Paint shipping containers, skips and waste containers

Guided container coating

Guide to painting shipping containers, skips and waste containers

Shipping containers, skips and waste containers usually have weathered steel, scratched edges and old coating that must be cleaned and stabilised before repainting. The right order is clean, remove weak material, prime exposed steel and finish with a durable industrial topcoat.

What do you need to paint shipping containers, skips and waste containers?

Cleaning and degreasing

Mipa silicone remover in liquid or spray format removes wax, grease and silicone so sanding, primer and topcoat work starts from a clean metal surface.

Fine surface keying

MP Fine sanding pad green helps matt edges, folds and profile details before recoating without cutting too aggressively into existing paint.

Epoxy primer system

Mipa EP 100-20 with Mipa EP 950-25 hardener and Mipa EP Thinner creates a zinc phosphate epoxy primer layer for steel, aluminium, zinc-coated metal and other demanding substrates.

Heavy-duty semi-gloss PU finish

Mipa PU 240-50 with Mipa PU 912-25 hardener and Mipa 2K Thinner Normal V25 gives a durable 2K polyurethane acrylic finish for highly stressed steel constructions and exterior metalwork.

2K spray finish for local areas

Mipa Mix PU 240 2K Paint Spray 48+ 400 ml is useful for small sections, welded edges and local repair areas where a 2K aerosol is more practical than a full liquid application.

How to paint shipping containers, skips and waste containers

1
Inspect every side

Check panels, corners, roof edges, doors, welds and lower contact points for rust, stickers, dents and peeling coating.
2
Clean and degrease

Wash off dirt and salts, then use silicone remover on grease, oil and contamination before sanding.
3
Remove rust and weak coating

Wire brush, sand or grind loose rust and flaking paint, then feather intact coating around the repair.
4
Prime exposed steel

Apply the EP primer system to bare steel, repaired corners and sanded rust zones before the topcoat.
5
Apply the industrial finish

Use the PU 240 semi-gloss system over prepared areas and reserve the 2K spray for smaller edges, repairs and awkward profiles.

Which container coating products should you choose?

For full panel repainting

Choose the PU 240 liquid coating when the container, skip or waste container needs broad coverage and a durable semi-gloss surface.

For rusted edges and corners

Choose the EP primer system after rust removal so exposed steel is sealed before the visible finish.

For local repairs

Choose the PU 240 2K spray for small scraped areas, doors, hinges and frame details that do not justify a full liquid setup.

Technical details

Mipa PU 240-50 is intended for highly stressed constructions, machines and exterior industrial metalwork.
Mipa EP 100-20 is suitable as an epoxy primer on steel, zinc-coated steel, aluminium, fibreglass and mineral substrates.
Container corners, door frames and lower edges collect moisture and impact damage, so loose rust must be removed before primer.
Silicone remover should be used before sanding and again before coating when contamination remains likely.
A weathered container roof should be repaired structurally before coating because paint cannot correct leaks or severe perforation.

Practical suggestion

Divide the job into panels. Finish one side, roof edge or door section at a time so wet edges and dust control stay manageable.