Tour gives MTMC transporters industry perspective
CHARLESTON, S.C. (USTCNS) --- The Charleston Marine Containers, Inc., has taken support to the warfighters to a new dimension.
The motto of the Charleston, S.C., firm is "Supplying Containers to the Warfighter." The motto fits: Charleston Marine Containers is the largest volume manufacturer of dry freight shipping containers in North America.
Everyone in the 841st Transportation Battalion has a new perspective on the critical support of this industrial neighbor to the functioning of the Defense Transportation System.
Lt. Col. Kent Selby, commander, arranged the visit as part of monthly professional development sessions. Both military and civilian members of our battalion had the opportunity to visit the firm Feb. 7.
The firm is located in several renovated warehouses on what used to be the Charleston Naval Base before it was closed in 1996. Herbert Ellis, the firm's president, provided the tour. Ellis is a former Army field artillery officer.
Fred Whittle, director of operations, explained the company's unique motto.
"Ellis created the motto," said Whittle, "to form the focus of effort on the right market."
Then the real tour began. We walked among welders on the production floor. Workers were assembling flat racks for the Marines and new Army Quadcons and Tricons. The Quadcons are four containers, and Tricons are three containers, that can be linked together to create a 20-foot container footprint.
Jim Calvert, a civilian employee of the 841st Transportation Battalion, commented that he had seen a lot of the Tricons coming through the Port of Savannah.
"After seeing so many of the containers during port operations," said Calvert, "it was interesting to actually see where they were made."
After the assembly, painters applied two coats of primer to the Tricon containers. After the primer had dried, the employees sprayed on a new, easier to use, water-based Chemical Agent Resistant Coating from Sherman-Williams.
The containers are tested right at the facility to ensure they meet Container Safety Convention and Internal Standards Organization certification standards. The required standards are impressive. The container must be built strong enough to support the equivalent of nine loaded containers stacked on top and the container must be water tight when sprayed from all sides with water at 14 pounds per square inch. Mr. Ellis showed us the testing equipment and said that a government inspector came to CMCI every other week to ensure quality production.
Our staff members were impressed to see the quality design and fabrication skills that go into the container production.
"Charleston Marine Containers is a one-of-a-kind company that caters only to the military," said Selby. "The fabrication process was well received by unit members."
The efficiency of the operation was notable and as an end-user of Charleston Marine Containers' products, I have confidence in its quality. It is always reassuring to have such proficient partners in our mission of force projection.
(FROM MILITARY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS)
The motto of the Charleston, S.C., firm is "Supplying Containers to the Warfighter." The motto fits: Charleston Marine Containers is the largest volume manufacturer of dry freight shipping containers in North America.
Everyone in the 841st Transportation Battalion has a new perspective on the critical support of this industrial neighbor to the functioning of the Defense Transportation System.
Lt. Col. Kent Selby, commander, arranged the visit as part of monthly professional development sessions. Both military and civilian members of our battalion had the opportunity to visit the firm Feb. 7.
The firm is located in several renovated warehouses on what used to be the Charleston Naval Base before it was closed in 1996. Herbert Ellis, the firm's president, provided the tour. Ellis is a former Army field artillery officer.
Fred Whittle, director of operations, explained the company's unique motto.
"Ellis created the motto," said Whittle, "to form the focus of effort on the right market."
Then the real tour began. We walked among welders on the production floor. Workers were assembling flat racks for the Marines and new Army Quadcons and Tricons. The Quadcons are four containers, and Tricons are three containers, that can be linked together to create a 20-foot container footprint.
Jim Calvert, a civilian employee of the 841st Transportation Battalion, commented that he had seen a lot of the Tricons coming through the Port of Savannah.
"After seeing so many of the containers during port operations," said Calvert, "it was interesting to actually see where they were made."
After the assembly, painters applied two coats of primer to the Tricon containers. After the primer had dried, the employees sprayed on a new, easier to use, water-based Chemical Agent Resistant Coating from Sherman-Williams.
The containers are tested right at the facility to ensure they meet Container Safety Convention and Internal Standards Organization certification standards. The required standards are impressive. The container must be built strong enough to support the equivalent of nine loaded containers stacked on top and the container must be water tight when sprayed from all sides with water at 14 pounds per square inch. Mr. Ellis showed us the testing equipment and said that a government inspector came to CMCI every other week to ensure quality production.
Our staff members were impressed to see the quality design and fabrication skills that go into the container production.
"Charleston Marine Containers is a one-of-a-kind company that caters only to the military," said Selby. "The fabrication process was well received by unit members."
The efficiency of the operation was notable and as an end-user of Charleston Marine Containers' products, I have confidence in its quality. It is always reassuring to have such proficient partners in our mission of force projection.
(FROM MILITARY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS)
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