Evolution of the BRX Smart Barrier Lock: The Ultimate Real-World Cargo Security Solution

Our electronic seals offer a complete cargo security solution built for real-world applications. Here’s how our BRX Smart Barrier Lock evolved.

A secure design.
Time is critical in seal tampering as organized criminals rarely take more than a few minutes to tamper with and re-seal shipping containers. Petty thieves may resort to vandalism or stealing valuable raw materials.

Our BRX Smart Barrier Lock is built upon a secure base: a barrier seal that can withstand a 30-minute attack. We had a successful test with Union Pacific Railroad, and while our product functioned as intended, we encountered vandalism and knew we could push our design further. Criminals attempted to break the aluminum keypads, which generated the opening combination in our original design. Polycarbonate keypads somewhat improved the issue but did not eliminate vandalism entirely. We took a technological leap and redesigned the housing of BRX to look like little more than a box from the outside. We would control the seal remotely.

Innovative electronics.
After multiple iterations using Bluetooth, we realized that GPS was a critical component. BRX units can be controlled using GPS fencing or opened by app. Clients know where their unit is and when it is opened and can set different permission levels across personnel. Companies can fully automate their units by integrating with their bill of lading so that all units can be opened at customs and automatically close until they reach their next secure location.

Zero Maintenance.
Electronic seals on the market currently use one of three battery options: disposable batteries with a 3-5 year lifespan, rechargeable batteries, or solar. With an average container life-cycle of 15 years, these options are not ideal. Changing or recharging batteries creates a supply chain within the supply chain, incurs added personnel and shipping costs, and takes containers out of commission. Solar power comes with its own problems, like loss of efficiency, vandalism, and theft.

Our BRX units use a state-of-the-art, self-contained battery with a 15-year lifespan. They are zero maintenance and secure.

Damage Free Installation
Most electronic seals are drilled into the container’s door. In our early tests, we did just that, but the process was time-consuming and uncomfortable in harsh climates. Furthermore, no company wants to damage their container or allocate more than a few minutes to installation.

Now, BRX can be installed in minutes without prior training and without damaging any part of the container.

Smart Insights.
BRX is secure, tamper-resistant, tamper-evident, and zero maintenance for the container’s lifetime. BRX eliminates human error and generates thousands of data points on speed, location, personnel, delays, idle zones, and attempted tampering. AI predictive analytics can help companies optimize routes, avoid delays, manage fleets, and maintain accountability throughout their supply chain.