Global bench-marking seals in the difference

A CLOSE relationship with many of the world’s leading security sealing companies has enabled Vikela Aluvin – SA manufacturer and distributor of security seals – to benchmark the best airfreight security sealing practices worldwide and offer these to its local customers, according to Aluvin MD Kevin Norwitz. He added that C-TPAT compliance was crucial to the mix. “In essence,” he told FTW, “the C-TPAT requirement is that all cargo containers entering the US from foreign points of origin must be secured with high-security seals, which are C-TPAT compliant for certain strength tests. “This obviously applies to both seafreight and airfreight containers, and there are obvious operational differences between the two. In conjunction with our principals EJ Brooks and ITW Envopak, we have been able to supply our customers with such seals for both applications for several years.” Aluvin is the sole distributor in southern Africa for these companies – two of the largest security sealing companies in the world. Norwitz emphasised the importance of airfreight users understanding C-TPAT compliance. “C-TPAT puts the emphasis on self-policing rather than customs verifications,” he said, “And the more C-TPAT partners in one’s supply chain, the less the chance of one’s cargo being set aside for time-wasting customs inspections.” The C-TPAT requirements and the ISO standard 17712 apply mainly to seafreight containers, but there are obvious security risks relating to air cargo as well. “Airfreight container differ in size and design from normal seafreight containers and therefore different seals need to be used,” said Norwitz. “Besides the traditional bolt and cable type of security seals there is a growing move towards electronic seals using radio frequency technology. “This makes trackingand- tracing of the container, as well as the integrity of the seal during the logistics process, far more accurate and quicker. This is obviously of huge benefit to the entire industry.”