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Security seals are a key component in the securing of global aviation logistics, ensuring that aircraft, airports and airline supply chains are secured against the issues of tampering, theft or bad practice. They serve as a means by which an audit history of logistics movements can be maintained so that authorised users might understand where risks under their area of influence might be managed and reduced.

Overview

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Security Seals in Use

Airplane doors should be sealed overnight whilst unattended to ensure that no-one has accessed the aircraft without prior approval. Security labels can be used to seal the seam of the doors in this scenario to ensure that access is notified and recorded. Non-Residue Security Labels cannot be unpeeled or removed without the label delaminating, showing VOID through the surface of the label, but does not leave any unwanted residue on the aircraft itself.

Air freight / air cargo containers are subject to rugged handling, logistics movements, in-flight turbulence, and more. Choosing the right security seal is therefore very important, and seals with sophisticated anti-tamper features and high-pulling strengths only should be used. Universeal UK recommends the application of single-use variable length cable seals in this scenario. Cable seals are much stronger than plastic pull-through seals, featuring pulling strengths ranging from 330+ KgF to 2000+KgF. Cable seals can only be removed using appropriate cutting tools, which prevents access by unauthorised users and other opportunists during transit, and can easily withstand the forces and rigours of airfreight logistics.

Ground operation logistic vehicles, such as trucks and trailers, should be sealed with indicative plastic seals to prevent intrusion once within airport boundaries. Universeal recommends the use of pull-through seals with metal and acetal inserts due to the higher level of sophistication they provide, giving clear evidence of tampering. Pull-through security seals are available in different lengths, pull-strengths and with/without tear-off facilities, to suit the particular requirement.

Waste or equipment collection bags and sacks should be sealed with printed identification ties or security seals to provide safe transport, recycling/reuse or disposal of all manner of items which are bulk-bagged in the course of main airline and airport operations, or operations ancillary to this. Products can be customised to suit your particular needs – with printing of company name, logo or text; unique sequential numbering and barcodes; as well as packaging to suit operational requirements on the ground.

For more information, please visit the airline section on our website, or download our leaflet Security seals for the aviation industry to keep for your records.

Sending parcels and documents, at home and abroad, is always fraught with risks; once it leaves your sight, who knows really who might attempt to access, steal or otherwise interfere with the consignment you are sending?

Couriered parcels are usually handled by many parties, including multiple handlers at local and regional courier depots; third-party drivers; customs inspectors, airport handlers and more. Each step in the process involves the potential for access, tampering or theft. Such access need not necessarily be illegitimate – for example, customs authorities, as part of the controlled flow of goods, are required on occasion to visually inspect the contents of a consignment to check that they conform to the description noted in export paperwork.

The problem is knowing whether or not your consignment has been handled or damaged – and whether inspections of valuable, fragile or sensitive items need to be carried out to ensure that they have not been compromised.

Without actually being there, how can you do this? One way is to secure your consignment is with tamper-evident security labels or security tape. There are many types of security label or security tape, suited to the particular requirements of the item to be sealed:-

		Residue security labels; designed so that when peeled back they leave a mark or residue on the application surface to which they were applied.
		Non-residue security labels; designed so that when removed they visually deform on the labels surface, leaving the application surface clear.
		Residue Security Tape; suitable for sealing cardboard boxes and other containers – it can be used in conjunction with a normal packaging tape dispenser. The tape is marked and leaves a VOID on the sealed packaging upon removal.
		Plain Security Tape; a plain tape which looks visually very similar to traditional brown packaging tape, so as to avoid any unnecessary attention from opportunists. However, once the tape is removed a VOID residue is left upon the box.

Such products can be applied to seal and secure any flat surface, such as inner packaging, cartons, mail bags and envelopes, to deter and minimise the risks of opening. Once applied, such labels or tape act as a quick visual reference for the user as to whether or not sealed items have been accessed: once opened, the product physically and permanently changes state with a VOID message appearing on the surface of the product.

This gives control back to the company or individual sending the parcel: for example, using tamper-evident labels will ensure that customs handlers record checks made on consignments, giving you more information on which items have been opened and handled during transit.

Take a cardboard box for example, lacking any sort of locking hasp to accommodate a plastic security seal, security labels can be placed across a carton’s point of access. This ensures that a handler, for example a custom official, is required to peel back or cut the label.

The incorporation of sequential numbering onto security labels also means that they cannot simply be easily replaced to conceal the opening; when the consignment reaches its destination, it is clear if it has been searched because recorded numbers will not match.

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Of course, security labels aren’t just limited to this sort of application, they can be used in many different ways such as asset identification and to display warranty and servicing information. Some security labels also employ other methods of tamper evidence like the destructible label, which fragments upon removal – meaning that it is impossible to remove and re-instate. 

Asset Labels	Warranty labels	Void polyester labels	Vinyl Destructible Labels

For further information please visit our Security Tapes & Labels area of our website or alternatively you can call us to discuss your requirements.

Securing your assets against theft and interference whilst in transit is more important than ever in our globally-connected world. Security seals are an important part of the security process; helping to ensure that your goods arrive at destination as expected, without delay.

Security seals come in various forms to suit particular applications, and in this article we run through the different types of seals which are suitable on various forms of road transport vehicles.

Transit and Small Van Security
	Security Labels Small transit and other small courier vans do not feature locking hasps or other features which would allow for sealing by way of an indicative pull-tight or fixed length seal. Instead, non-residue security labels can be placed on the seam of vehicle doors, preventing access without removing the label and de-facing the surface, leaving a VOID message through the seal. Non-Residue labels have the advantage in that they do not leave a residue on the surface of the doors, avoiding damage to paintwork.
Vans with Roller Door Shutters
	Indicative Pull-Tite Seals Vans and other vehicles with roller-shutter doors feature hasp and staple-style locking arrangement. For these types of locks, we recommend use of a pull-tite or “pull-through” tamper-evident seal, which can be secured tightly around the mechanism, preventing interference by opportunists. Pull-through seals are available in many different sizes and configurations. We hold most items in our UK warehouse; alternatively, we can customise with your bespoke marking, logo and custom numbering.
Articulated Lorry Trailer Doors
	Fixed-Length / Ring Seals Trailer doors are available with a number of different locking mechanisms, and so the preferred security seal will depend on the mechanism in question - either pull-through or fixed-length seals are recommended. Fixed-length or "ring" seals, form a secured loop through a locking aperture. Ring seals do not “pull tight” around the locking arrangement, meaning that they can be freely rotated, checked and inspected for signs of tampering more easily.
Curtain-Siders
	Fixed-Length Seals and TIR Cords Curtain sided trailers are best secured using a TIR cord to pass through each of the buckles along the trailer, looping around so that TIR fasteners can be secured at the back of the vehicle using a plastic indicative fixed-length seal. This ensures that the only way to access any side of the trailer is by way of breaking the seal, providing the audit trail required.
Containers on Trailers
	High-Security Bolt Seals & Plastic Indicative Seals (empty loads only) Fully-loaded shipping containers which are being moved internationally require sealing by way of a security seal designated and tested as ‘high-security’ according to ISO17712 and CT-PAT regulations. Our high-security bolt seal is one of the most well-established on the market and fully compliant. For empty loads, we recommend use of plastic indicative seals – providing peace of mind that empty containers have not been accessed against the knowledge of the legitimate user, reducing risk of foul play.
Open Top Containers
	TIR Cords & Plastic or Cable Seals Open Top containers allow bulky items to be loaded directly from above. They usually covered and secured using a tarpaulin. TIR cords should be used to pass through the tarpaulin cover eyelets and around container corner posts or lashing rings. The TIR fasteners can then be secured with a security seal – either an indicative plastic seal, or where the goods are being shipped internationally, a high-security bolt seal or cable seal.
Oil, Gas & Bulk Liquid Tankers
	Flexible Cable Seals The valuable and potentially hazardous contents of tankers are at risk of interference, theft and fraud, especially whilst in transit and away from the legitimate user. This makes it crucial that sensitive and valuable access points, such as valves, meters and hatches are strongly secured against tampering. Flexible, variable length and very strong cable security seals are ideal for ensuring such access points are secured against interference.

Universeal is happy to explore suitable van, truck and trailer security solutions for your business- please contact us [email protected] or 01829 760000 to discuss your requirement for security seals and we should be happy to help.

What are the relevant Standards?

The standards embodied by the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and International Organisation for Standardisation 17712 (ISO 17712:2013) define the minimum standards which all container security seals (also known as "barrier seals") involved in cross-border movements must conform to.

The Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program is one layer in U.S Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) multi-layered cargo enforcement strategy. Through this program, CBP works with the trade community to strengthen international supply chains and improve United States border security.

International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) is the world’s largest developer of voluntary international standards. The ‘standard’ is a document that provides requirements, specifications, guidelines or characteristics that can be used consistently to ensure that materials, products, processes and services are fit for their purpose, reliable and of good quality.

ISO 17712 establishes “uniform procedures for the classification, acceptance and withdrawal of mechanical freight container seals. It provides a single source of information on mechanical seals which are acceptable for securing freight containers in international commerce.”

The current ISO 17712 standard requires independent confirmation in three areas:

1.        Testing to determine a seal’s physical strength (as barriers to entry).

ISO 17712 defines three classes of security seal strength or barrier capacity: “I” for Indicative; “S” for Security; and “H” for High Security. C-TPAT requires the use of “H” class seals. Suppliers must use independent third party test laboratories to validate a seal's classification. Labs must be accredited according to ISO/IEC 17025 (General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories) to perform testing specific to ISO 17712.

2.        Auditing of manufacturer’s security-related business processes.

Poor security-related practices can undercut the effectiveness of a high-quality security seal. ISO 17712's Annex A defines over two dozen required practices, such as facility risk assessments and access controls to production and storage areas. Suppliers’ conformance with Annex A should also be demonstrated through an independent certification provider that is accredited to audit compliance with the ISO standards.

3.        Design with tamper-indicative features that generate tell-tale evidence of tampering.

Seal manufacturers must be able to demonstrate to, and obtain certification from, an accredited auditor from an independent third party organization that their high security seals have built-in tamper evidence features. If an independent third party organization accredited to ISO 17020 verifies conformity, it will provide the manufacturer with a certificate of compliance that documents that the seals submitted for review do reflect tell-tale evidence of tampering generated by attempts to defeat a correctly closed and affixed seal. Considering that most seals are tampered with in order to introduce illegal contraband or to pilferage a container, this is a welcomed improvement for high security seals –particularly those that are U.S. bound and those affixed to C-TPAT containers and trailers.

What does this mean for you as a buyer?

It means you should be aware of the credentials of the company from whom you are purchasing security products. You must be able to ensure that you are buying fully compliant security seals from a recommended supplier who can demonstrate compliance with ISO17712 certification requirements. Should you buy a product which is not compliant with ISO 17712, problems like shipping delays are highly likely.

As a buyer you should ask for proof that a potential supplier conforms fully to ISO 17712. Suppliers should be able to provide you with a summary page from the test or audit reports which acts as a certificate of conformity. 

If you have any questions please give us a call on 01829 760000 or email [email protected]

Security Seals and Identification Tags: what’s the difference?

To put it simply, security seals are used in applications in which a tamper-evident solution is required to ensure that the sealed items cannot be accessed without the knowledge of the authorised user. Identification ties, on the other hand, are products designed to fasten around bags, boxes and other items to keep them closed – they are not designed to be tamper-proof, although they can be uniquely printed to identify assets or communicate information to a user.

What is a security seal?

Security Seals; as the above suggests, are used to secure something: this could be anything from sealing a locking hasp on a door or a first aid kit, to a shipping container or oil drum.

A true security seal is not exactly designed to stop unauthorised access to something but rather to make it extremely difficult to access a sealed enclosure without the seal showing signs of having been tampered. This is achieved by engineering the security seal – and in particular its locking mechanism – in such a way that external manipulation is very difficult once the seal is in situ (without simply breaking the seal). As an example, our Tracewaste seal features an encapsulated locking mechanism to prevent tampering.

However, tamper-evidence alone isn’t enough. More often than not a security seal will have its own unique serial number. As an example, a logistics haulier might wish to seal curtain-sided lorries with a uniquely numbered security seal; record the particular serial number at its origin; and then ensure that the same seal is intact without signs of tampering at the arrival destination. This reduces the risk that unauthorised users might replace a security seal whilst in transit. As well as sequential numbering, users might opt to use their company logo / other markings to uniquely identify the seal.

Not all security seals are made equal.

Security seals are designed with particular applications in mind. Some seals, such as the Fireseal are designed for very low-break strength and are purely “indicative” in nature. They are easily opened, and particularly suited to applications where immediate access is required: sealing fire extinguishers, medical crash trolleys, and spill kits are all typical examples of their use.

Certain seals are intermediate in nature: combining indicative tamper-evidence with a medium-to-high level of physical strength (for example, featuring a pulling resistance of greater than 40 Kgf). Such seals require removal by way of cutting snips or by way of a specially designed tear-able parts of the seal. Our UNI-412 and UNI-413 seals are examples of such products.

At the other end of the scale, some security seals are designed with much higher physical resistance in mind, so that only specialist bolt and cable cutters are suitable to remove the seal. Specifically, in most cases where shipping containers are being moved internationally, security seals must adhere to the “high-security” ratings applicable within the ISO 17712:2013 standards. For example, our Locktainer 2020SH bolt seal is fully-compliant with ISO17712 and CT-PAT regulations. These regulations ensure that container seals have been rigorously tested for their strength properties and their resistance to common methods of interference.

You can read more about such compliance in our blog: Compliance with C-TPAT and ISO 17712:2013 Standards for High-Security Seals.

Security seals also come in different shapes and sizes. As well as the pull-through plastic seals and high-security bolt seals mentioned above, there are number of key categories for particular uses. For example, cable seals are used as very strong yet flexible, adjustable length seals with high pulling strengths, suitable for heavy-duty applications such as oil drums, high-security shipping, chemical tankers and many more applications.

Yet another type of security seal is our adhesive security labels and tape range, which can be applied to flat surfaces and which, when removed, leaves behind a residue as its tamper evidence. The residue will often have a word repeated in it such as ‘opened’ or ‘void’. Alternatively, the label itself can delaminate, so that this wording appears in the label itself, leaving the applied surface untouched.

Certain types of products also incorporate security seals and tamper-evidence within their design – for example, our re-usable security envelopes and mail pouches incorporate locking mechanisms which can be sealed using disposable security seals which can be snapped off and replaced.

Finally, a growing trend looking forward is towards electronic security:- electronic seals which incorporate technologies such as unique number generation for re-use, GPS trackers and RFID technology. IntelleSeal T is an example of an electronic seal for use on trucks and trailers.

What are identification ties?

Identification ties and tags are normally used to fasten, enclose and identify a particular object or asset; or to communicate particular information about whatever is tagged.

The emphasis for identification ties is not in tamper-evidence – such ties are not designed to prevent illegitimate tampering. For example, because locking chambers are not designed to be tamperproof they can be manipulated (albeit only intentionally) so that ties can be unfastened and re-closed without the knowledge of the legitimate user.

However, for the likely uses of identification ties this is not a concern because the sealed item does not have intrinsic value; there would not be anything to be gained by tampering with the item. For example, typical uses include bundling or stowing wire cable installations; sealing of waste – including industrial and clinical waste bags; packaging of goods; inspection tagging; industrial equipment and low-value asset tagging. In such applications, the simple design of ties ensures that a solution is provided that is more cost-effective than a more sophisticated security seal.

Where identification is a primary concern of the user, flexibility of tie sizes and printing types also becomes an important consideration. Our range of identification ties are available in many sizes and with different print options – including sequential numbering, printed information, company logos, barcoding and more. For example, our printed cable ties are available in sizes 200x4.8mm, 300x4.8mm and 370x4.8mm to fit the required application. Our printed Tab Ties also offer even greater flexibility, allowing the printing of more detailed information on the tag end of the product, including bespoke barcoding, QR codes and logos as necessary.

If you have any questions about our range of security seals and identification ties, please feel free to give us a call on 01829 760000 or [email protected] to discuss your requirements.