Post confirms new mail processing equipment
Post has confirmed that it will invest $150 million on new mail processing equipment. Curious for a company that says letters are dead. The fact is that Post is processing 4 billion articles of mail. That’s a lot of mail. Even if volumes drop to 2 billion as predicted by Post that’s still a lot of mail.
The new equipment includes Culler Face Canceller Preparation Machines (CFCP) manufactured by Toshiba and Flat Sort Machines (FSM) manufactured by Siemens. The CFCP will replace the current FMOCR and CFC machines. The FSM can do large letters, small parcels and sort to post code. The machines will be installed in NSW, Vic and Qld.
Obviously the aim is to automate as much as possible. The biggest impact will be in processing and some night shift in delivery. The timeframe is at least a year away with the first machines not expected to be in place until 2016. Staffing impacts are yet to be provided.
Consultation on this new equipment will be through a new Automation Working Group with CWU national representation and Post. CWU State branches will be briefed and local working groups will be set up at relevant workplaces.
