Mailing/Fulfillment - Hardware

With today's questionable economic times and changes in the print and mail industry, many organizations are looking to identify ways to control costs and still remain a viable business. While there is no crystal ball that can identify just where the print industry is going or when the economy will turn around, managers of in-plants can still take steps to be profitable.

On January 26, the USPS will require mailers to have implemented Full-Service Intelligent Mail barcode (IMb) in order to continue to qualify for postal discounts. The IMb barcode is a simple series of lines that contains a vast amount of information—and an opportunity to improve your in-plant.

In-plant Graphics visited the State of Colorado's award-winning Integrated Document Solutions operation for a look at its advanced printing and mailing technologies.

Equipped with an arsenal of digital printing and high-tech inserting gear, the 42-employee print and mail operation at Physicians Mutual processes between 30 and 35 million mail pieces a year for the health and life insurance company.

State government printers from around the country assembled in Denver last month for the 35th annual National Government Publishing Association (NGPA) conference. About 30 government attendees took part in the three-day event, which was titled "Exceptional Government and the Power of Partnership."

Introduced at Graph Expo, the new four-color Meteor DP8700 multi-substrate digital press from MGI Digital Graphic Technology, supports up to a 13x40˝ sheet (13x47˝ with manual bypass) and prints up to 71 ppm (letter-size) with a maximum 3,600 dpi resolution.

Missouri's State Printing Center has relocated, along with the state's mailing operation, into a 250,000-square-foot building about seven miles from the State Capitol. "Because so much of what we print gets mailed anyway, it's really nice to have us all here together," says State Printer Rodney Vessell.

When it comes to the legislative agenda in a presidential election year, 'tis best to strike while the iron is hot. And that iron cools off considerably once school lets out. When the weather heats up, silly season begins in Washington, D.C. All attention will turn to the November elections, and virtually nothing will get done in Congress. That's hardly a bold prognostication; historically, except for any must-pass legislation needed to keep the government running, Congress hangs its "out to lunch" shingle around mid-year to focus on elections.

When Colorado merged its print and mail operations with its document imaging/data entry units in 2005, the state was looking to increase efficiency and save money. Under the direction of Manager Mike Lincoln, the resulting Integrated Document Solutions (IDS) unit has been doing exactly that ever since.

Vendors reported a good amount of interest in bindery equipment at this year's GRAPH EXPO in Chicago. The bindery equipment at the show offered in-plants some great opportunities to expand their services and increase their efficiency.