Innofreight and voestalpine Tubulars have presented a new container concept for hydrogen transport. The 40-foot unit, named H2Tainer, was shown in Kindberg during a technical preview.
Each container is designed to carry up to 475 kg of hydrogen, which corresponds to 1,900 kg per double wagon in rail use. The unit is stackable and built for intermodal operation. According to the companies, the system can be used in combined rail–road logistics without requiring a direct rail link at the loading or unloading point.
At the centre of the design are seamless tubes equipped with the VAhyper threaded connection, produced and processed at voestalpine Tubulars’ Kindberg mill. Innofreight contributes its experience from other commodity flows, including biomass and recycled scrap, and is adding the H2Tainer to its portfolio of special transport equipment.
The companies describe the container as part of a modular system covering procurement, manufacturing and assembly, as well as service and maintenance. Non-destructive testing and the option to replace individual tubes are intended to keep the equipment in service for more than two decades.