# Presentation: 056165

## DESIGN GUIDELINES

** **
**DESIGN GUIDELINES**
**for the Automation-Compatibility of**
**FLAT-SIZE MAIL**** **

**Joyce McGarvy & George Hurst**
**Washington DC, February 6, 2003**

##                       General Mailpiece Guidelines

**Identify Flats Guidelines for Automation-Compatibility**
**Reduce Damage While Promoting Automation Awareness**
**Use Language that is Easy to Understand and Follow**
**Acknowledge Current Industry Capabilities & Customer Needs - Production Equipment / Cost / Creativity**
**Do **_**NOT**_** Create Additional Mailing Requirements**

##                           MTAC Sub-Committee

**Co-Chairs:  Joyce McGarvy & George Hurst**
**Valassis**
**Time, Inc**
**AARP Publications**
**Brown Printing**
**Crain Communications**
**Time Customer Service**
**RR Donnelley**
**Quebecor ****World Logistics**
**Scholastic, Inc.**
**Publisher’s Clearing House**

**G&J USA Publishing**
**Quad/Graphics**
**Advance Magazine Group**
**America Online**
**PostCom**
**Computerworld**
**Newsweek, Inc**
**L.L. Bean**
**Our Sunday Visitor, Inc.**

**Missing Representation ?**

##                    6 Main Areas Being Reviewed

**1.  General Mailpiece Structure **
**	****	****Thickness****	****	**(.04” - .5”)
**	****	****Flexibility****	****	**(Stiffness)
**2.  Envelope Recommendations**
**	****	****Thickness****	****	**(.5” maximum)
**	****	****Length****	****	**(14-1/2” max)	**Selvage****	****	**(1/2” Overhang, Loose)	**Stiffness****	****	**(No Cardboard Inserts, Irregular Thickness)
**3.  Bound, Unbound, Folded Pieces**
**	****	****Unfolded Thickness**
**	****	****Loose Folds and Center Bowing**
**	****	****Uneven Inserts**
**	****	****Paper Sleeves**
**	****	****Blow In Cards**

##                    6 Main Areas Being Reviewed

**                   ****6 Main Areas Being Reviewed**
**4.  Saddle Stitching**
**	****	****Three Staples unless Digest Sized or Very Light Wt**
**	****	****5/8**** Inch Staple vs 1⁄2 Inch Staple**
**	****	****Tightly Crimped Stitches, Avoid Break Through**
**	****	****Avoid Rolling or Rounded Stitches**
**	****	****Consider Perfect Binding When 9+ Oz or 200 Pages**
**	****	****Cover Strength Test, Lift by Cover Only, Check Damage**
**5.  Cover Material**
**	****	****Type, Age, Resilience****	**(Resistance to Tearing, High Gloss)
**	****	****Basis Weight****	**                      **	**(50 Lbs – 80 Lbs, Particularly Over 6 Oz)
**	****Heavier Than Contents****	**(On Other Than Thin Pieces)
**	****Cover Grain****	****	****	**(Perpendicular To Backbone)
**	****Gatefold Covers**	                	(Tabbed)
**	****Weakened Spines** 	       	(Excessive Compression-Whitening)

##                    6 Main Areas Being Reviewed

**                   ****6 Main Areas Being Reviewed**
**5.  Cover Material (continued)**
**	****	****Cover Friction ****	****	****	**(Cover Sliding Against Body)
**	****Aqueous Lacquer / UV Coating****  ****	**(Avoid High Gloss On Cover)
**	****Lacquer Vs. Perfect Bound**    		(Consider - Over 6 Oz)
**	****Bleed Through**			(Avoid)
**	****Heavy Pieces / Low Friction****  **  	(Consider Tabs)
**6.  Polywrap Mailpieces**
**	****	****Current Standards****	****	****	**(Okay, But Often Unmet)**	****Low Blocking / High Secant Modulus****	****Shrink Wrap Film****	****	****	**(Not Meeting Standards)**	****Good Seals****	****	****	**(On Seams)**	****Glue Outside Labels****	****	****	**(Avoid Excessive)**	****Selvage****	****	****	**(1 1⁄2”)**	****Non-address Seams****	****	****	**(Position On Opposite Side)**	****Remelted Seams****	****	****	**(Avoid Pieces Sticking Together)

##               Timeline/Next Steps

**Draft Guidelines Distributed**
**Written Comments Received**
**e-Mail Address Established****                                                                            ****	****	****“flatsize@email.usps.gov”**
**One Teleconference, One Meeting**
**Next Meeting Scheduled February 13****th**
**Targeted Completion, May 2003?**