A method for fitting a cable with seals, which comprises conveying the seals by means of a conveyor into a pick up position provided for picking them up by a transfer unit comprising a holding arbor, picking up the seal in the pick up position from the conveyor by slipping the seal onto the holding arbor of the transfer unit by introducing this holding arbor into the central tunnel of the seal during a forward stroke of the holding arbor, and assembling the seal on a cable to be processed, characterized in that the orientation of the seals on the holding arbor is electromechanically and fully automatically checked during pick up by the holding arbor of the transfer unit by measuring and electronically evaluating the mechanical force required for picking up the seal or the mechanical pressure required for this purpose, in the direction of the primary axis of the holding arbor, wherein a) a seal being present in the pick up area during and/or after the forward stroke of the holding arbor, but is not even incorrectly picked up by the holding arbor, is recognized by the electronic evaluation of the force and/or pressure measurement as being below a given minimum reference value (Wmin), in such a case the seal is removed from the pick up area of the conveyor by means of a disposal device that acts during the ensuing reverse stroke of the holding arbor, before or until the holding arbor reversed in this instance by an electronic controller initiates a further forward stroke for picking up the next seal as it moves into the accommodation position and/or b) a seal having been incompletely or partially punched through and getting caught in this way on the holding arbor during and/or after the forward stroke of the holding arbor, is recognized by the electronic evaluation of the force and/or pressure measurement as being above a given minimum reference value (Wmax), in such a case the seal is stripped from the holding arbor by a stripping device that intervenes during the subsequent reverse stroke of the holding arbor, and thereafter removed from the pick up area of the conveyor by means of a disposal device, before or until the holding arbor reversed in this instance by an electronic controller initiates the forward stroke for accommodating the next seal as it moves into the pick up position. a) a seal being present in the pick up area during and/or after the forward stroke of the holding arbor, but is not even incorrectly picked up by the holding arbor, is recognized by the electronic evaluation of the force and/or pressure measurement as being below a given minimum reference value (Wmin), in such a case the seal is removed from the pick up area of the conveyor by means of a disposal device that acts during the ensuing reverse stroke of the holding arbor, before or until the holding arbor reversed in this instance by an electronic controller initiates a further forward stroke for picking up the next seal as it moves into the accommodation position and/or b) a seal having been incompletely or partially punched through and getting caught in this way on the holding arbor during and/or after the forward stroke of the holding arbor, is recognized by the electronic evaluation of the force and/or pressure measurement as being above a given minimum reference value (Wmax), in such a case the seal is stripped from the holding arbor by a stripping device that intervenes during the subsequent reverse stroke of the holding arbor, and thereafter removed from the pick up area of the conveyor by means of a disposal device, before or until the holding arbor reversed in this instance by an electronic controller initiates the forward stroke for accommodating the next seal as it moves into the pick up position.