We often get requests from marketers to publish on our blog an article which "may be of interest to your readers". These are usually totally unrelated to any of the subjects covered here, so they are declined.
We do like to publish relevant articles, and today I'm pleased to say that we have been given to reproduce this article from Digital Labels & Packaging. This article was published on 19 July 2021, and our thanks to regular contributor DougF for drawing it to my attention.
Wolverhampton, UK-based International Security Printers (ISP) has invested in advanced hybrid print, finishing and inspection systems for barcoding of postage stamps.
As a renowned global security printer, ISP produces high calibre print for a large global client base from production sites in the UK and France. Its work and expertise enable the business to create highly innovative, secure options for industries with high monetary or intellectual value products and services. From security printing, to advanced track and trace and authentication capabilities and ‘tailor-made’ consultancy services, ISP’s wide-ranging and unique products help companies combat fraud to better protect brands and revenues.
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| ISP has invested in hybrid digital print and finishing for barcoded postage stamps, either in sheets or booklets |
Specifically, ISP’s investment in hybrid production will enable postal authorities worldwide to add unique barcodes to stamps and, by doing so, be able to offer their customers more convenient, new services in the future such as track and trace to provide protection against counterfeiting and reuse. The barcodes, which can match stamp colour, sit alongside the main body of the stamp, separated by a simulated perforation line.
The fully inline hybrid systems incorporate equipment from selected global specialists, including A B Graphic (ABG), Domino and Lake Image Systems. They are based on two types of machine configuration: one producing sheets of stamps and the other booklets. For sheets, the inline system consists of an ABG non-stop unwinder to automate production by splicing together two rolls of material on the fly, ensuring a non-stop feed of material into an ABG Omega Converter 430. This modular and multi-functional converter houses a four-colour Domino N617i UV inkjet digital print module that prints the stamps and barcodes, inline and in colour. A Lake image Systems inspection system is also integrated and this is surrounded by ABG’s die-cutting and sheeter modules to cut the web down into final sheets. Any sheets with defects are instantly recognised and diverted into a waste compartment for non-compliances, whilst good sheets continue and are fed neatly on to a 2m-long shingle conveyor.
The hybrid system for booklets of postage stamps is along the same lines as the sheet configuration, except for the inclusion of a Domino K600i printer to print barcodes in monochrome, as well as the colour barcodes printed by the N617i engine. A barcode is also printed on the outside of the booklet to identify the stamp barcodes inside. A second ABG die-cutting module is configured as part of this setup for enhanced functionality.
ABG global sales director Matt Burton commented, ‘For postal stamp applications, this is the first time that various key industry parties have joined together to provide hybrid print and finishing solutions. All manufacturers have been fully on board throughout the project, wanting to see a successful conclusion. Clearly we are all delighted that both systems are now fit for purpose and we look forward to seeing ISP rolling out the initiative.’
ISP managing director Ian Brigham said, ‘We are proud to part of a monumental change in the history and fortunes of the postage stamp. The coming together of experienced print and finishing specialists to create these systems has been both unique and impressive – our thanks to them for a job well done.’
Very interesting, it looks like all stamps in the future, maybe near future, will carry a barcode, bigger stamps = more album pages = more expense lol but that is negative sorry .
ReplyDeleteAnother negative may be that stamps without barcodes will be made invalid. Like; I suspect ,many readers; I have vast quantities of stamps; which would be hard to use up before some forthcoming deadline.
DeleteVery unlikely, I suspect, that current 'conventional' stamps already purchased will become invalid for use.
DeleteNot for some decades at least. What might happen is that sorting machinery will expect the barcode and throw out older stamps for hand sorting thus slowing the process.
DeleteNeil,
DeleteRoyal Mail often doesn't have the staff to cancel stamps - hence the apparent necessity for these barcoded stamps - so they wouldn't have them for any additional "hand sorting".
In the UK the standard chat-up line is supposedly 'do come round to my place to see my etchings.' In Denmark the equivalent is to invite someone to your place see your stamp collection. If commemorative stamps will have to include the bar code then they are unlikely to be as pretty as they usually are now. Another nail in the coffin for stamps I fear, although Trelantis is probably right that existing stamps will be valid for several years.
DeleteGermany has managed to many of it's recent commemoratives with their (rectangular rather than square) datamatrix codes as shown on the original datamatrix thread (search 'datamatrix' at top left).
DeleteIt does, however, make them larger and I doubt if that makes them all as popular with all the German public (and maybe not collectors either).
You can't stop progress, try to make your own album pages, buying them is a waste of money anyway.
ReplyDeleteI do a bit of both. I buy the Royal Mail Annual Continuation pages and add custom-made pages for stamps they omitted, such as stamps from Miniature Sheets and Collector Sheets.
ReplyDeleteGeneral question. If the intention of the data matrix is to stop reuse, what's going to happen when the sorting machines identify a stamp that has been reused? Surely the cost of the man hours involved isn't worth it?
ReplyDeleteThe use hasn't really been set out in full by Royal Mail, Chris, and much of what has been written here and on the original thread is mere speculation, fuelled by imagination and the obvious possibilities.
DeleteThis paaragraph: "Specifically, ISP’s investment in hybrid production will enable postal authorities worldwide to add unique barcodes to stamps and, by doing so, be able to offer their customers more convenient, new services in the future such as track and trace to provide protection against counterfeiting and reuse." could have been written by any of the philatelic press or bloggers.
I believe the addition of 'AND' between 'trace' and 'to' would be more accurate:
"....enable postal authorities worldwide to ... offer their customers more convenient, new services in the future such as track and trace AND to provide protection against counterfeiting and reuse."
It is unfortunate that the data matrix is so prominent. I wonder if, in the future, like phosphor bands the QR / matrix code technology could move to make use of the whole postage stamp printed directly onto the design, but only be visible, like phosphor bands if you really look for it. That would then be the best of both worlds, as certainly it is a good invention. From merely a vanity perspective...and this is why I started collecting in the first place...not sure what to do now.
ReplyDelete