World Cargo News Editorial APRIL 2001 Universeal launches Electrack system UK-based Universeal UK Ltd has entered to race to produce a commercially viable electronic seal suited for transport use with the launch of its Electrack system. Totally encapsulated and weatherproof, Electrack can store data of up to an equivalent of 6,000 bytes and can be read remotely at distances of up to 50m using an infrared scanner. The e-seal is of the active type as it is battery powered and also reusable. Average battery life is put at two years if the system is permanently live, although this extends to 10 years if the unit is switched off when not in use. Unit price is expected to be no more than £50.00. Product development has been undertaken jointly between Universeal and a "major multinational partner," which is involved in providing security services worldwide. Universeal states that the selection of infrared over radio frequency transmission has saved on cost, while avoiding problems associated with using a single RF signal. The seal itself uses a light reflecting optical fibre, housed inside a secure 5mm steel cable. When interrogated, Electrack can provide a wide range of information, including precise date and time when opening/closure occurred, with up to, 8,000 previous transactions recorded and downloadable to PC. Other data can include details of the personnel that originally sealed the unit, companies involved in the shipment, vessel name, port of exit, destination port, haulage firm etc. Each individual seal is given an encrypted six-digit security number, which it retains for life and is held remotely. This can only be read if access to the code is held. The readers are also given a unique security number, which must be transmitted to the seal before it will respond. The information gathered by the reader will confirm to any security personnel that the closure is secure (or otherwise), although the reader can also download the data without the personnel having access to it. In this instance, it can be fed via a PC to a remote centre, which has knowledge of the secret codes and so can authorise whether the container should pass or be retained for further checking. This, by eliminating the possibility of collusion between employees, reduces the risk of internal fraud. Universeal UK Ltd. is part of a larger network of affiliated companies that make up the Universeal organisation worldwide. Amongst the group's more proven products is its Locktainer 200 bolt seal, which is imminently to be joined by three newer generation products, comprising the 1000, 2000 and 3000 series. Locktainer 1000 has been launched as a new indicative version, while the 2000 model is of smaller diameter than the established 200. Both of the new types are made from lower cost plastic/metal composites and are highly tamperproof. The 3000 model is a heavier duty, all-metal design targeted at US customers.  April 2001 back