Åland Post opts for Neopost and Syslore sorting system
Åland Post is upgrading its mail processing operations with a new sorting machine using OCR technology from Neopost and Finnish firm Syslore. Åland Post is upgrading its mail processing operations with a new sorting machine using OCR technology from Neopost and Finnish firm Syslore.
Åland Post, the state-owned postal operator in the Åland Islands, the islands in the Baltic Sea which are self-governing though part of Finland, has been looking to upgrade its sorting infrastructure for some time.
It will use Neopost equipment featuring Syslore’s OCR eXpress (OCR-X) address reading system, which Helsinki-based Syslore said was particularly designed for smaller postal operators, as an efficient and easy-to-integrate address reading system.
Søren Boll, the Syslore VP of Sales, said the OCR-X system would be integrated with a Neopost MSA-9600 mail sorting and accounting machine.
The MSA-9600 is a flexible and modular machine capable of processing around 10,800 envelopes per hour, and can be modified to specific client needs.
He said: “By using the combined Syslore OCR X and Neopost MSA-9600 sorting system, the Åland Post will significantly increase the sorting automation and efficiency for processing mixed mail items.”
Åland Post said it had been looking for a sorting machine that would be easy to use for both smaller and larger quantities of mail.
Eivor Granberg, business area director for Åland Post, said: “Many of the options available in the market are suitable for the larger postal operators and this means that the costs for adapting the machine and software for our business grows too high compared to the business advantage we would get. With the Syslore/Neopost-solution, we get a package deal that is fitted for our specific needs.”
Åland Post
Åland Post (Posten Åland) has been operating for nearly four years as a public limited company owned by the Government of Åland, previously running as a public utility providing postal services independently of mainland Finland since 1993.
Last year, the company of 244 employees achieved a EUR 38.8m turnover, an increase of 3.9% on the previous year and the highest turnover ever for Åland. However, operating profit fell by 16.4% year-on-year to EUR 3.2m, mainly because of increased competition in the fulfillment and third party logistics segment.
As other postal operators, Åland Post has been seeing Internet communications replacing mail volumes, but e-commerce and mail-order volumes have helped to counter this, while investment in network efficiency and IT systems have also helped keep the company profitable.
Åland Post had its status as designated universal service operator for the Åland Islands renewed back in February, for a term extending to 2021.
