PIA Releases Study of Digital Printing and Survivability in the Mail Stream

PITTSBURGH—February 18, 2009—Printing Industries of America today announces that is has posted the full version of its recent Digital Printing Council research study, "Digital Printing and Survivability in the U.S. Postal System", at http://www.printing.org/postalsystemstudy.

The study, conducted in July and August of 2008 and exclusively available to Printing Industries' Digital Printing Council members upon release, is now available as a viewable download for anyone to access.

Conducted by Joe Marin, Sr. Analyst, Digital Technologies for Printing Industries of America, the study shows how well a digitally-produced postcard would survive throughout a variety of mailing locations and distances in the United States Postal System. The study also reveals how the same postcard produced using lithography would fair, and where most marking on the surface of the postcard tends to occur. Results show that both the press used, as well as the postal center through which the piece was processed, significantly affected the amount of scuffing.

Participating manufacturers included Canon, HP, Kodak, Océ, and Xerox.

"Demand has proven that there's tremendous interest in information on how direct mail produced using digital printing technologies performs in USPS postal conditions. We're happy to be able to make this useful data available," says Julie Shaffer, Vice President, Digital Technologies.

About Printing Industries of America:
Printing Industries of America is the world's largest graphic arts trade association, representing an industry with more than one million employees. It serves the interests of more than 10,000 member companies. Together with its nationwide affiliate network, Printing Industries delivers products and services that enhance the growth, efficiency, and profitability of its members and the graphic communications industry through advocacy, education, research, and technical information.