— How We Work

From Shipping Lane
to Living Room

A complete journey through how we transform retired maritime containers into handcrafted furniture — preserving every mark, weld, and story along the way.

— The Raw Materials

Every Part Has a Purpose

A standard 20-foot shipping container contains over 2,300 kg of steel, hardwood flooring, and precision hardware. We use every component — nothing goes to waste.

Corrugated Wall Panels

~180 kg per panel

Used for: Chair backs, table bases, decorative panels

Distinctive ribbed texture, natural patina from sea air exposure

Forest green with rust gradients

Corner Castings

~4 kg each

Used for: Table legs, stool bases, structural joints

Precisely engineered, heavy-duty cast iron with ISO markings

Raw iron, oxidized black

Floor Planks (Bamboo/Hardwood)

~25 kg per section

Used for: Table tops, seat surfaces, shelving

Worn smooth by decades of cargo, rich grain visible

Honey to dark amber

Structural Beams (Cross-members)

~15 kg per beam

Used for: Table frames, bench supports, shelving brackets

Heavy-gauge steel with welded joints, industrial character

Weathered steel gray

Door Hardware & Locking Bars

~3-8 kg

Used for: Decorative handles, coat hooks, towel rails

Functional industrial design, chrome or painted steel

Chrome, painted steel

Roof Panels

~120 kg per section

Used for: Tabletops, wall art, room dividers

Flatter surface than walls, often with interesting staining patterns

Varied — rust, paint, oxidation

— The Journey

Six Steps to a
Finished Piece

1–2 weeks

Container Sourcing & Assessment

We partner with major shipping lines — Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM — to acquire containers at end-of-service. Each container undergoes a structural assessment to determine which parts are suitable for furniture-making versus recycling.

Visual inspection for structural integrity
Hazardous material testing (lead paint, asbestos)
Documentation of container history and origin
Photography of unique surface characteristics

3–5 days per container

Careful Deconstruction

Our team of skilled metalworkers carefully disassembles each container using plasma cutters and angle grinders. The goal is preservation — we cut along original weld lines to maintain the structural integrity of each panel.

Plasma cutting along original seam lines
Preservation of original paint and patina
Cataloguing each panel with origin data
Sorting by material type and condition

1 week

Material Grading & Design

Each salvaged piece is graded for structural integrity, surface character, and aesthetic potential. Our designers then create furniture concepts that celebrate — rather than hide — the material's industrial history.

Structural load testing for furniture use
Surface grading: A (pristine) to C (heavily patinated)
Design matching: pairing materials with furniture concepts
Customer preview of materials before crafting

2–4 weeks per piece

Artisan Crafting

Our Rotterdam workshop combines traditional metalworking with contemporary furniture design. Certified welders join container steel with reclaimed wood, creating pieces that are structurally sound and visually distinctive.

MIG and TIG welding for precise joints
Hand-finishing to preserve original patina
Wood joinery with reclaimed hardwoods
Quality control at each fabrication stage

3–5 days

Finishing & Treatment

Rather than painting over the container's history, we apply clear protective coatings that preserve the authentic surface character. Wood elements receive food-safe oil treatments. All finishes are water-based and low-VOC.

Clear matte lacquer on steel surfaces
Linseed oil treatment for wood elements
Anti-rust sealant for outdoor pieces
Final quality inspection and photography