A five-partner company in Missoula, Montana is converting used steel shipping containers into 192 square foot modular homes complete with bath, kitchen and all appliances including a washer/dryer, and aims to complete the conversion for each home in 30 days, according to missoulian.com. The principals in Montainer have engineering, construction and architecture backgrounds, and their first prototype, Nomad 192 costs $65,000 including installation and delivery within 500 miles, providing the foundation and utilities are prepared. CEO Patrick Collins says, “They make the perfect building blocks for architectural applications. They have great inherent strength. We also have plans to develop larger models using two, three or four containers,” up to three stories high.

Converting used shipping containers into modular homes is not new, as MHProNews knows, but most are done on a one-time basis, often designed by a firm and built by another party. Montainer’s business model is to sell them online, and ship them on a flatbed truck. Having a predetermined design makes permitting quicker, there are no architectural fees and the containers are already treated to resist rust. According to missoulian.com, the homes are well-insulated, energy efficient, can be customized and make a great backyard rental possibility. The company intends to increase production next year. ##

(Image credit:  missoulian.com–Montainer design)