Manufacturer work instruction · Key Systems, Inc.

Tamper-Proof Key Rings®

Specifications, tools and colour coding

The key ring is closed and sealed with tools. After that the bunch cannot be opened without it showing. There are two versions: the solid stainless steel keyring and the flexible Flex keyring of braided steel cable. Both are stamped with a unique serial number.

Stainless steel keyring

Material: Stainless steel
Thickness: 4 mm, solid round

Size	Inner ø	Order code
1″	3 cm	KR3
1⅝″	4 cm	KR4
2″	5 cm	KR5
3″	7 cm	KR7
4″	9 cm	KR9

Flex keyring

Material: Braided steel cable
Thickness: Cable 2.6 mm, seal 4 mm

Size	Inner ø	Order code
1″	3 cm	Flex KR3
1⅝″	4 cm	Flex KR4
2″	5 cm	Flex KR5
3″	7 cm	Flex KR7
4″	9 cm	Flex KR9

Five sizes, the same seal

All sizes have the same sealed closure and use the same tools. The size only determines how many keys fit: from fourteen on the smallest to sixty-six on the largest. The stainless steel and the Flex keyring come in the same five sizes, so you can choose per bunch without buying extra tools.

The five sizes of stainless steel keyrings side by side

Tools, grooves and colour coding

Tools

The closing tool and the sealing tool belong together: close first, then seal. Opening a sealed ring requires a cutter.

Closing tool

Sets the ring round. Five slots, one per size.

Sealing tool

Makes the closure permanent. First groove.

Cutter

Opens the ring at the second groove.

Knipex cutter

Cuts anywhere. Steel wire up to 4 mm.

The two grooves

Every closure has two grooves. Which one you use decides whether the ring closes or opens — do not mix them up.

First groove

Sealing

The groove next to the seam. Use the sealing tool here.

Second groove

Opening

The groove further from the seam. Use the cutter here.

Colour coding

Separate colour tabs to tell rings apart per building, department or shift. Available in five colours.

Red Orange Yellow Green Blue

Detail of a sealed closure with the two grooves

Two key bunches with separate colour tabs in five colours

Stainless steel keyring · Closing the ring

The stainless steel keyring is worked with three tools: the closing tool sets the ring round, the sealing tool makes the closure permanent and the cutter opens it again. Fit all keys onto the ring before sealing — nothing can be added afterwards.

Steps 1 – 6

1Place one side of the ring in the slot of the closing tool that matches the size. The tool has five slots, from 1 to 4 inch (figure 1).
2Place the other side into the hooks at the base of the arm. The ring now hangs centred in the tool and the seal is parallel with the tool body.
3Swing the arm slowly back to about 90° and feel the resistance. If it is too strong, or a gap remains, adjust the knob accordingly.

4Then swing the arm entirely back, to about 120° (figure 2).
5The ring is now closed and the seam has no gap (figures 3 and 4). If there is still space between the ends, turn the adjustment knob one setting further and repeat steps 3 and 4.
6Keep the ring in the tool and continue with sealing.

Note: with the adjustment knob set too tight, swinging the arm all the way could distort the ring. Do not close further than needed.

Figure 1: the ring in the closing tool with the five slots labelled — Figure 1
The ring in the closing tool. The hook on the closer arm, the adjustment knob, the ring closer body and the ring seal are labelled.

Figure 2: the arm of the closing tool swung entirely back — Figure 2
The arm swung entirely back, about 120°.

Figures 3 and 4: the seam up close — Figure 3
The seam up close. The ends must meet with no gap.

Figures 3 and 4: the seam seen from the other side — Figure 4
The same seam, seen from the other side.

The figures are taken from the manufacturer’s manual and carry the original English part names.

Stainless steel keyring · Sealing and opening

Steps 7 – 11 · Sealing the ring

7Hold the arm of the closing tool. With the other hand lift the handle of the sealing tool and place the seal inside the opening (figure 5).
8Align the two wheel ridges of the tool with the groove closest to the seam. This is the first groove (figure 6).
9Push the handle down into the tool body (figure 7) and swing the tool back and forth at least three times over about 120° (figure 8).
10Lift the handle to release the ring.
11Rotate the arm of the closing tool back and take out the ring. Record the serial number in your key administration.

Figure 5: the sealing tool on the ring while still in the closing tool — Figure 5
The sealing tool on the ring, while it stays in the closing tool.

Figure 6: the wheel ridges of the tool in the first groove — Figure 6
The two wheel ridges in the first groove, next to the seam.

Figure 7: the handle pushed into the tool body — Figure 7
The handle pushed down into the tool body.

Figure 8: swinging the sealing tool back and forth — Figure 8
Swing the tool back and forth, at least 120°.

Steps 12 – 14 · Opening the ring

12Lift the arm of the cutter and align the two wheel ridges with the groove furthest from the seam. This is the second groove (figure 10).
13Push the handle into the tool body.
14Swing the tool back and forth at least three times over about 120°. The seal breaks at the second groove; the ring cannot be reused afterwards.

With the Knipex cutter you can cut the ring anywhere, including outside the groove (figure 9). Use it when the seal is not reachable.

Figure 9: the Knipex cutter on the ring — Figure 9
The Knipex cutter; it cuts anywhere on the ring.

Figure 10: the cutter on the second groove — Figure 10
The cutter on the second groove.

Flex keyring · Sealing in seven steps

The Flex keyring needs no closing tool: the braided end slides into the hollow side of the connector and is fixed there with the sealing tool. Only the sealing tool and, for opening, the cutter are needed.

1Place keys and other assets on the ring. Always do this before sealing.
2Insert the free end of the cable all the way into the hollow tube end of the connector.
3Place the sealing tool on the ring, with the crimping wheel ridges in the groove.
4Place the connector in a vice with the bend trapped in the vice jaws to prevent the connector from spinning.
5Swing the closed sealing tool three times back and forth a minimum of 120°.
6The crimp is finished. Remove the sealing tool.
7Record the ring serial number for auditing.

Two hands sliding the braided end into the sleeve

Two hands closing the sealing tool around the sleeve

Final product

The bunch is secured and stays complete

The sealed sleeve closes the ring permanently. The keys can rotate a full 360 degrees around the ring so they do not bunch up, but no key can come off without damaging the closure. Every ring is stamped with a unique serial number, so you can audit both the ring and the keys hanging from it.

To open the ring later, use the cutter. Once opened, a ring cannot be sealed again.

Closed Flex keyring with three keys, ready for use

Sizes and order codes are on page 1. Subject to change.