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Some considerations: these packages have a very strong adhesive on the back which is hard to remove without damaging the package or surface; they have unique se
by nneonneo 7y ago
Some considerations: these packages have a very strong adhesive on the back which is hard to remove without damaging the package or surface; they have unique serial numbers (barcoded on newer versions under the bubble packaging) so that they can’t be easily replaced; and the balls are glass, not metal, so they can’t be pushed around by a magnet. It’s overall a pretty ingenious system.
Another one is the Tip’n’tell system, which uses fine coloured sand and clear tape to detect tipping in one direction. I once saw one of these affixed to the side of a large autoclave which had been shipped to our university. There’s a whole series of these shipping indicators, for detecting acceleration (shock), temperature (too hot/too cold), and pressure.
- Nextgrid 7y agoI wonder if static electricity could be used to move the ball and bypass the "no magnets" feature.
- AtHeartEngineer 7y agoDoubtful, the static would traverse the plastic packaging and never touch the balls
- dokem 7y agoI’d go for something like a powerful vibrator like used in concrete settling.
- amelius 7y agoOr exert some pressure onto the window, that will keep the ball from moving.
- WorldPeas 7y agoWhat's stopping them from using a plastic ball? Would it be too light?
- tapland 7y agoI’d guess. High friction low weight and it might produce too many false negatives.
- nerfhammer 7y agomaybe you could push a plastic ball around with static
- ortusdux 7y agoI am always amazed at the lengths distribution warehouse workers will go to tamper with these vs. just not tipping the shipment. I've actually seen boxes of replacement stickers on the back of a forklift during a tour. I once had a shipment come in with TiltWatches on it and someone had slid pins through the plastic right above the balls to hold them in place. I now check for holes on these. IF you are shipping something that really needs to be rejected if tipped, cover the stickers with a panel, shipping manifest, etc. Make sure the receiver knows to remove the covering and check before signing for the package. Those Tip'n'tells double as great makeshift earthquake sensors. https://i.imgur.com/v83aNzV.jpg https://i.imgur.com/v83aNzV.jpg
- ska 7y agoAbsolutely. Receiver popping a panel to show the other set of tip'n'tells can get some great expressions. But if the shippers are serious, and use to moving 6-7 figure equipment around, they'll expect it.
- gruez 7y ago> I've actually seen boxes of replacement stickers on the back of a forklift during a tour. Great, now they elevated a simple case of negligence (at best) to fraud.
- MattSayar 7y agoIf you want to prevent tampering, think inside the box. By which I mean also put these indicators on the inside of the box.
- taneq 7y ago> Another one is the Tip’n’tell system, which uses fine coloured sand and clear tape to detect tipping in one direction. I imagine you'd have to ship these really carefully. :P (Yeah I know you'd probably add the sand after attaching it to the package. :P )
- RL_Quine 7y agoNo, they're stuck on and a piece of blocking plastic is removed once applied to "arm" them.
- milsorgen 7y agoWe used them on the crates we built around fab equipment when I helped dismantle a Zilog fab in Idaho. Quite a fun job for a young man. Those things were quite important to the buyers and the middle men though truth be told that sensitive equipment wasn't always handled with kids gloves.