EVOLUTION OF SECURITY SEALS

EVOLUTION OF SECURITY SEALS 

1st Generation

The first-generation security seals were made of wax, clay or resin, melted into a paste stage through heat (with wax) and moisture (with clay). It was then poured over sealing string and relief-stamped. Violators tampered the system by using heat or steam to open the packages.

2nd Generation

The second generation seals were manufactured in soft metals, such as lead and tin, which were marked and sealed with a plier. Because of the softness in the metal, violators would open the seal and reconstruct it without leaving traces of tampering.

3rd Generation

The third generation brought two major innovations; the manufacturing of self-locking plain seals and the individual hot-stamped number identification performed afterwards. However, a violator may replace that seal by forging a duplicate from a non-numbered seal, or even alter the numbers on another seal to come up with a duplicate number.