A pallet passes through many hands, gets moved around, and is often handed over to external parties. Precisely because a pallet usually has no fixed closure, it matters whether it's visible if the load has been changed along the way or internally. Sealing pallets isn't about locking them shut. It's about making them checkable. When it's immediately clear that a pallet has been opened or altered without authorisation, that prevents discussion, delay and confusion on arrival.
Goals of pallet sealing
Sealing pallets serves a number of clear goals in practice:
making unauthorised access visible
proving the pallet wasn't altered in transit
fast checks at handover or receipt
limiting fraud, damage and theft
Pallet sealing is therefore often used as an extra safeguard, particularly for valuable goods such as electronics or mixed shipments.
Two common pallet setups
How a pallet is built up determines which seal fits best. In practice, two situations come up most often. A third option is a combination of the two: stretch wrap with tape, plus a Straplock Seal.
Pallets with stretch wrap
Pallets wrapped in stretch film often get moved several times. Without a seal, the film can easily be cut open and put back, without it being immediately obvious. This actually happened to a Navacqs customer. Somewhere along the logistics chain, products went missing, while the packaging and the stretch wrap looked untouched.
Label Lock Security Tape solves that. This security tape sticks to both stretch wrap and cardboard. On removal, the tape's two layers separate and the words OPENED/VOID appear clearly on the film. It can't be stuck back down. The tape also carries a unique, sequential number every 150 mm, which makes checking at handover easier.
One practical advantage: the tape fits a standard tape dispenser, so pallets can be sealed quickly, with no extra steps.
Label Lock Security Tape
Pallets with polypropylene strapping
Many pallets are secured with polypropylene (PP) strapping. This band is tensioned and holds the whole pallet together. That calls for a different approach.
The Straplock Seal F-7115 was developed specifically for sealing PP strapping 12 to 19 mm wide. The seal is fitted at the crossing point of the strapping band. For it to work correctly, the band needs to be pulled fully taut.
This seal consists of two parts, both carrying the same unique number. Red marking points make it immediately visible whether the seal was closed correctly. Without the right placement, or without enough tension on the band, a pallet can be opened unseen. Checking the marking points matters for exactly that reason. Closing the Straplock Seal requires the specially developed F-7115 key. Without that key, the seal can't be closed, which makes unauthorised placement or replacement practically impossible.
Straplock Seal F-7115
Straplock Seal F-7115 Key
Why correct placement matters so much
With pallet sealing, execution matters just as much as the type of seal. Security tape only works when the stretch wrap is intact and the tape is applied correctly. A seal on strapping only works when the band is fully taut and the seal is properly closed. A consistent method helps here: apply tape or a seal in the same spot every time, run a quick visual check on marking points or warning text, and record the unique number at the time of shipping. That keeps checking fast and unambiguous.
Unique numbering at pallet handover
Both Label Lock Security Tape and the Straplock Seal F-7115 carry a unique, sequential number. That number serves as a reference point at handover: record it at shipping, check it on receipt, and treat any discrepancy or damage as an immediate signal. That turns pallet sealing into a practical tool within existing logistics processes, with no added complexity.
Sealing pallets: the step-by-step approach
Sealing pallets starts with identifying how the pallet is built: wrapped in stretch film, or secured with strapping? Then choose the matching seal and always apply it in the same, recognisable spot. Record the unique number at shipping, and check both the seal and the number on receipt. This approach keeps checking straightforward, and prevents disputes down the line.
