Postal operators and industry suppliers were recognised for innovation, technology andenvironmental achievements, among others, at this year’s Postal Technology International Awards
held at the Post-Expo in Stuttgart this week.The winner of Transport/Logistics Innovation award was Siemens with the new Semi-Automatic TruckUnloading Device that enables fast and gentle parcel unloading. It offers unique andhigh-performance technology which is the first to be implemented to the market.
Siemens was also honoured with the Automation Technology of the Year award for its CFC 3004.This speeds up work at mail sorting centres by pre-processing regular letters and large format mailwith sizes up to C4. It has a modular design, so customers can choose add-ons that best meet theirneeds.
Finnish postal operator Itella was recognised for its Environmental Achievement for supportingits customers to minimise the carbon dioxide footprint of the entire value chain. “Environmentallyfriendly is a term not to be used lightly,” said Hanna Kaustia, Itella’s environment and corporateresponsibility director. “Our environmental programme concentrates on minimising the effect ouroperations have on the climate and reducing the emissions of our customers”.
The Danish postal operator Post Danmark was honoured with Delivery Innovation of the Year awardfor its new digital stamp offering. Launched in April 2011, the new technology enables Danishcitizens to send a text message via their mobile phones to Post Danmark, and then a few minuteslater they receive a text message back that contains a unique nine–digit code. The customer writesthe code on the corner of a blank envelope instead of a stamp. Post Danmark is the first postalorganisation to introduce this service.
“The digital stamp is an extremely easy-to-use service that is available 24 hours a day,” saidEva Malene Hartmann, head of Post Danmark, private customers. “The postage is billed on thecustomer’s mobile phone. Post Danmark can verify the postage via the nine-digit code and protectour revenue. The unique part for our customers is that the service is independent of time of theday and location – customers can get a stamp anytime and anywhere, as long as you have a mobilephone connection.”
Swiss Post became the Service Provider of the Year. The postal operator has seen a rise inearnings and volumes despite the difficult economic conditions. In 2010, the company generated agroup profit of CHF910 million equalling an increase of around 25 per cent over the previousyear.
The Dutch supplier of parcel sorting systems, Vanderlande Industries, won the Supplier of theYear Award 2011. The company is active in the markets for baggage handling at airports, automatedlogistics processes in distribution centres and sorting solutions in parcel and postal facilities.It implements material handling systems of all sizes, ranging from local sorting depots, airportsand distribution centres to the world’s largest facilities.
