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.
2 th 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.
3 th 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.
4 th Generation
The fourth generation comes with a brand new concept: 100 % tamper evident plastic seals with high-relief numbering molded during the manufacturing process.
Each seal has a unique alphanumeric combination, as human being have their unique finger prints. There is no way to replace that seal for another one with the same identity.
Authentifier
The system is completed with the authentifier, which makes the transcription of the seals serial number onto the manifest document. There is NO transcription errors.
5 th Generation
In order to keep up with technology, the seals industry came up with a contemporary numbering system called “In Mold Label” (IML). Bar-codes, numbers, and corporate logo are laser printed on paper, which is applied on the seals tab during the manufacturing process. Paper is fused on the seal and unable to be removed due to its protection bars. State-of-the-art bar codes with check digit provide consistent and dependable readability by eliminating transcription errors and maximizing identification. Exclusive to ELC, the high technology involved in the manufacturing process makes the IML numbering system 100% tamper evident, and 100% modern.
6 th Generation
The Sixth Generation Seal
The need to control and track the several sealing steps led to
the arrival of the Sixth Generation Seal , a new generation/classification
refers to the so-called Virtual Seal or Security Link , in which the tracking of the seal is thoroughly controlled via
web , based on the seal number/code, from the manufacturing phase up to the interpretation of inspected seals and their disposal.
