It's In The Mail

Mailing services are a natural addition to any in-plant. Here's a look at some of the equipment that can make your mailing operation successful.

By MIKE LLEWELLYN &012;Nearly half of all in-plants provide mailing services, according to a recent IPG survey. And why not? Who better to oversee mail than the people printing it?

At the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor, the mailing services operation recently moved into the printing facility, bringing all 87 print and mail employees together.

"We're hoping that one-stop shopping will really add to the value we bring to the university," says Robert Miller, production manager. A few months ago, he says, the mail operation installed an inserter that folds printed pieces inline, gathers other material and inserts them all into envelopes before ink-jetting the address info, plus a separate message, if desired.

Similarly, at the University of Oklahoma, in Norman, the 69-employee in-plant just installed a Pitney Bowes ink-jet printer, which prints address and bar code information on envelopes in automated presort order. This saves the in-plant 7.8¢ in postage per envelope.

"You make a little bit of profit without having to do any work," remarks John Sarantakos, administrator of the print and mail center.

To help out the growing number of in-plant managers like these who oversee mailing, IPG has put together the following useful information on some of the latest mailing systems available.

Automatic Rate Updates

The Pitney Bowes DM Series mail metering products sort, weigh and price mail. The four models are driven by IntelliLink technology, which automatically updates postage rates and discounts. The DM 900 can feed, seal, print postage and stack mail at speeds up to 240 pieces a minute. The DM550 can feed various sizes of mail up to 5⁄8˝ thick and includes an integrated weigh and feed feature that increases productivity.

Mailing List Software

The Rena Systems FlexMail 2 is a modular system developed by Flex Systems. It allows the user to connect to data, design any mail piece, merge/purge and de-duplicate files, and make changes to a mailing list. The direct mail software boasts an intuitive user interface modeled after Microsoft Office.

Variable Data Software

Konica Business Technologies, in a partnership with Atlas Software BV, now provides Atlas Software BV's PrintShop Mail, a variable data-printing solution, with all Konica PostScript printers. PrintShop Mail supports all major RIP technologies and integrates information from the database into the layout of a document. PrintShop Mail supports variable images, instant preview, bar code printing, paper tray selection, subset finishing and page pick. It also works with a variety of engines. No programming experience is needed.

All-purpose Mailing Machine

Buhrs Americas' All Direct Mail Services (ADMS) has added the Buhrs MTR equipment to its lineup. This machine is an in-line processing system for inserting mailing products, creating an envelope or package, stuffing and sealing it, addressing and metering it, then sorting, stacking and bundling. The system runs at speeds of up to 18,000 pph. The MTR will allow ADMS to process as many as 300,000 poly-wrapped packages per day.

Versatile Sorter

The Charnstrom Triple Sorter has 30 vertical pockets for dozens of uses beyond the mail center. The versatile sorters can be used for storing catalogs and promotional materials; tracking invoices, estimates, quotes, shipping orders and other documents; providing temporary, easy-access filing for work in progress; and as a resource center for research documents and reports.

Envelope Printing

The four-color Halm Envelopemaster 4000 prints 30,000 envelopes per hour. Shown at Graph Expo last month, it features a microprocessor motor control to eliminate electromechanical problems, and enhance versatility and reliability. The EM 5000, which also prints 30,000 envelopes per hour, has an integrated UV dryer and a perfector, along with a microprocessor motor control.

Versatile Sorter

The OPEX MPS7 multiple purpose sorter sorts and labels mail from small postcards to packages. The MPS7 automatically reads, weighs, labels and sorts mail, with a processing speed of up to 7,200 mail pieces per hour. In combination with automatic feeding and reading, the machine is equipped with an exclusive scale and labeler. The MPS7 is designed for a range of mail processing applications.

Insertion Solution

Duplo's Docuinserter MD-430 folds, inserts and seals at speeds of up to 1,620 mail pieces per hour. The Docuinserter MD-410 folds, inserts and seals at 1,300 pieces per hour. The 100-capacity BRE feed station and the two additional automatic folding stations of the MD-430 allow this system to fold one or two sheets, insert the folded pieces in an envelope, conveniently add an insert, return envelope or reply card and seal the envelope.

Heavy-duty Inserter

The DocuMail 45 mail inserter from MBM can handle up to 3,600 envelopes per hour. It inserts flat sheets and/or booklets into envelopes up to 1⁄2˝ thick. Because of its top load and bottom feed design, the machine runs continuously without stops for feeding. Its open design allows hand feeding of up to 120 sheets. The speed can be adjusted for manual feedings, and it comes with four detection features to prevent processing problems. It can be combined in-line with MBM Maxxum feeders.

On-line Reject Processor

Bell & Howell's MMT SABRE Plus is a real-time, on-line reject mail processor. Unlike specialized reject processing transports, SABRE Plus processes hard-to-read mail at cycle speeds of 36,000 mail pieces per hour, slashing the amount of costly first-pass rejects by 50 percent, while increasing the assignment of the 11-digit bar codes critical to mail deliverability. Addresses once considered impossible to read can now be routinely processed without the costly special handling steps they once required, according to the company.

Applies Self-adhesive Labels

Videojet Technologies rolled out the Cheshire Tab Label Stamp system, providing production rates over 30,000 pieces per hour, with precise automatic application on a variety of media. The system applies self-adhesive labels and tabs to the front or back of mail pieces without moving or re-positioning. It can handle anything from 20-lb. bond to a catalog. The Cheshire TLS system adapts to a variety of self-mailers and direct mail pieces for labeling and stamp applications, and saves time and money compared to a hand labeling or stamping process.

High-speed Wrapping

The Sitma Polymail polywrapping system is designed for a variety of wrapping and mailing requirements. With speeds of up to 12,000 pages per hour, the Polymail C905 offers many labor-saving features compared to conventional inserting and labeling methods.

High-speed Strapping

The Dynaric D-2400 high-speed bottom-seal strapping machine can strap 50 cycles per minute. Its new ejector finger allows any size package to be strapped at low to no tension settings without jamming up the sealing head. It is ideal for mail room applications.