Neopost Folder Inserter and Envelopes

[EDSNOW]

Any field techs that have to deal with customer's using poor envelopes?
What brand of envelopes do you advise customer's to use? Weight, diagonal or side seam, flap size and shape?
I have a DS-80 that works quite well but every so often the customer has purchased poor quality envelope stock.
I can take a bundle out of an unopened box and lay on a flat surface and the buckle or wave is bad.
I would like to think that the envelopes would stack flat, It seems the old adage you get what you pay for is true.

Any feedback appreciated
Thanks
Ed Snow

[rh112]

See this very often
I usually ask the customer to google envelopes for machine insertion sometime this helps
This is from one site I try to direct them to

Envelopes tested for mechanical insertions.
To produce the best envelope also means passing the most demanding quality control tests: automatic inserting machines which examine objectively the envelopes one by one as the most demanding customer.
The mechanical inserting machine requires high manufacturing quality: paper with the right grain directions, porosity, strength and rigidity; specific folds and seals; adequate gumming and appropriate packaging.
High manufacturing quality is a necessary condition to prevent jams, time wastage and the destruction of documents which are not always easy to replace.
Proof that making envelopes is more than just folding paper

Sometimes I can get customer to understand sometimes its a blank look and the comment but it worked fine before
When I ask where and how the envelopes are stored most have no ideal
Ones that do know how they are stored at their location I then ask how are they stored at the vendors location
I have several envelopes vendors who buy envelopes store them and when they get an order will send them out to printer to be addressed or logos printed
Some printers store and handle envelopes with care others not so well
Have found most customers only concern is to get the lowest price on envelopes they can
Few years back had customer who was very upset with the equipment explained that envelopes were the problem they set up meeting with the envelope vendor and me
At the meeting First thing out of the envelope salesman mouth was he had several customers using the exact same envelope on the exact same machine and they had no problems. I asked him for names of the other customer after he paused he said it was confidential and he couldn't share with me. I then asked if his envelopes were for machine insertion his response there was no such thing as a envelope for machine insertion. After sometime he agreed to call his office and check to see if he could get envelopes for machine insertion when he returned his response was yes they make them but not very common and were expensive.
Thankfully this customer understood that this envelope vendor wasn't being very helpful and changed to another vendor

I have ran into envelopes having almost everything possible wrong with them
Flaps glued down and machine couldn't open them
Flaps with no glue and somehow its the machines fault it can not seal them
Glassine not glued to window well
Seams not glued well or sometime seams not glued at all
Envelopes warped and do not lay flat
Envelopes that have been stored on the floor an have a moisture issue ones that customer stored on the sides of boxes instead of flat
Have had customesr who will buy # 9 envelopes and try and insert a 8 1/2 by 11 sheet in them
As with any other machine I try and explain to them the requires for the machine to operate as designed

[rh112]

Information from another site that I try and get customer to look at and understand

Envelope Inserting Machine Tips
Envelope suppliers and manufacturers of envelope processing equipment have a common goal – to process the envelopes used in inserting machines as efficiently as possible. Whether envelopes will be inserted, printed, addressed or stamped, these 12 tips will help you get the best performance from your equipment.
1. Envelope Ordering	When you order envelopes to be processed on inserting equipment, find out the make and model of the machine. It is crucial to know this information should a problem develop. Mail processing machine specification and the envelope design must be correct to give the optimal performance on that particular piece of equipment. To insure the best design and fit of the contents, you should obtain a sample of the entire mailing package.
2. Insert Size	To keep the inserting machine running at its maximum efficiency, envelopes should be: • Approximately ½" longer than the longest insert, plus the thickness of the inserts if bulky. • Approximately ½" wider than the largest insert, plus the thickness of the inserts if bulky. An extra 1/8" added to these allowances assures trouble-free inserting on automatic equipment. IMPORTANT: Inserts should be designed to allow address information, including 11 digit Delivery Point Barcodes, to be clearly readable throughout the insert’s full range of motion within the window area.
3. Uniformity	When you order envelopes, remember that nothing is more critical to automated inserting equipment than uniformity in the envelopes to be run on that machine. Variations in either length or width by more than 1/16" can cause problems.
4. Paper	Because envelope paper is designed to minimize warp, paper specially manufactured for envelopes presents a definite advantage over other grades of paper. Paper basis weights of 20 and 24 run best on most inserting and sealing machines. Regular wove or vellum finishes are generally preferred, although many inserting machines will also run coated or glazed finishes.
5. Flaps	For a smooth inserting operation, the seal flap on diagonal seam envelopes should be designed with a shoulder. (The shoulder is the distance between the flap score line and start of the flap taper). Flaps cut without a shoulder can create problems on some inserting equipment. Safeguard envelopes are designed with the correct amount of shoulder area to make inserting easy. Side seam envelopes also have a precisely calculated seal flap designed for all inserting equipment Problem areas to be aware of regarding envelope seal flaps and automatic inserting equipment: Curled Seal Flaps – To avoid curling, envelope flaps should be ordered folded down and should be stored properly. Envelopes should not be stored for more than 120 days. Shingled Seal Flaps – Shingling occurs when one flap overlaps another. Pre-addressed envelopes should be checked for shingling before they are fed into the inserting machine.
6. Window Envelopes	When you use envelopes with a window patch, the top edge of the patch must be firmly glued to the body of the envelope. This prevents the enclosures from catching on the patch during the insertion process. Window patches should lie flat without buckling. Windows should not be located closer than ½" from the edge of the envelope for optimum results. Normal size open face window envelopes (no patch) can be run on most inserting equipment. It is recommended that the window be at least ½" from any edge and ½" from the throat of the envelope to obtain the best processing speeds. To assure efficient inserting, it is advisable to test open face window envelopes before making a final decision to use them.
7. Gumming	Mechanical sealing requires seal flap gum that is uniform and adheres quickly and firmly when moistened. To prevent the inserting operation from pulling the envelope apart, the seams must also be securely glued. An inserting machine will jam if there is even the slightest tendency for the seal flap to adhere to the envelope’s back. On many styles of envelopes, the seal flap gum is the first adhesive applied, and it is dried before the envelope goes through the folding and seam gumming process. During the manufacturing of die cut envelopes, for instance, the envelope dies do not go through another drying process, which means that the seam gum is damp when the envelopes are packed into boxes. The compression of the envelopes in the boxes may cause the damp seam gum to remoisten the seal flap gum, which in turn, may cause the seal flap to tack. This chain of events can cause problems during the insertion process. With Safeguard envelopes, adhesive on the envelope is dried prior to packing. The seal flap and seam gum are both applied prior to the drying process, which allows all of the adhesive to dry before the envelopes are packed into boxes. This added measure assures that the envelopes will not stick together and cause problems on inserting equipment.
8. Storage	Envelopes must be properly stored to preserve their optimum running condition. They should be kept in sealed cartons until ready for use, and the carton should be stacked so that all envelopes stand on edge. The storage area should be dry and well ventilated. The length of storage time has a direct impact on the ability of the envelopes to run smoothly through automatic insertion and addressing equipment. The FIFO system – First In, First Out – should be used to achieve optimum performance. Envelopes should not be stored for extended periods of time. The envelope paper will absorb moisture even in sealed cartons, so the longer the envelopes are in storage, the greater the chance that curling will occur.
9. Pre-Processing	If another department handled the envelopes first – for example, for printing or addressing – make sure they are in good running condition prior to inserting. Bent flaps or torn edges can cause problems on all inserting equipment.
10. Preparation	Before placing the envelopes into the hopper, fan both sides of the envelopes. This loosens the envelopes and lets air get in between to separate them, which allows for better feeding into the machine.
11. Trouble Shooting	If the insertion process isn’t right, and the inserting machine operator’s manual doesn’t answer your questions, and you have exhausted machine adjustments, call your Safeguard Customer Service Representative. They can contact manufacturing quality or operations personnel to use their knowledge of envelope and inserting machine specifications to help you find the solution you need to get things rolling again.