Security seals are mechanisms used to seal items in a way that provides tamper evidence and some level of security. Such security seals can help to detect theft or contamination, either accidental or deliberate.
Security seals are commonly used to secure truck trailers, marine vessel containers, chemical drums, airline duty-free trolleys, tanks with different kind of fluids, fashion items sold online,utility meters, doors, bags, boxes control access, cash and valuables in transit, and practically all your applications that need to be checked for tampering with.
Therefore, when it is necessary to adopt security measures that can guarantee that nobody interferes with the product, opens it or manipulates it or provides tamper evidence of intrusion into sensitive spaces using security seals is the safest, easiest, and cheapest solution.
Types of Security Seals
Security seals comes in several varieties, each with unique characteristics suited for different applications. The primary types of ecurity seals include:
1. Plastic Seal: Fixed Length and Pull-Tight Seals
The most vital plastic seals are fixed-length ones, which have to break strengths ranging from 80 to 135 lbs. These seals perform incredibly well at keeping track of shipments' cargo safely. When cost is an issue, fixed-length seals are an excellent choice because they are affordable.
Pull-tight seals are comparable to plastic fixed-length seals but are more flexible and come in a broader range of breaking strengths. Pull-tight seals, for instance, can be used to seal various items, such as hazardous trash, fire extinguishers, security bags, and car doors. Because they are adaptable, adjustable plastic seals are a fantastic choice when you have various needs.
2. Bolt Seal
Bolt seals are another high-security seal alternative with a sophisticated locking mechanism but self-locking, making them simple and tool-free to install. The metal bolt seal is a high security bolt seal specifically designed to safeguard high value cargo. The seal features a carbon steel body and ABS plastic coating for tamper evident visibility. To increase security, the body and bolt are laser etched with matching numbers. Our bolt seals is ISO 17712 certified for High Security and is C-TPAT compliant.
They can be customized for additional security levels in colors, logos, barcode, QR code and serial numbers. These seals are perfect for trailer door locks, cross-border shipments, and containers. Usage of bolt cutters is necessary to remove these heavy-duty seals.
3. Cable Wire Seal
Cable wire seals, also known simply as 'cable seals' or wire seals, are flexible and strong types of security seals popular across all types of industries, including freight and transport, food and pharmaceutical, industrial and manufacturing and other sectors.
Cable wire seals generally consist of a metal or plastic body, with the cable / wire rope permanently cinched or clamped at one side of the body, and with a one-way tamper-evident locking chamber at the other end of the body. The wire rope is inserted into this locking chamber and progressively tightened to suit the application. The seal can only be opened by cutting the cable; our cable seals feature non-preformed cable which frays when cut, preventing re-insertion and providing a clear indication of seal tampering.
4. Padlock seal
Small and relatively simple to use, padlock seals are a great option. They are frequently employed to stop the forceful opening of doors. While plastic padlock seals are best for securing zipper bags, first aid kits, etc., wire padlock seals are best for locking meters and drums. Users can check to verify if the seal is properly locked, and the seal cover will fracture if any attempt is made to open the seal, providing undeniable proof of attempted interference.
5. Metal Strap Seals
6. Destructible PVC tamper-evident tape
The continuous, tamper-proof destructible cryogenic tape is ideal for sealing containers and other items. This tape will destruct upon any attempt to remove it from most surfaces, indicating that the contents of the container have been compromised. Durable and waterproof, our tamper-evident tape can be used as a security seal for asset protection and data tracking, to deter theft, and for anti-counterfeit measures.
7. Barrier Seal
Applications of Security Seals
As our world becomes increasingly interconnected, the need for security in a wide range of industries has never been more pressing. From manufacturing facilities to transportation companies, organizations are searching for reliable ways to protect their assets from tampering, theft, and unauthorized access. Various levels of protection are provided by visible security labels in multiple industries, depending on the company's goals. Businesses can select low, medium, or high-risk seals while providing the necessary functionality.
1. Securing Medical Records
In the medical industry, patient confidentiality is critical. A security breach could result in severe consequences, from identity theft to medical malpractice. In addition to being installed on first aid kits, security seals are a standard requirement for all emergency gear, including airline duty-free trolleys, parachutes, and rescue assistance packages.
These seals guarantee that the contents of emergency supplies are undamaged and untouched, and they are ready to use without any issue. Drugs, for example, must be kept in a place that is strictly supervised, and blood samples and samples for important tests must also be properly sealed to reduce the possibility of contamination. These seals are easily destructible labels to save time in emergencies.
2. Protecting Fire Extinguishers
Fire extinguishers are essential safety devices in many settings, from offices to factories. However, they are also prone to tampering and theft. To prevent unauthorized use or theft, security seals can be used to secure fire extinguishers. This not only ensures that the extinguishers are ready for use in an emergency but also prevents malicious individuals from tampering with them.
3. Protecting ATM Cassettes
ATMs are a prime target for thieves, and the cassettes containing cash are particularly vulnerable. To prevent unauthorized access to ATM cassettes, security seals can be used to secure the cassette doors. Tamper-evident seals can provide a visual indication that the cassette has not been tampered with, providing an additional layer of security to the ATM.
4. Application In Airline Industry
The airline industry gains from using airport security seals by placing these seals on items or locations that passengers shouldn't access. As a result, passengers wouldn't be able to enter specific spaces or cupboards, endangering everyone on the plane's safety.
Tips To Make Security Seals More Effective
Keeping goods and merchandise safe and secure is the priority when storing or transferring them. But selecting to use security seals will only get you so far. Companies can use a variety of best practices to maximize the effectiveness of a security seal.
1. It might not be possible to complete the task with just one kind of seal. Having multiple levels of security is crucial in case a security measure is hacked. The most significant defense against this is to use a variety of security seals, serial number & perforation security tapes, and tamper-proof cash bags combinations. One can also include visual identifying measures to create a distinctive visual marking during sealing that discourages potential theft or tampering.
2. The effectiveness of the security seals is increased because of visible and psychological deterrents, which prevent potential intruders before they even try. These deterrents include labels with warnings, illustrations and serial decals to cover the seal, and strategies for unique coloring identification.
3. Using the same security measures again will make it easier for thieves to figure them out. One of the best ways to combat predictability is to vary the tactics. Businesses might use techniques like custom tamper-proof stickers, customized hologram total transfer tamper evident label rotating colors, or using alphanumeric characters at random to obfuscate patterns. Rotate the size, model, or kind of seal you use each time. Various techniques can prevent someone from figuring out the security measures and potentially damage the items.
4. Seal inspection and process training should be provided to those who regularly handle freight and inventory. In this method, they can determine when seals require maintenance, repair, or replacement with a different kind. Don't just assume that your team is aware of what has to be done; thoroughly and frequently teach them, especially whenever new team members or seal types are introduced.
5. Once the chosen seals have been delivered, it's crucial to visually check them to ensure that no part of the initial supply chain has tampered with them. Following that, the seals should be kept in a safe place that is only accessible to authorized people and has a serial or barcode number that can be tracked by a complete log of the given seals.
Conclusion
Security seals are a mechanism for preventing and identifying unauthorized closure openings. Unlike locks, they are not designed to be used more than once before being destroyed. Some security seals serve as a seal, a robust disposable lock, and proof of entry or violation. The tampering indicators enable the user to start an investigation and ultimately find and stop the breach when security seals are discovered to have been tampered with or violated.