Plastic Wrapping

Plastic WrappingBusiness Letter Services

IntroductionWith several Business Letter Services, customers can lodge articles wrapped in plastic rather than in envelopes. Specific requirements apply to the preparation of these articles.

In this moduleThis module explains the plastic wrap requirements for Print Post, PreSort Letters, Acquisition Mail and Charity Mail.

Learning outcomesBy completing this module, you will be able to:• understand the differences between PreSort Letters, Acquisition Mail, Charity Mail and Print Post standards in regard to plastic wrap requirements.• explain the consequences of incorrectly plastic wrapped articles• explain how to measure excessive plastic wrap (overhang)

Plastic wrapping at a glance

What is plastic wrapping?

Plastic wrapping is an alternative to paper envelopes or wrappers.

The benefits of plastic wrapping include:

• artwork can be printed on a flysheet which is visible through plastic wrapping

• delivery address details can be included on the cover of the article

• plastic wrapping can provide a creative alternative to enveloping

A flysheet is a sheet on which instructions for delivery or other information is printed.

Plastic wrapping at a glanceIf you need assistance:

Plastic wrapping of articles is a specialised process. Customers can get help with plastic wrapping from a range of businesses that specialise in designing, printing, preparing and sorting mail. These businesses are typically called Mail Contractors and can help with a single part of a bulk mailing, such as plastic wrapping or the entire process - from article creation to mail lodgement.

Mail Houses can provide support with:• purchasing or renting an address list • managing their address database• designing and printing articles• plastic wrapping• sorting articles• lodging articles with Australia Post for bulk mailing

Mail Houses and their contact details can be found in the Yellow Pages.


Which items can be plastic wrapped?The following article categories are eligible for bulk mail discounts when wrapped in plastic:Print Post: SmallLarge

PreSort Letters: Small – provided they are eligible for Direct TraysSmall Plus – provided they are eligible for Direct TraysMediumLarge

Charity Mail:

Small – provided they are eligible for Direct Trays

Acquisition Mail:Small – provided they are eligible for Direct TraysSmall Plus – provided they are eligible for Direct Trays

Plastic wrapping at a glanceHow article size is determined

Print Post

Plastic wrapped articles are measured on the size of the contents, not on the total plastic size.Eligibility for correctly addressed Residue and CBD Sort Division pricing is dependent on the maximum excess plastic limits being observed. A surcharge can be applied when the limits are not observed.

PreSort Letters

Plastic wrapped articles are measured on the total plastic size, not on the size of the contents.

Charity Mail

Plastic wrapped articles are measured on the total plastic size, not on the size of the contents. If articles exceed Small letter dimensions, including plastic wrap overhang, then they will no longer be eligible for Charity Mail rates, and may be charged at PreSort rates at a higher price point.

Acquisition Mail

Plastic wrapped articles are measured on the total plastic size, not on the size of the contents. If articles exceed Small letter dimensions, including plastic wrap overhang, then they will no longer be eligible for Acquisition Mail rates, and may be charged at PreSort rates at a higher price point.


More information

More detailed information is available in the Plastic Wrapping Fact Sheet, the Print Post service guide and PreSort Letters service guide and at the Australia Post website (auspost.com.au).

Advanced: Plastic wrappingPlastic wrapping layout

Print Post

Plastic wrapped articles are measured on the size of the contents, not on the total plastic size.

The maximum overhang (excess plastic wrap) is not to exceed specified limits (explained on the next page).

The sealing seam (weld) must not intersect the address block or barcode. A surcharge can be applied if this requirement is not met.

Australia Post prefers the hem (overlapping plastic area) not to cover the address block or barcode.

Advanced: Plastic wrapping

Plastic wrapping layout

Print Post

Overhang (excess plastic wrap)

The amount of plastic that exceeds, or overhangs the article should be kept to a minimum.

Eligibility for correctly addressed Residue and CBD Sort Division pricing is dependent on the following maximum excess plastic limits being observed:

Article thickness Maximum overhang

Up to 10 mm Up to 35 mm

Over 10mm Up to 60 mm


PreSort Letters and Charity Mail

Plastic wrapped articles are measured on the total plastic size, not on the size

of the contents.

The maximum overhang (excess plastic wrap) is not to exceed specified limits (explained on the next page).

The sealing seam (weld) must not intersect the address block or barcode.

Australia Post prefers the hem (overlapping plastic area) not to cover the address block or barcode.


PreSort Letters and Charity Mail

Overhang (excess plastic wrap)

The amount of plastic that exceeds, or overhangs the article should be kept to within the following maximum excess plastic limits:

Article size Maximum overhang

Small Up to 10mm

Small Plus Up to 10mm

Medium Up to 35mm for articles up to 10mm thick

Large Up to 35mm for articles up to 10mm thick

Up to 60mm for articles over 10mm thick


Plastic wrapping layout

Acquisition Mail

Plastic wrapped Acquisition Mail articles are measured on the ‘total plastic size,’ not the size of the contents

The sealing seam (weld) must not intersect the address block or barcode either horizontally or vertically

Australia Post prefers the hem (overlapping plastic area) not to cover the address block or barcode

The maximum overhang (excess plastic wrap) is not to exceed 10mm.


Plastic wrapping requirements

Address sheet skew

When used inside a plastic wrapper, the printed address sheet (or flysheet) must remain straight enough for automatic processing equipment to read it. The flysheet, address block and barcode must not be able to skew (turn obliquely or sideways) within the plastic wrap, as shown in the picture below.

When presented for lodgement, the maximum skew permissible for an address sheet is +/- 10 degrees to the article edge. The combined skew of the address sheet and barcode must not exceed +/- 15 degrees to the article edge.

Mr A Sample 321 Exhibition Street

MELBOURNE VIC 3000

The flysheet/address must not skew, or turn more than +/– 10 degrees to the article edge within the plastic wrap.

Plastic wrapped magazine and flysheet.



Summary

Some characteristics and specifications for plastic wrapping are the same for PreSort Letters, Charity Mail and Print Post, but not all.

To help you understand the different requirements, a comparison summary is provided on the next page. This comparison highlights the similarities and differences between each service’s requirements for plastic wrapping.

The following pages outline some of the common problems associated with plastic wrapping on Print Post, PreSort Letters and Charity Mail articles.

Advanced: Plastic wrappingPlastic wrapping characteristics for PreSort Letters, Charity Mail, Acquisition Mail and Print Post



Common Print Post problems

When... then...

The seam runs across the address block, or the flysheet freely moves within plastic wrap, or movement intersects the barcode or the address and/or barcode visibility blocked by plastic...

articles become jammed or are sent to the scanner reject, resulting in damage or delay to article delivery

Overhang exceeds the allowable limit... CBD/Residue surcharge is added. Excess overhang also causes problems at the feeder, articles become jammed, caught in the machine or are sent to the overflow stack or the scanner reject, resulting in damage or delay to article delivery

Plastic wrap is not strong enough to support the contents...

this causes the seal to open up and contents could come out during processing and be lost

Advanced: Plastic wrappingPlastic wrapping requirements

Common PreSort Letters, Charity Mail and Acquisition Mail problemsWhen... then...

An article is declared as one size, but it is actually larger from end to end of plastic wrapping...

the incorrectly declared size/price point will be charged at the higher rate

The barcode visibility for automated processors is blocked by the plastic skew/seam, the plastic seam covers part of the address, the plastic wrapping stops the scanning of the address, the hem of plastic obscures barcode visibility or the seam intersects the address block...

inability to read barcode and/or address information means that the article cannot be run through the automated processing equipment and will be delayed

Plastic is loose or too soft and sticky... this causes machines to jam, or articles to be damaged, or stuck on the belt and stackers, or double picking (where two articles are treated as one) to occur, resulting in damage or delay to article delivery

Plastic wrap is not strong enough to support the contents...

this can cause the seal to open up and contents could come out during processing and be lost or damaged

Overhang exceeds the allowable dimensions...

problems are caused at the feeder, articles become jammed, caught in the machine or are sent to the overflow stack or the scanner reject, resulting in damage or delay to article delivery



Summary

The following is a summary of the standards by which Australia Post can ensure suitability of plastic wrapped articles for machine processing and limit the occurrence of possible delays, damage or increased costs.

Standard DescriptionPreSort Letters Charity Mail

Acquisition Mail Print Post

Seam

The sealing seam must not intersect the address block or barcode on PreSort Letters, Charity Mail or Acquisition Mail.

A surcharge can be applied if this requirement is not met.

Hem

It is desirable for the hem not to cover the address block or barcode.

Strength

The w eld strength of the seam should be suff icient to prevent opening during mail processing.

Advanced: Plastic wrappingPlastic wrapping requirementsSummary

The following is a summary of the technical specifications required for plastic wrapping, to assist in material selection and limit the occurrence of possible delays, damage or increased costs being incurred by the customer. Mail Service Providers need to know this information.

Standard DescriptionPreSort Letters

Charity Mail

Acquisition Mail Print Post

Material

Polypropylene/polethylene or similar f ilm, anti-static, medium impact resistant IR2, w ith a co-eff icient of Friction of medium slip in Accordance w ith Australian Standards

A surcharge can be applied if this requirement is not met.

Colour

The plastic w rapper may be any colour including reflective material. How ever the address block and barcode must be printed over a surface w hich observes the Reflectance /Contrast requirements.

ThicknessThe minimum thickness is 25 microns.

Advanced: Plastic wrappingSummary

You have now completed this module.

The key points covered were:

• Plastic wrapping is an alternative to paper envelopes or wrappers for Print Post, PreSort Letters Charity Mail or Acquisition Mail articles.

• When Plastic wrapped Charity Mail and Acquisition Mail articles and Small and Small Plus PreSort Letters articles are only eligible for bulk mail discounts when they are lodged in Direct Trays.

• Plastic wrapped Print Post articles are measured on the size of the contents, not on the total plastic size. Correctly addressed Residue and CBD Sort Division pricing is dependent on excess plastic limits being observed.

• Plastic wrapped PreSort Letters Charity Mail and Acquisition Mail articles are measured on the total plastic size, not on the size of the contents.

• Flysheets inside plastic wrappers must remain straight enough for processing equipment to read. The combined skew of the address sheet and barcode must not exceed +/-15 degrees.

• Problems including damage, delay and increased charges can occur when plastic wrapping requirements are not followed.

You now need to complete a short assessment to check your understanding of the information covered in this module. This assessment consists of 6 multiple-choice questions and should take you approximately 10 minutes to complete. To pass the assessment, you need to answer at least eight of these questions correctly.Attempt this assessment as many times as you need to. If you do not pass, it is recommended that you review this module again.

Assessment

Customers can lodge plastic wrapped articles under several of the Business Letter Services. Select the service where plastic wrap is not available.

1

a. Print Postb. Charity Mailc. Reply Paidd. PreSort Letterse. Acquisition Mail

Assessment

Correct answer = CPlastic wrap is not available for Reply Paid articles.

Under PreSort Letters, when are Small and Small Plus plastic wrapped articles eligible for bulk mail discounts?

2

a. As long as they are correctly addressedb. Only when there are 300 or morec. Provided they are in Direct Traysd. They are not eligible

Assessment

Correct answer = CSmall and Small Plus plastic wrapped articles are eligible for bulk mail discounts provided they are in Direct Trays.

True or false?

Plastic wrapped Print Post articles are measured on the size of the contents, not on the total plastic size.

3

a. Trueb. False

Assessment

Correct answer = APlastic wrapped Print Post articles are measured on the size of the contents, not on the total plastic size.

If a Charity Mail or Acquisition Mail article, including plastic overhang, exceeds the dimensions of a Small PreSort Letter, what may occur?4

a. The mail may be destroyed b. Australia Post may not be able to process the lodgementc. The article may be charged at the PreSort Letters rate for a larger

category

Assessment

Correct answer = CThe article may be charged at the PreSort Letters rate for a larger category.

What is the consequence if the sealing seam (weld) intersects the address block or barcode on a Print Post article? 5

a. Australia Post will charge for the articles at the rate for a larger articleb. There is no consequencec. The articles will be returned to the publisherd. A surcharge can be applied

Assessment

Correct answer = DA surcharge can be applied if this requirement is not met.

True or false?

Plastic wrapped PreSort Letters, Charity Mail and Acquisition Mail articles are measured on the size of the contents, not on the total plastic size.

6

a. Trueb. False

Assessment

Correct answer = BPlastic wrapped PreSort Letters Charity Mail and Acquisition Mail articles are measured on the total plastic size, not on the size of the contents.

Documents

Plastic Wrapping