Security seals are the integral part of shipping and logistics industry in the world. The general concern for Terrorism, cargo theft, adulteration, piracy & tampering can be deterring and detecting only by applying high security seals in cargo movement. In addition this will be an effective tool to reduce the unauthorized access.
The High Security Seals is used to stop counterfeits and provides safety for manufacturers to sell their products in original condition. Further on the other side, the consumer who consumes the products can feel the originality and get a shelter out of adulteration and duplication.
The outreach of security seals is widespread in many organisations with several reasons. Certain companies are using these methods to safeguard their brand name & valuable documents too. The latest technology & its implication helps to incorporating multiple security features that boosts protection as well as visual appeal of seals. These seals are supplied with tamper evidence property, thus providing clear warning of any attempt of elimination of seals.
Generally the security seals are called in different names in relation to its application and designs. Most comely known security seals are Bolt Seals, Truck Seal, Container Seals, Plastic Seals, Wire Seals, Padlock Seals, Truck Security Seals, MeterSeal, Cable Seals, Metal seals etc. These seals are heavily used in Shipping, Logistics, Mining, Banking, Electricity, Oil & Gas, Super Market and Food Supply industries across the globe.
Bolt Seals:- Bolt Seals are the Highly Secured way of sealing mechanism in securing the shipping containers. The bolt seal has mainly two parts. First one is plastic coated bolt and second one is locking bush. Further both are lazer marked with unique serial numbers for traceability. This type of seals can be locked manually by pushing the bolt inside the locking bush. They can be customized by colour, print, and bar-coding for additional security layers. These seals are ideal for containers, trailer door latches, and cross border shipments. These heavy duty seals require a bolt cutter to be removed. It is recommended to use ISO 17712:2013(E) certified Bolt Seals to ensure high level of security. Further these seals are also called in different names vis. Truck Seal, Container Bolt Seal, Cargo Bolt Seal, Lorry Seal, Container Seal Lock etc.
Cable Seals:- The cable seal has pull tight locking mechanism an internal locking mechanism prevents the cable from being retracted. They consist of a metal strip with a punched hole, attached to a housing section. When the strip is bent and threaded through the hole, a ball inside the housing section locks it in place. Most cable type seals belong only to the indicative levels. The cable seals are ideal to use in sealing Trucks, Lorry, oil drums, chemical bags, mining equipment, machinery equipment, valves, train cars, domestic containers etc. The cable seals are also available in ISO 17712 complied and can use for international cargo shipping too. This type of security cable seals are available in different cable lengths ranging from 1.5 MM to 6 MM based on customization. This is types of seals are also available in different designs and famous in names like Hexagonal Cable Seal, Square Cable Seal etc.
Plastic Seal:-The plastic seals or Plastic security seals have pull tight locking mechanism in gripping each effort. These types of seals are manufactured with plastic and have metal blade locking mechanism. This is an inexpensive way of security cargo’s with medium level of security and a good option when cost is a concern. plastic seals can be used for sealing Hazardous waste, Fire Extinguishers, Cash bags, Vegetable bin, Courier bags etc. This type of seals are also called as Plastic Grip Seals, Plastic Security Tag, Plastic Security Seal, Plastic OTL, Plastic Tag etc.
Wire Seals:- Wire seals are similar to bolt seals in design and has metal galvanized wire connected to both male & female part viz. bolt & locking bush. The wire seals are also knows as Rope Wire Seal, Container Wire Seal, and Truck Wire Lock. These are ideal for container duel door locking, train cargo door locking, truck locking etc.
Strap Seals:- The Strap Seals are manufactured with metal and similar to plastic seals. Their material makes them more durable than plastic strap seals. This type of seal can give better security than the plastic seals. Further this can also available in customized mode like Printing, Customized Numbering, Brand Printing & Bar-code Printing. Strap seals are a good choice for trucking cargo, Containers, Drum Locking etc.
Padlock Seals:- Padlock seals are comparatively small seals and are really easy to use. Typically they are used to prevent doors from being opened and are available in both Metal & Plastics. The Metal Padlock Seals ideal for securing vehicle door, Truck door, meters and drums, while plastic padlock seals are ideal for securing food and beverage carts, first aid kits, and zipper bags etc. These seals are also known as Container Padlock Seals, Truck Padlock Seals, Lorry Padlock Seals, Security Padlock Seals, Mini Padlock Seals etc.
Installation & Implementation
The important feature of these types of seals are which can be used only once as One Time Lock. The seals are used once cannot be re-used again. If the seals are locked, the destination can remove only with high quality cutter based on item materials.
It is highly recommended for every shipping container to have at least one seal before a shipping line allows the container to be shipped. The shipper can choose the security seals based on their application which may vary from embossed lead wire seals to metal strip seals and metal bullet seals to padlocks. All of which have been used by customers to safeguard the precious cargo that is shipped in containers.
Depending on the shipping line or the exporter and the level of safeguard required, containers may be sealed with any of the above combination of commonly known Security Seals. The objective of the High Security Seals or One Time Lock is not just to minimize the risk of someone accessing the container and taking cargo out; but also to avoid someone putting illegal stuff into the container such as drugs, weapons of mass destruction, contraband, counterfeit etc.
For this precise reason, receivers of the cargo/container must make sure that the seal number shown on the bill of lading/manifest and the seal and seal number present on the container when they receive it are exactly matches the same. If there is a seal or seal number discrepancy between manifest and container, the receiver should immediately advise the shipping line of the same and invite them for a joint survey of the container. Hence the simple, unassuming container seal or security seal plays a very important role in global trade and global security.