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Our line of affordable security cable seals is available in cable lengths ranging from 6 inches to 72 inches and cable diameters ranging from 1.5mm to 4mm. Choose from adjustable cable seals, adjustable barcoded, or fixed length cable seals, all in which come in a variety of colors to meet your specific security needs.
Cable seals are used to secure shipping containers, truck trailers, tanker valves, rail cars, meter boxes, cash bags, lockouts, and process controls, covering any application where a flexible locking mechanism needs to reach across an irregular or misaligned hasp. The steel cable threads through the aperture and locks into an aluminum or steel body, creating a tamper-evident barrier. Many cable seal models are ISO 17712 certified and C-TPAT compliant, making them suitable for international freight.
The key difference is flexibility versus rigidity. Cable seals have an adjustable-length cable that can loop through misaligned or awkward hasps where a rigid bolt will not reach, and because cable cutting tools are less common than bolt cutters, they can sometimes increase the difficulty of unauthorized removal. Bolt seals offer higher tensile resistance, typically exceeding 1,500 kg, along with greater resistance to drill attacks and brute force on standard container door hasps. Cable seals certified to ISO 17712 Class H still meet high-security requirements, making the choice primarily one of application geometry and operational preference.
Most cable seals use a galvanized or stainless steel cable with an aluminum or strong steel locking body. Both galvanized and stainless steel are resistant to corrosion. For maritime use galvanized steel is the most common choice because the zinc coating resists salt air and humidity at lower cost than stainless. Bare steel would be badly corroded within days at sea. For chemical industry or extreme marine environments aluminum and stainless steel may be the more durable option. Confirm the specific cable and body material with us before ordering to ensure the seal maintains integrity for the full time of use.
Many cable seal models, including aluminum self-locking cable seals, are available with ISO 17712:2013 High Security (Class H) certification. C-TPAT requires ISO 17712 High Security seals on all loaded containers destined for the United States. Certified cable seals carry the H or S designation and the manufacturer's identity mark. An independent test certificate from an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited lab should be available upon request, and you should verify certification before purchasing if compliance documentation is required.
Common diameters include 3.5 mm (1/8 inch) and 5 mm (3/16 inch), with heavier options for high-duty applications. A narrower cable works for smaller apertures like valve hasps and meter boxes, while wider cables provide higher tensile strength for container doors and tanker hatches. The locking body aperture also matters, so confirm that the cable and body combination fits your hasp dimensions before ordering in quantity.
Unlike bolt seals, cable seals offer variable usable length. You thread as much cable through the hasp as needed, and pull the excess through until the cable is adjusted for tight fit. This makes them versatile for applications where the gap between locking points varies. The total cable length of the seal itself is fixed at manufacture, so choose a model whose cable length accommodates your longest expected hasp distance.
Yes. Cable seals are available with sequential serial numbers, barcodes, and custom text or logos on the locking body. Numbered seals are essential for any chain-of-custody program, and the combination of a unique serial number and a recognizable logo makes seal substitution or cloning significantly harder to conceal. Contact American Casting and Manufacturing at (800) 342-0333 for custom order minimums and lead times.