Electronic seal and smart padlock FAQ
This electronic seal FAQ answers the smart padlock questions buyers ask us most: which product to choose, batteries, the platform, security, samples and customisation, and shipping. If yours is not here, ask an engineer.
Which lock or seal do I need?
What is the difference between an electronic seal and a smart padlock?
An electronic seal closes with a steel cable, so it fits container doors, tanker valves and irregular points; it is reusable and released at the destination. A smart padlock has a rigid shackle for gates, cabinets and fences. Several of our models come in both forms — see the 4G electronic seal and the 4G smart padlock.
Should I choose 4G, LoRa or Bluetooth?
4G if the lock moves — trucks, containers — and alarms cannot wait. Each lock carries its own SIM.
LoRa if many locks sit on one site, or there is no cellular coverage: one gateway serves them all and the locks carry no SIM.
Bluetooth if staff always carry the app: the phone is the gateway and the lock costs least. Compare them on the products page.
Do 4G locks come with a SIM card?
No. SIM cards and data plans are not included on any 4G product; you fit a standard SIM from a local operator of your choice. The 4G-BLE-093 and GPS_4G_096 are LTE only, with no 2G or 3G fallback, and regional band versions are built to order — tell us your country and carrier.
Can I see where a lock is?
Every lock and unlock made from the app is recorded with the phone's position. For live tracking, the GPS padlock has its own GPS, and on vehicles a LoRa vehicle gateway can report position for all the locks on board.
How long do the batteries last?
How long does the battery last?
It depends on the model and, far more, on how often the lock is opened, closed and reports. The spec-sheet figures at normal use are: over 12 months for the 4G-BLE-093, over 1 year for the LORA_BLE_098 and over 2 years for the ABD_BLE_806.
The GPS_4G_096 is rechargeable, and its life is set by how often it reports position.
Can the battery be replaced on site?
Yes. The 4G-BLE-093, LORA_BLE_098 and ABD_BLE_806 use a primary lithium cell (ER18505, 3.6 V) in a sealed bay that is opened on site with the supplied spanner — no disassembly, no return to factory. Use only a 3.6 V lithium cell of the same size; a 1.5 V alkaline cell will not run the lock.
Software, fees and integration
Is there a monthly fee for the platform?
No. Our hosted platform has no platform fee, no licence fee and no per-call charge. The only running cost is the SIM data on 4G locks, which you supply. See Platform & App.
Can the locks work with our own software or tracking platform?
Yes, four ways: our hosted platform, a dedicated copy deployed on your server, integration into the system you already run through its API, or your own build from our advertising specification and compiled SDK. 4G devices and the LoRa gateway can also send data straight to your MQTT broker. OEM / ODM covers the detail.
Can we have the app under our own brand?
Yes. The app (Android today, iOS coming soon) can be delivered white-labelled, with your name and ours nowhere in it, or with the source code handed over so your developers own it outright.
Security and certificates
How secure are the locks?
Commands are AES-128 encrypted and authorised by the platform — for a named person, a lock and a time window — and access can be revoked at once. Every lock and unlock is recorded with who, when and where.
The 4G-BLE-093, LORA_BLE_098 and ABD_BLE_806 have no mechanical key cylinder to pick. The 4G seals also raise an alarm the moment the cable is cut or the lock is pried.
What certifications do your products have?
The 4G-LS-809 gas seal is explosion-proof certified Ex ic IIC T6 Gc under China's GB/T 3836 standards (which adopt IEC 60079), for Zone 2 areas.
Radio and other market approvals are handled per project and per market. Tell us the country and the application, and we will tell you what applies and what it involves.
Samples, payment, logo and warranty
Can we order samples?
Yes. Samples are charged at the lowest quantity-break price, with no sample surcharge, and are paid 100 % in advance. Freight is extra — see shipping below.
What are the payment terms for production orders?
50 % deposit with the order, balance before shipment.
Can you put our logo on the product?
Yes, free. Your logo, serial numbers and QR codes are laser-marked at any quantity. Changes to the part itself — a new mould, moulded-in text or a different housing shape — are from 1,000 pcs. See OEM / ODM.
What warranty do you give?
12 months from delivery.
Freight and lithium batteries
How are orders shipped, and who pays the freight?
Freight is for the buyer's account and is never included in the price. Samples go by air courier, and you are welcome to use your own courier account. For production orders, tell us your shipping method and we quote the freight separately.
Can locks with lithium batteries be shipped by air?
Yes. The locks ship with their cells installed, declared as lithium batteries contained in equipment (UN3091 for the primary-cell models), with the UN38.3 test report and MSDS. Carriers accept them with conditions and a few routes restrict them, so tell us the destination before we book.
Still have a question?
Send it with the application, the quantity and the country. An engineer replies within one business day.