundings
• Event themes
• Retail environments
• Other containers already located on site

Whether the requirement is a bold branded colour, a subtle neutral shade or a finish that blends into the surrounding environment, repainting can transform a functional used container into a much more attractive asset.

An Increasingly Popular Choice

Boxtor has seen a significant rise in demand for refurbished and repainted shipping containers.

Customers increasingly want the affordability and sustainability of a used container but do not necessarily want a unit that looks heavily weathered or industrial.

Professional repainting provides an effective middle ground. Customers receive a structurally sound, wind and watertight container with a refreshed appearance, without paying the higher price associated with a new one-trip unit.

Suitable for a Wide Range of Uses

Refurbished and repainted shipping containers are suitable for much more than basic storage. They can be adapted for commercial, creative, agricultural and event-based applications, with virtually any RAL paint colour available to match branding, buildings or surroundings.

Film, Television and Media

Containers can provide secure equipment storage, temporary workspaces or part of a production set.

Boxtor recently supplied a media company with a bespoke 10ft container painted in Sand Yellow and fitted with internal racking, lighting and electrical sockets for use in an overseas desert environment.

Read the media company case study

Mobile Bars and Food Stalls

With modifications such as side-opening doors, serving hatches, lighting and power, containers can be transformed into distinctive bars, cafés and street-food outlets.

For a project in Petersfield, Boxtor supplied two 20ft open-side containers for use as a mobile bar and entertainment space on farmland.

Read the mobile bar case study

Sports Clubs and Outdoor Events

Repainted containers offer sports clubs a secure and cost-effective place to store training equipment, kits and groundskeeping tools.

A 40ft high cube container supplied to London Scottish Rugby Club provided additional space for kits, rugby balls, tackle pads and physio equipment. Its dark-green finish helped it blend into the surrounding grounds.

Read the London Scottish Rugby Club case study

Boxtor also supplied a dark-green 20ft container to Bracknell Rugby Club, positioned behind its spectator stand to provide discreet and secure on-site storage.

Read the Bracknell Rugby Club case study

Farming and Agriculture

Used containers are ideal for securely storing tools, machinery, feed and other agricultural equipment. Green, brown and neutral finishes can also help the units blend into rural surroundings.

For a farm in Frome, Boxtor supplied two nearly new ex-hire containers that had been thoroughly cleaned and prepared for continued use, giving the customer presentable storage at a lower cost than buying new.

Read the Frome farm case study

Warehousing and On-Site Storage

Refurbished containers allow businesses to quickly increase storage capacity without extending or constructing a permanent building.

They can be used for stock, equipment, packaging and seasonal inventory, with repainting helping the units complement existing commercial premises.

For businesses storing larger items, Boxtor has supplied multiple 40ft high cube containers to a leading UK bed supplier, creating secure additional capacity for mattresses, bed frames and other bulky stock.

Read the bed supplier case study

Adapted to Your Requirements

Alongside internal and external repainting, Boxtor can provide modifications such as personnel doors, windows, serving hatches, electrical packages, insulation, shelving, ventilation and enhanced security.

This allows a used container to be transformed into a practical solution suited to the customer’s site, budget and intended use.

Secure Storage Without the New-Container Price

These two Jet Black 20ft containers show how refurbishment can transform used equipment into a clean, secure and visually appealing storage solution.

By combining professional repainting with wind and watertight construction and factory-style lockbox protection, Boxtor can give used containers a new lease of life while helping customers control costs.