The U.S. Postal Service has saved billions of dollars in the last few years by automating mail handling. Unfortunately, automation can put unplanned stress on printed matter.

Many printers believe that digital color printing experiences more damage than other printed matter. Since U.S. Postal Service equipment cannot differentiate between digitally printed pieces and printing produced by other processes, manufacturers of digital color printing equipment and printers have developed coating strategies to give such pieces more protection.

In response to this concern, the U.S. Postal Service is working with PIA/GATF (Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation) to evaluate the success of these protective coatings in preventing damage in theU.S.mail stream. The U.S. Postal Service ìConfirmî barcodes will be used to track the path of digital color mail to PIA/GATF headquarters using nine different digital and direct imaging suppliers and various coating technology solutions.

The results of the study will be presented at the 2005 Tech Alert Conference, February 6-8, at the Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh International Airport in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

To obtain an a copy of the 2005 Tech Alert Conference brochure, which includes detailed session descriptions and a registration form, email Ned Herrick, conference manager, at [email protected] or mail your request to his attention at 200 Deer Run Road, Sewickley, PA 15143-2600. For additional information about the conference, please visit the PIA/GATF website at www.GAIN.net/conference or call the training department at 412/259-1712.