Illustration: Ikonaut

4 — Lower costs, more eco-friendly

The new materials combined with better data mean Aeler can promise tangible benefits: container payload increases of up to four tonnes, transport cost reductions of roughly 15 percent, and CO₂ emissions cuts of more than 20 percent.

3 — Always on top of things

All data are sent to a control centre. This means companies can track their deliveries in real time and always know the location and condition of the goods. Aeler rents out its containers for specific trade routes and also offers digital services. In the future, its platform will use AI to help provide forecasts for arrival times, the condition of the freight and other information.

2 — Lighter materials, smart technology

The spin-off company Aeler is replacing steel with a sandwich panel construction using reinforced, recycled plastic. This is more robust and provides better insulation – often to an extent that there’s no need for extra cooling or padding. And the container itself acts as a measuring instrument. Built-in sensors constantly monitor temperature, humidity, vibrations and location.

1 — Unchanged for 60 years

Some 40 million classic steel containers are in use across the world. They’ve remained almost unchanged for 60 years and their time is slowly coming to an end. Bulky, fragile or valuable goods require more space, padding and – above all – temperature control. And complex supply chains involving many different players make tracking them difficult. All these factors result in inefficiency, losses and unnecessary emissions.

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