Modalis innovates intermodal transport with Butterfly container 30/12/24
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Modalis innovates intermodal transport with Butterfly container
Modalis, a French specialist in combined road-rail transport, presented Butterfly in December 2024, a 20-foot container designed with an eco-sustainable approach. Its design was born from the need to overcome the limitations of the models currently in use: the versions with a tarpaulin roof are slow and difficult to manage, while those with a rigid roof are heavy and complex to maneuver. The new system, however, combines speed, safety and ease of use, responding to the challenges of the sector. It does so thanks to an automated system and recyclable composite panels.
The roof of the new container is made of composite panels consisting of long glass fibers embedded in a thermoplastic matrix. This material guarantees a unique combination of resistance, flexibility and lightness, allowing the installation of a patented opening and closing system. In just twenty seconds, the roof can be opened and closed with a movement of 270 degrees, ensuring a perfect watertight seal.
A key feature of the Butterfly is the possibility of ground control, eliminating the risks associated with working at heights and significantly improving operator safety. In addition, the watertight seal offers significant advantages in the transport of loads such as fertilizers and waste, reducing the spread of odors. The Butterfly panels are fully recyclable and can be reused for the production of furniture or other products.
The development of the Butterfly container is the result of an international collaboration between Modalis, Agesia – a Belgian company specializing in composite materials – and Ccfc, an Italian company responsible for the realization of the prototypes and the series production, controlled by Modalis itself. The prototype has passed three months of rigorous tests in real operating conditions, demonstrating its effectiveness and reliability.