Jindal Stainless unveils first stainless steel salt container for Indian Railways
Each 33-tonne container has a 3.0-tonne tare weight. A 48-wagon rake can move approximately 3,300 tonnes of salt, replacing nearly 100 road trailers.
Jindal Stainless has successfully developed the country’s first stainless steel container specifically designed for salt transportation. The prototype reached a critical mass on February 10, 2026, successfully completing loading and unloading trials at Bhimasar, Gandhidham.
The company said in the statement that this signals a shift toward future-ready, multimodal logistics solutions that prioritise durability and environmental sustainability in the movement of bulk commodities.
Fabricated by Kalyani Cast Tech under RDSO specifications, the 20-foot container is built entirely from stainless steel. The design strategically utilises grade 304 for the main body to combat the aggressive corrosion typical of chloride-rich environments, while high-strength JT grade (N7) is used for structural underframes and stiffeners.
This material choice addresses the primary weakness of conventional containers, which often suffer from premature asset failure and high maintenance costs when exposed to salt and coastal air.
Abhyuday Jindal, Managing Director of Jindal Stainless said, "With India’s container market growing steadily... the sector requires materials that can withstand harsh operating conditions while ensuring long-term sustainability.”
He noted that the new container is a direct response to the need for infrastructure that supports port-led development and the rising demand for bulk commodity movement.
According to the press release, each container boasts a 33-metric tonne payload capacity with a 3.0-metric tonne tare weight. A single rake of 48 wagons can transport approximately 3,300 metric tonnes of salt, an amount that would otherwise require nearly 100 road trailers.
This shift to rail-based stainless steel transport not only slashes CO₂ emissions but also eliminates the need for tarpaulin covers, reducing contamination and wastage.
Furthermore, the longevity of these containers is expected to exceed 15-20 years, roughly six to seven times the lifespan of conventional alternatives. By integrating mechanised loading systems and lessons learned from previous salt tipper road trailers, Jindal Stainless has created a solution that allows for seamless rail-to-road, door-to-door movement.
This development, alongside the company's work on lightweight containers that offer an extra 2.0 MT of payload per trip, positions stainless steel as a cornerstone of India’s evolving, low-maintenance logistics network.
