SubscribeSeal & Go BV is a Dutch company which specialises in the sealing of luggage for departing passengers and started its business in September 1999 at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in The Netherlands.
As proven, the concept has large market possibilities. Seal & Go contacted some companies that were familiar with sealing solutions and had them invent a machine for sealing the luggage of passengers. This machine shrinks one layer of foil around a piece of luggage to prevent it against damage, undesired smuggling and stealing, and bursting open. Seal & Go invested in a relatively expensive machine, because this would give the reliability, quality and speed needed.
In the years that followed, Seal & Go expanded its business with a second state of the art machine. This new machine was installed in 2004 at Terminal 2 of Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and is still in operation at this location. Seal & Go continues to develop and improve its machinery to meet the needs of the passengers, the airport and advertisers. At the moment the Seal & Go machinery consists of three different types of machines.
New innovations are on the way!
Seal & Go has several partner companies. These companies are:
- Europeesche Verzekeringen
- Schiphol Group
- KLM
- Martinair
- Tommy Hilfiger
- RAI Group
- Boer & Croon
- Worldwide Baggage Services
- Carlson Wagonlit Travel
- Paolo Salotto Group
Seal & Go machinery works completely different compared to stretch wrapping machinery!
Seal & Go machinery works with a very different type of foil. Seal & Go uses shrinking foil. This foil shrinks when heated. The foil tightens around the luggage and provides it with extra cover. This cover is much stronger and tougher than the stretch wrapping foil.
The luggage cannot be opened without removing the shrink-foil. It considerably lessens the possibility of others breaking through the seal, opening the luggage and stealing personal belongings of the passenger or inserting something into the luggage for the purpose of smuggling.
It also prevents the luggage from accidentally opening during the journey as well as protecting the luggage from getting damaged. Seal & Go offers three types of machines which can seal at least 1,3,5 piece of luggage per minute. Depending on circumstances, the machinery can seal even more pieces per minute.
Disadvantages of stretch wrapping System:
The concept of stretch wrapping has some disadvantages. The foil has the potential to do considerable damage to the conveyers if it becomes loose. The stretch wrapping foil does not offer much protection for the luggage, the capacity is low and the foil can harm the environment. The systems that use plastic film without any thermal influence have proved to be quite unreliable. It does not cover the baggage thoroughly leaving the bottom side unprotected because the baggage revolves on a flat dish covering only the sides and top of the item.
Other problem with this system is the finish. Once the item has been wrapped, the loose end is taped to the bag with a decal or sticker. This allows for the "unfold" of the process leaving the baggage unprotected and with yards of plastic film flying around.
If this happens inside the conveyor belt system for baggage transportation, as has happened before, it may very well be the case of a jam in the mechanism, ending in a high work of repair costing large amounts of money. With this system of wrap plastic, damages to luggage of fine leather and other delicate fabrics have been reported.
Another disadvantage of this system is not being able to precisely count the units processed, which results in a difficult way of determination how much invoiced in any given period.
With the sealing machinery Seal & Go has provided a solution to all these problems!
The advantages of the Seal & Go machinery
The new, sophisticated machines of Seal & Go have many advantages for passengers, airline companies and airports. These, in comparison with the wrapping foil machinery, include:
- The shrinking foil is stronger and tighter.
- The shrinking foil offers more protection to the luggage.
- The shrinking foil is user-friendly.
- The shrinking foil is safer from an environmental point of view and uses less foil than the wrapping foil concept.
- The machine has a higher capacity.
- The machine can be easily connected to an X-Ray machine.
- The machine meets most international standards.
- The machine is made to the highest standards of the Netherlands and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
Advantages of sealing for passengers:
- The sealing prevents luggage from accidentally opening, reducing the risk that the passengers will loose personal belongings while travelling.
- The sealing prevents smuggling. Thanks to the sealing, smugglers are not able to put prohibited goods into the sealed luggage of the passenger.
- The sealing makes the passenger proactive. When the sealing is open on arrival passengers can take the initiative and notify customs themselves of the possibility that they may have lost something or someone has put something in their luggage, because the sealing has been opened.
- The sealing provides protection to the luggage.
- The sealed luggage gives passengers greater reassurance while travelling.
Advantages for airline companies:
- By offering passengers the chance to seal their luggage, the airline company provides an extra service to them, which creates added value for the passengers.
- The extra service increases customer loyalty.
- The sealing possibility increases a feeling of security among passengers.
- If Seal & Go replaces the stretch wrapping foil it will reduce costs of luggage claims by passengers and claims by the airports themselves.
- The chance of the sealing unwrapping and damaging the conveyer is less likely compared to the stretch wrapping foil. In the appendix you can find a letter of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Both stretch wrapped and sealed luggage was tested on the luggage systems of Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and the test proves that sealed luggage does not damage the systems.
Advantages for advertising companies:
- Advertising on the sealing is a useful new method;
- Advertising on the sealing is guaranteed to last longer.
- The sponsor system (advertisements on the sealing).
- Advertising on the sealing makes the passenger a walking advertisement and in this way will reach a large public.
What can a franchisee expect from the franchisor Seal & Go
As franchisor Seal & Go will assist the franchisee with the operation of their business in the following ways:
- Seal & Go will provide the franchisee with detailed information about how the franchise works. This will include an exact description of the rights and obligations of both parties, the franchisee and Seal & Go as the franchisor.
- Seal & Go will supply and deliver the machine, counters, security products, etc. to operate the Seal & Go formula.
- Also supplied will be the sealing foil so that the high quality of the sealing and trouble-free functioning of the seal machine can be maintained.
- When the machine is delivered and installed, an employee of Seal & Go will give a clear presentation about its operation. In addition a user manual for the machine will be provided in the native language of the user's country.
- Seal & Go will be responsible for the maintenance and service of the machine and will carry out repairs when necessary.
- Seal & Go will provide strategic support to the franchisee which will include:
- Advice about useful marketing tools to promote the formula. This will also include information about marketing tools that are not permitted'
- Finding sponsors to advertise on the sealing. Seal & Go will also specify the type and number of advertisements that are permitted on the sealing.
- Supporting the cooperation between the airport authorities and the franchisee.
- In addition to this, Seal & Go will support the franchisee on a financial level. This support will include:
- Helping the franchisee set customer prices for the sealing and security-products. The franchisee is obliged to use these prices;
- Financial support to finance the sealing machine. This financial support can take the form of a lease for the machine; and
- Advice on financial reports
Conclusion
The formula and concept of Seal & Go offer many benefits.
Passengers can now travel with a secure feeling, because the possibility of falling victim to smuggling or theft is reduced to an absolute minimum when their luggage has been sealed with the machinery of Seal & Go.
Airports are able to offer passengers the additional service of sealing their luggage resulting in increased passenger safety and airport security. In addition the foil used by Seal & Go has many advantages over the traditional wrapping foil which some airports already offer. The traditional wrapping foil may become loose and can seriously damage the conveyors. With the shrinking foil used by Seal & Go this problem has been solved.
Advertisers are offered an attractive new method of advertising. Advertisements on the sealing will reach a very wide public, because the sealing lasts for a long time and reaches people at many different airports
Seal & Go has been operating at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport with greater success and improved results every year. Franchising the formula and concept of Seal & Go offers an opportunity of a profitable business. The franchisee will receive full support from the franchisor.
The franchisor can assist the franchisee with purchasing a sealing machine, with a choice of three different sizes and capacities. The franchisee will be able to meet all airport, port or railway station requirements with the chosen machine.
To finance the machine and the delivery and installation of this machine, the franchisor is willing to support the franchisee by arranging a lease for the machinery between the franchisee and franchisor or by supporting the franchisee's application to the bank. The franchisor will also support the franchisee on strategic and financial level.
We hope our company information will help increase your interest in the formula and concept of Seal & Go. We look forward to the opportunity to discuss possibilities for a successful and lucrative collaboration with you.
Yours sincerely
Seal & Go
Seal and Go is a member of the Netherlands Airport Technology group (N.A.T.)
