  Container securingTwistlocks to lock down freight containers have been in use since the design of ISO freight containers. It has always been important to know if the twistlocks are locked or unlocked. The locking and securing of freight containers, equiped with International Standard Organization (ISO) bottom corner castings or their equivalent, to load carriers such as truck chassis or railcars, has been perused for more than 30 years. Over the years, different types of locking devices to secure freight containers on load carriers have been developed. Depending on the circumstances of the security required, three main categories of twistlocks have been developed and used, namely, position locks, positive locking devices (fully automatic) and positive manual locking devices. The Cel-Lock™ twistlocks have been in the market for more than twenty years starting with the basic manual twistlock TKH and BTL and relating fittings. Since then, the range of twistlocks and fittings has expanded to include the patented fully automatic twistlocks including TFA, TFA-EP, TFAD, TFAC and TFAR. The TFAR twistlock system is the only real fully automatic system in the market where no manual handling is required. The Cel-Lock™ fully automatic twistlock systems are designed to accommodate the need for positive vertical load and easy locking and unlocking of all twistlocks, during the use of different length containers on the same railcar. The Cel-Lock™ twistlock system facilities easy loading of cargo containers as the Cel-Lock™ twistlocks locks automatically by lowering the container with the corner casting onto the Cel-Lock™. The Cel-Lock™ twistlocks permits maximum flexibility in loading different length containers on the railcar by providing many seating positions in which the twistlock can be engaged onto the containers. The Cel-Lock™ twistlocks will positively lock and hold down the container under normal transportation conditions and will therefore not disengage from the locked position unless the lifting force exceeds the designed tensile strength. |
