Jindal Stainless unveils India’s first corrosion-resistant containers for salt freight

Jindal

Stainless, a leading manufacturer of stainless steel, has developed India’s first corrosion-resistant stainless steel container specifically designed for salt transportation for Indian Railways.

In a stock exchange filing on Friday, the company said that the launch of corrosion-free salt containers for Indian Railways “marks a pioneering step towards more durable and sustainable freight operations.”

The 20-foot container completed loading and unloading trials at Bhimasar in Gandhidham, Gujarat, on Feb. 10.

Container details

Fabricated entirely from stainless steel, the container body uses 304-grade steel, known for its superior resistance to corrosion in chloride-rich environments, while JT Grade (N7 as per BIS 6911) is employed for external stiffeners and underframe components, offering high strength and optimised weight.

Commenting on the development, Abhyuday Jindal, managing director of Jindal Stainless, said, "Salt transportation is highly vulnerable to corrosion, leading to frequent repairs, premature asset failure and significant resource wastage, challenges that can be effectively addressed through the integration of stainless steel."

"With India’s container market growing steadily, driven by infrastructure expansion, port-led developments and rising bulk commodity movement, the sector requires materials that can withstand harsh operating conditions while ensuring long-term sustainability," Jindal added.

According to the exchange filing, Jindal Stainless said that salt transport is particularly prone to corrosion in coastal regions.

Stainless steel containers provide a longer service life, negligible maintenance costs and an environmentally sustainable solution compared with conventional containers.

Each container has a tare weight of three metric tonnes and a payload capacity of 33 metric tonnes. A single rake of 48 wagons carrying 96 containers can transport around 3,300 metric tonnes of salt, which is equivalent to nearly 100 road trailers, thereby reducing CO₂ emissions and reinforcing the environmental advantages of stainless steel containers.

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The stainless steel containers eliminate the need for tarpaulin covers, preventing salt contamination and reducing wastage. They are designed to endure harsh corrosive conditions and are expected to last 15 to 20 years, which is about six to seven times longer than conventional containers.

The prototype has been developed by Kalyani Cast Tech Private Ltd. and adheres to the specifications of the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), Lucknow.

Shares of Jindal Stainless Ltd. were at ₹773.35 apiece, down 3.20%, on the BSE at 1:39 pm.