From Bell & Howell, a high-speed printer for postal bar codes.

From Bell & Howell, a High-Speed Printer for Postal Bar Codes

Bell & Howell Phillipsburg Co. has introduced a high-speed printing system that could cut thousands of dollars from the weekly postage costs of large financial institutions.

The printing system, called the Jetstar 1400, is capable of bar coding up to 20,000 envelopes an hour, according to the subsidiary of the Bell & Howell Co., Skokie, Ill.

Pennies Add Up

By sorting and placing bar codes on their outgoing mail, financial institutions can receive discounts of up to 2 cents a letter. Bell & Howell officials contend that the Jetstar is capable of generating more postage discounts for high-volume mailers than any other printing system.

Using ink-jet technology, the system applies the five and nine digit bar codes that are necessary to take advantage of present discounts. In addition, the system can print an 11 digit bar code that will be required for the discounts in 1993.

The Postal Service offers discounts because barcoded letters can be sorted more efficiently by machine, reducing costs.

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