Introduction
While firms often spend thousands of dollars to automate their outgoing mailing operations,
few companies put much thought into improving incoming mail operations. Yet dealing with incoming
mail is often a very time-consuming process.
Automatic mail openers are designed to reduce the time spent opening incoming mail. They vary
from handheld, battery-operated models to heavy-duty desk models that can handle 600 envelopes
per minute.
This guide is designed to give you the facts you need to choose and evaluate letter opening
equipment for your business. The various sections are listed in the box above. You can choose
to read this guide from beginning to end, or jump directly to a section of interest.
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Types of Letter Openers
There are two types of letter openers: chadders and slitters.
Chadders use cutting wheels to slice off 1/8th of an inch from the top of an envelope. These
models tend to be fairly inexpensive, but run the risk of damaging the contents of an envelope.
Slitters work by cutting through the top seam of the envelope. Because this process is more
complex than that used by chadders, slitters tend to be less common. While slitters are unlikely
to damage mail, they command a $1,000 to $2,000 premium over equivalent chadder designs.
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Durability
Automated mail openers are considered to be quite durable, and should not require a service
contract. Service, when required, usually just involves fixing a jammed machine. To avoid service
calls, you simply need to empty the unit's catch tray daily so the holding capacity is not
exceeded. If your firm expects to process more than 2,000 pieces a day, make sure steps are
in place to ensure that the tray is emptied at regular intervals during the day.
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Larger Mailing Items
Most models are equipped to handle up to 6"x 10" (#10) envelopes. Higher end models can handle
envelopes up to 9"x 12" in size and up to 3/8" thick.
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Features
Probably the most useful feature a company can look for is an automated feeder to convey pieces
through the machine.
Joggers can also be helpful to settle the contents, minimizing the chance of having the tops
of checks or other important materials sliced off.
For monitoring purposes, there are also counters available to count the number of pieces being
processed each day. Firms may also like the ability to stamp incoming mail with the time or
date to keep track of when mail has arrived.
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Special Tips
Check Availability of Used Equipment
One way to reduce the cost of purchasing a letter opener is to find used or refurbished machinery.
Pitney Bowes models tend to be the easiest to find in the used market, with reliable units
available for as little as $800. Slitting machines tend to be much more difficult to find
on the used market, since the technology is still relatively new.
Avoiding Paper Cuts
Many models offer "feathering" cuts that reduce the likelihood of receiving painful paper cuts
when emptying envelopes.
When Testing, Consider Type As Well As Size
In addition to testing units with mixed size mail, try using openers with different materials
ranging from regular paper to kraft to Tyvek envelopes.
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