10 specifications in stock
niche intermodal equipment for cargo that will not travel safely in a standard dry box
For specialist shippers, steel mills, liquid traders and intermodal operators.
Request a quoteEvery specialty containers specification we hold in stock, with indicative delivered price ranges. Select a unit to see the full specification and request a quote.
Bin containers are compact, heavy-gauge open or lidded boxes for waste, aggregate and site material handling, designed for hook or chain lift. Reinforced base rails resist dragging damage.
€3,200 – €6,800
approx. $3,500 – $7,400 · ex-depot, excl. VAT and delivery
Used by waste operators, civil contractors and industrial plants managing bulk material on site.
Bulk liquid liner systems combine a reinforced 20ft box with a multi-layer barrier liner for products needing better oxygen or aroma protection than a basic flexitank. Loading uses top or bottom fittings.
€3,300 – €7,050
approx. $3,600 – $7,700 · ex-depot, excl. VAT and delivery
Specified by juice, latex and specialty liquid exporters balancing cost against product protection.
Coil containers have a reinforced central floor channel and cradle system that locates steel coils and spreads their extreme point load across the structure. Lashing points are rated for the full coil weight.
€3,500 – €7,400
approx. $3,800 – $8,050 · ex-depot, excl. VAT and delivery
Specified by steel mills, service centres and metal traders shipping hot and cold rolled coil.
Collapsible containers fold to a quarter of their erected height so four empties stack in one slot, cutting repositioning cost on unbalanced trade lanes. Erection takes minutes with two operators.
€3,300 – €7,050
approx. $3,600 – $7,700 · ex-depot, excl. VAT and delivery
Used by carriers, leasing companies and shippers on heavily one-way routes.
Curtain side units combine a rigid frame and roof with tensioned side curtains, giving full side access for forklift loading while keeping cargo protected. Internal straps restrain the load once curtains are open.
€3,250 – €6,850
approx. $3,550 – $7,450 · ex-depot, excl. VAT and delivery
Used by building material suppliers, beverage distributors and manufacturers loading from a warehouse side dock.
A flexitank container is a standard 20ft box fitted with a bulkhead and a single-use polyethylene bladder of 16,000 to 24,000 litres, giving bulk liquid capacity without a tank asset. Loading and discharge are through a valve in the door.
€3,400 – €7,150
approx. $3,700 – $7,800 · ex-depot, excl. VAT and delivery
Bought by exporters of wine, edible oil, latex and non-hazardous liquids seeking the lowest cost per litre.
An insulated container has foam-filled walls and doors but no refrigeration machinery, holding temperature passively for cargo that must be protected from ambient swing. It is also the cheapest starting point for a cold room conversion.
€3,500 – €7,400
approx. $3,800 – $8,050 · ex-depot, excl. VAT and delivery
Used for chocolate, cosmetics, paint, pharmaceuticals in transit and as the shell for bolt-on cooling systems.
Lined containers carry a fitted internal liner in polyethylene, foil or food-grade fabric that isolates the cargo from the steel shell and previous cargo residues. Liners are single-use and fully recyclable.
€3,250 – €6,900
approx. $3,550 – $7,500 · ex-depot, excl. VAT and delivery
Used for bulk grain, minerals, chemicals and any cargo sensitive to contamination or taint.
A roll trailer is a low, wheeled cassette used inside RoRo vessels, allowing containers and heavy project cargo to be rolled aboard rather than lifted. Gooseneck couplings match terminal tug equipment.
€3,600 – €7,600
approx. $3,900 – $8,300 · ex-depot, excl. VAT and delivery
Operated by RoRo terminals, short-sea carriers and project cargo forwarders.
Swap bodies are lightweight road-optimised bodies with folding legs, allowing a driver to drop and collect loads without a crane. Curtain and box versions are widely used across European road networks.
€3,400 – €7,250
approx. $3,700 – $7,900 · ex-depot, excl. VAT and delivery
Bought by hauliers, parcel networks and distribution operators running high-frequency drop trailer operations.
Swaans Containers B.V. supplies specialty containers for sale to buyers in more than sixty countries. Our specialty containers stock covers niche intermodal equipment for cargo that will not travel safely in a standard dry box, and every unit is inspected, graded and photographed before it is offered for sale. Whether you need a single box delivered to a yard next week or a fleet of units staged at a port for an export programme, you are dealing with a trading desk that owns the equipment rather than a broker passing on someone else's list.
There are 11 specifications in this range, and choosing between them is usually a question of how the unit will be loaded, what the cargo weighs and where it has to go. We publish the full technical detail for each one so you can compare dimensions, payload and certification side by side, and our sales engineers will tell you plainly when a cheaper or simpler specification will do the same job. That advice costs nothing and it is the reason most of our customers come back.
Condition is the other decision. New one-trip units have completed a single laden voyage from the factory and are effectively unused: clean paint, tight seals, no repairs, and a full service life ahead of them. Cargo-worthy used units hold valid CSC certification and can still travel internationally, but they carry the surface rust and plate repairs of working equipment. Wind-and-watertight units are structurally sound and dry but are sold for static use. We grade honestly, and we send photographs of the actual unit rather than a stock image, so nothing arrives as a surprise.
Pricing is quoted fully landed. That means the container, the transport, the lift and the paperwork in one figure, with no release fees or handling charges appearing later. Because we buy from shipping lines, leasing companies and manufacturers directly, and because we hold stock in multiple regions, the unit you order is sourced from the depot closest to your delivery address. On a single container that difference is often several hundred euros; across a fleet order it is substantial.
Specialist shippers, steel mills, liquid traders and intermodal operators form the core of the customer base for this range, but the equipment is genuinely versatile and we regularly supply buyers who have found a use we had not seen before. If your application is unusual, describe it and we will engineer a specification around it. Our own workshops handle cutting, welding, insulation, lining, electrical fit-out, painting and branding, so a modified unit leaves as a finished product rather than as a shell you have to find a fabricator for.
Delivery is arranged worldwide by road, rail and sea. Within Europe most stock units reach site within three to ten working days on a tilt-bed or HIAB vehicle. For overseas orders we book ocean space, handle export documentation and can deliver to your nominated port or door. Site requirements are simple but not negotiable: firm level ground under each corner casting, clear approach space of roughly twice the container length, and no overhead cables. Where access is tight we arrange crane offload or a transfer point nearby.
After the sale we remain the point of contact. Spare parts, door gear, gaskets, locking bars, refrigeration components and repair services are all available, and units bought from us can be traded back or resold through our network when your requirement changes. That matters more than it sounds: a container is an asset with a genuine second-hand market, and buying from a supplier who will also buy it back protects your position.
To move forward, send us the specification you think you need, the delivery address or port, and the date you need it on site. If you are not sure which unit fits, send the cargo dimensions and weight instead. You will get a written quotation with the fully landed price, the condition grades available, the certification supplied and a realistic delivery date, normally within one working day.
Compare the internal size, capacity and payload of every specialty containers specification we hold before you request a quote.
| Specification | External size | Volume | Payload |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insulated Shipping Container for Sale | 6.06 x 2.44 x 2.59 m | 33.2 m³ | 28,280 kg |
| Flexitank Container for Sale | 6.06 x 2.44 x 2.59 m | 33.2 m³ | 28,280 kg |
| Lined Shipping Container for Sale | 6.06 x 2.44 x 2.59 m | 33.2 m³ | 28,280 kg |
| Coil Container for Sale | 6.06 x 2.44 x 2.59 m | 33.2 m³ | 28,280 kg |
| Bin Container for Sale | 6.06 x 2.44 x 2.59 m | 33.2 m³ | 28,280 kg |
| Roll Trailer Container for Sale | 6.06 x 2.44 x 2.59 m | 33.2 m³ | 28,280 kg |
| Swap Body Container for Sale | 6.06 x 2.44 x 2.59 m | 33.2 m³ | 28,280 kg |
| Curtain Side Container for Sale | 6.06 x 2.44 x 2.59 m | 33.2 m³ | 28,280 kg |
| Bulk Liquid Liner Container for Sale | 6.06 x 2.44 x 2.59 m | 33.2 m³ | 28,280 kg |
| Collapsible Shipping Container for Sale | 6.06 x 2.44 x 2.59 m | 33.2 m³ | 28,280 kg |
Read this before ordering specialty containers for sale — it covers grade, certification, site access and delivery so the unit you buy suits the job.
New or one-trip units have made a single laden voyage from the factory and are visually near-perfect, with clean paint, tight seals and a full service life ahead. They cost more but need no remedial work and photograph well for customer-facing installations. Used stock is graded as cargo-worthy or wind-and-watertight. Cargo-worthy units carry valid CSC certification and can still be shipped internationally; wind-and-watertight units are structurally sound and dry but are sold for static use. Surface rust and repairs are normal at this grade and are documented before purchase.
Most units are delivered by tilt-bed or HIAB vehicle. You need firm, level ground, roughly twice the container length of clear approach space, and no overhead cables. Where access is restricted we arrange crane offload or split delivery to a nearby transfer point.
Place the container on a firm base such as concrete pads, railway sleepers or compacted hardcore under each corner casting. A level base is essential: a twisted frame makes the doors bind and voids most weathertight expectations.
Common modifications include personnel doors, windows, insulation, lining, electrics, shelving, ventilation, extra vents, partitions, ramps, security shutters and bespoke paint schemes. Specify these at order stage so the work is completed before delivery.
Maintenance is straightforward: keep door hinges and locking bars greased, clear roof debris, treat surface rust as it appears, and check the floor and door seals annually. Well-maintained steel containers routinely give twenty-five years of service.
The questions buyers ask most often about specialty containers for sale. Select a question to read the answer.
Start with how the unit will be loaded and what the cargo weighs, then match that to the door aperture, internal dimensions and payload figures on each product page. If two options look close, the deciding factor is usually site access. Send us the details and we will recommend a specification in writing.
Both. We supply single containers to private buyers and small businesses on exactly the same terms as fleet orders, and we hold enough stock to fill multi-unit programmes for logistics operators and contractors.
Used units graded cargo-worthy carry a valid CSC safety approval plate and are certified for international carriage. Wind-and-watertight units are sold for static use only. We state the grade clearly on every quotation.
Yes. We apply two-pack marine paint schemes and vinyl branding at our own works before dispatch, which is cheaper and better finished than doing it on site.
Tell us about the access when you enquire — gate widths, overhead cables, ground surface and turning space. We will specify tilt-bed, HIAB or crane offload accordingly, or arrange a transfer at a nearby yard.
We regularly buy back units we have supplied and take trade-ins against new purchases. Send photographs and the serial number and we will make an offer.
Certified units come with the CSC plate details, serial number, manufacture year and our inspection report. Export orders include the commercial paperwork required for customs clearance.
Most quotations are issued within one working day. Complex modified builds may take two to three days while the workshop confirms the specification and schedule.
Other ranges buyers compare with specialty containers for sale before ordering.
Same working day
Tell us the specification and destination and we confirm stock, grade, certification and delivered price in writing.
