Shutters and Hatches in Shipping Containers
Why would you add shutters and hatches in shipping containers?
Following the recent trend of repurposing shipping containers and turning them into pop up catering units, we began to develop new ideas and designs for the best ways to create a serving hatch and shutters for our clients. A pop up unit, especially one where food and drink is purchased, requires an opening for serving. These are our three most popular options, although we will always work to a bespoke design if you have other ideas!
Types of shutters and hatches for containers
Option 1 - Flat Panel Shutters
These shutter style hatches open outwards and rest flat against the container. When open they make great menu boards! Built out of 3mm thick steel, they offer both security and durability. The shutters are locked on the inside with shoot bolts when the hatches are closed.
Option 2 - The Lifting Hatch
This is a steel hatch that opens upwards on gas struts. They work both as a serving hatch and as a canopy to give some protection to your workers, customers and food if the British weather doesn't hold up! Lockable inside with shoot bolts when the hatches are closed, they provide excellent security once you close up shop for the day.
Option 3 - Roller Shutter Hatch
Roller shutter doors are a popular option in replacement to an ordinary container door, and they also make great shutters for the pop up shop world. Made out of steel and lockable from the inside, these shutters come in either manual or electric (fob operated or key operated). The shutter box can be housed either internally or externally depending on where you need the most space. We can also add serving rails or a drop down serving counter with all of our shutter options giving an authentic feel to any counter.
Flat Pack Pop-up Container
The ExpandaKiosk is a complete self-assembly unit featuring a large upward tilting hatch, making it ideal for use for catering or retail businesses.
Request a Quick Quote!
Contact our sales team for your no obligation quote, including delivery!Completing your pop up catering unit
We can either do just the external work to the container, or we can do the internal fit out depending on budget and requirements. We offer a wide range of options to help fit out your new catering unit:
- Personnel door: an essential for any shop so your employees can easily get in and out.
- Melamine lining and insulation: our wipe clean melamine option is the preferred choice for caterers for an easy to clean lining. We also offer stainless steel lining if needed, and can install fire resistant boards. Call us to discuss your requirements!
- Non-slip vinyl flooring: as standard, shipping containers come with a marine ply floor. A non-slip vinyl floor is easy to clean and helps to prevent any accidents from water or oil spillage.
- Electrics: we are able to fit basic electrics or bespoke depending on your needs.
- Counters and sinks: offering a "black slate" counter top and stainless steel sinks, you'll just need to plug into the mains on site to get going.
Case studies with shutters and hatches
We have been working on perfecting our shutters and hatches for a while. Take a look at our Case Studies below and give us a call to discuss your ideas.
Need Something Bigger?
As well as repurposing a used or one-trip shipping container, we can also build from scratch. Some of our customers find the standard 8ft width of the usual shipping container too narrow to fit all of their equipment in, and so we are able create new build containers, most commonly to 10ft wide, to give our customers more choices of what they can fit inside. Our Hangar Bar conversion project was a new build container, 40ft x 10ft wide, with two larger hatches to serve drinks from, proudly situated at Manchester Airport.
Testimonials
As a long established and reputable shipping container company, we want to instil confidence in our customers that we can deliver on our promises, and provide high quality products and service.But don't just take our word for it, see for yourself what our past and present clients have to say about Containers Direct.
"Always informative and look to achieve our requirements and lead times. Great communicators and they keep you updated on progress etc. Highly recommended by us!"Georgina Grace Limited
6th June 2025
order - six 3m and 4m Flat Pack Store Containers
"Excellent communication and great delivery drivers. Good product at a fair price."FM Conway Ltd
5th June 2025
order - a 'Once-Used' 10ft Container
"Excellent service from point of order. Communication was great on delivery and a thorough search of the area to make sure delivery was possible without unexpected problems. The driver was great, he rang an hour before and was pleasant and cheery on the phone."Red Kite Special Academy
29th May 2025
order - a 20ft ModiBox® Container
"Really smart container, very impressed! Excellent communication from the team throughout, able to help with any enquiries and made the process nice and smooth. Thank you!"RSPB Lake Vyrnwy
23rd May 2025
order - a Used 20ft Container Conversion
"I always recommend Neil to other schools, these containers are so much better than any shed you will ever buy."Samuel Cody School
21st May 2025
order - a 3m Flat Pack Store Container
"Communication and assistance with quoting was excellent. On the day of delivery Steve the lorry driver was extremely helpful with our containers as we had to load onto a tractor and trailer to get to site. Containers very easy to construct and instructions very clear."St Michaels Golf Club
16th May 2025
order - a 4m Flat Pack Store Container
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Committed to Quality
We are ISOQAR Approved; certified to the ISO standard relating to Quality Management Systems, demonstrating our Company's commitment to quality. We are also members of MakeUK who champion and celebrate British manufacturing and manufacturers, and member of the Container Self Storage and Traders Association; an international organisation representing the interests of Container Self-Storage Operators, Traders and Innovators.
ISO Cert No. 13586-QNS-001
ISO 9001:2015
