What we do to containers
The steel side of a container job, start to finish, in one workshop.
| Work | What's involved | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Side openings and full side access | Corrugated wall cut out, steel frame welded in, doors or shutters hung | Plant rooms, stores, equipment units |
| Personnel doors and windows | Opening cut and framed, steel door or window fitted | Site units, offices, kiosks |
| Roller shutters | Opening framed, shutter fitted | Stores, workshops, serving hatches |
| Linking, stacking and cut-downs | Units joined, stacked, or cut to length (40ft to 30ft done) | Multi-unit buildings, plant complexes |
| Roof decks, stairs and canopies | Deck frames, stair flights, handrails, canopies | Access, viewing decks, weather cover |
| Internal steelwork | Partitions, equipment frames, mounting rails, cable tray supports | Plant and equipment fit-outs |
| Repairs and repaint | Panel, door and rail repairs, full repaint to spec | Depot stock, hire fleets, site units |
Recent container work
A cross-section of container jobs through the workshop since July 2026. Client names are left off; every job below was built to the client's drawing and invoiced against their purchase order.
| Project | Units | What we did |
|---|---|---|
| Energy project, repeat contractor client | 3 × 40ft | Fabrication and modification to the client's drawings, completed against PO |
| Multi-unit package | 3 units | Top and bottom units plus a third, each modified to its own drawing pack, full paint finish to the agreed specification |
| Structural variation | 1 × 40ft | Container supplied by us, cut down and re-worked to a 30ft unit |
| Container fabrication | 1 unit | Fabricated and painted to drawing |
| Three-unit order | 3 units | Paid in stages: deposit, stage payment, balance on completion |
Capacity is around 8 units a week, more when an order needs it; 12 units went through the workshop in a single week. Recent units have run from about £3,400 to £6,800 each, net of VAT, depending on scope. Multi-unit orders are priced per unit.
Who we build for
| Client | Typical work |
|---|---|
| M&E and electrical contractors | Plant rooms, switch rooms, generator and equipment containers |
| Construction and civils contractors | Site stores, unit modifications, linked site buildings |
| Container depots and hire fleets | Modifications on stock, repairs and repaints |
| Energy and battery installers | Equipment containers, openings, mounting frames |
| Manufacturers, logistics and estates | Secure stores, workshops, plant housings |
How a container job runs
- 01.Send what you have
A drawing, a marked-up sketch or a photo. Tell us how many units, what they're for and where they need to end up. Form, email or WhatsApp.
- 02.Itemised quote in 24 hours
Priced per unit, with the lead time confirmed in writing, so it drops straight into your order.
- 03.Order against your PO
Multi-unit orders are paid in stages: deposit, stage payment, balance on completion.
- 04.Units in
Your haulier drops units at the yard, or we book haulage through our logistics partners. We can also source the containers.
- 05.Built inside our unit
Cut, framed, welded and painted by coded welders in the 8,000 sq ft main shop, with the 4,000 sq ft side shop for fabrication. Around 8 units a week, more when needed.
- 06.Checked and out
Checked against the drawing, then collected by your haulier or one of our logistics partners. Progress photos by WhatsApp or email if you want them.
Paperwork that suits your procurement
- Itemised written quote, per unit or per line, inside 24 hours in the working week.
- Your PO number on every invoice, and the lead time confirmed in writing.
- VAT invoices from DRST Trading Ltd, registered in England & Wales, company no. 15946573.
- Staged payments on multi-unit orders: deposit, stage payment, balance on completion.
- Welder qualification and mill certificates on request.
- One contact from quote to completion: Daniel, who runs the workshop floor.
Commercial and trade only
We take
- Commercial container conversions and modifications
- Structural openings, linking, stacking and cut-downs
- Depot, hire-fleet and site-unit repairs
- Plant, equipment and battery containers
- Single units and multi-unit orders
We don't take
- Container homes or holiday lets
- Garden rooms, home offices or home gyms
- Private residential projects
- Container hire, or sales without work on them
Getting work to and from the yard
The workshop is at Moreteyne Farm, Wood End, Marston Moretaine (MK43 0NY), just off the A421 between Bedford and Milton Keynes. Within 40 miles that takes in Milton Keynes, Bedford, Luton, Dunstable, Northampton, Cambridge, Huntingdon, St Albans, Stevenage, Hitchin and Aylesbury.
We don't run our own lorries. Your haulier can drop and collect units at the yard, or we book haulage through the logistics firms we work with. Outside 40 miles? Ask: containers travel on lorries, and we'll tell you straight whether the haulage makes sense.
Frequently asked questions
Do you work on our containers or supply them?
Both. We modify units you supply, or source containers for the job. On a recent order we supplied a 40ft unit, cut it down and re-worked it to a 30ft specification.
What do you need for a quote?
A drawing, a marked-up sketch or a photo, plus the number of units, what they're for and the site postcode. Use the form, email Daniel@drsttrading.co.uk or WhatsApp a photo to 07365 129991.
How much does a container modification cost?
Recent units have run from about £3,400 to £6,800 each, net of VAT. A single opening costs less; a fully framed, painted multi-unit package costs more. The quote is itemised per unit so you can see where the money goes.
How long does it take?
It depends on the number of units, the openings and the finish. The lead time is confirmed in writing with the quote. Capacity is around 8 units a week, more when an order needs it, and 12 units have gone through the workshop in a single week.
Will cutting openings weaken the container?
Not once it's framed. Every opening gets a welded steel frame tied into the top and bottom rails. If your units need to keep CSC plating for shipping, tell us at quote stage, because structural changes can affect certification.
Do you do electrics, insulation or lining?
Our work is the steel: cutting, framing, welding, doors, shutters, decks, stairs and paint. If you need electrics or insulation, say so at quote stage and we'll tell you straight whether we can include it or work alongside your own trades.
Do you take residential projects?
No. We take commercial and trade work only: no container homes, garden rooms or home offices.