Speed up your post

For your world 1 An Post want to provide Contents

you with the best postal An Post Speeding up your post service possible.

We’ve invested heavily over the years in automating our mail processes so that your post can be delivered quickly and efficiently. Address layout 4 OCR (Optical Character Recognition) is well established within An Standard Structure Post and is so called because of its capacity to Optically Recognise Address Block Spacing Characters within address blocks and sort through mail at the Business Reply / Freepost Address Structure phenomenal rate of 40,000 pieces per hour. PO Box Address Structure Suitable Fonts and Sites To achieve maximum sorting rate OCR must be presented with mail which is compatible with its capabilities. Envelope Content & Colours 4 In this comprehensive “Speed up your Post” leaflet you have a handy Content guide to post preparation which will not only ensure that the whole Colours system works more efficiently, but most importantly will get your post there on time. Envelope Specifications 5 Definitions of sizes, weights, formats etc. in this document are not a Letter / Postcard legal definition of a “letter”, “ large envelope”, “packet”, “parcel” or Large Envelope ”postcard”. This guide is to be used to maximise the machinability and OCR (Optical Character Recognition) of your mail to allow for speedier Windows, Labels and Paper Quality 6 and quicker sorting and delivery of your mail. Windows & Labels Window Surface Paper Quality Use of Plastic Covers

Return Addressing, Advertising & Other Insignia 6 Return Address Logos & Advertising Air Mail Postage

Sample Address Layouts 7

2 3 140mm

90mm 20mm Clear Zone Please keep Clear Zones free of text, logo Address layout Envelope specifications Standard Structure Address Block Spacing Letter/Postcard Large Envelope ● Each element of the address (e.g. County, Town, Locality, Address lines should have a minimum spacing of Size Size Street) should appear on a separate line. This facilitates 2mm and maximum spacing of 4mm in between Standard envelopes range from: Standard envelopes range from: our automated system which matches an address element each address line. Minimum Size 90mm x 140mm Minimum Size 160mm x 250mm from our electronic address database. Maximum Size 162mm x 235mm Maximum Size 250mm x 350mm Business Reply / Freepost Address Structure ● The Eircode should appear on the last line of the address. City Addresses 80mm 50mm 120mm Dublin postal districts should appear on the line above the Business Reply or Freepost should appear on the 235mm Return Address Logo Postage Area Eircode. Abbreviations such as D4 or Dub 1 should not be address line above the town and county. used. 162mm County Addresses DL

● Addresses outside of the Dublin postal districts should Outside cities, Business Reply or Freepost should 140mm include the County Name and identifier on the line above appear on the line above the town and county. 90mm the Eircode. The Post Town should appear on the line PO Box Address Structure Paper Grade 0.18mm 5mm above the County. See sample address layouts on page 7. City Addresses Weight Size ● Post Towns are the nearest towns in which mail is A PO Box number should appear above the 75gsm Letter sorted and delivered to the recipient and may be some postal district in Dublin addresses. 110gsm Postcard 104mm (H) x 140mm (L) Item Depth (thickness) distance from the recipients location. If the recipient lives County Addresses 160gsm Postcard 162mm (H) x 250mm (L) 0.18mm Outside cities PO Box should appear on the Large envelopes including contents near a county boundary the Post Town may be in the 18mm neighbouring county from which the recipient resides. (e.g. address line above town & county. Item Depth (thickness) should140m mbe at least 0.18mm in 80mm 50mm 90mm Return Address Logos/Advertising Postage Area if the recipient lives in Ardmore, Co. Waterford, the postal Business Reply or Freepost Standard envelopes including 0.18mm thickness and not exceed 18mm. 90mm address is Ardmore, Youghal, Co. Cork as the mail is sorted When a PO Box number is combined with contents should be at least 0.18mm 5mm Paper Grade/Plastic Clear Zone and delivered from the Youghal Delivery Services Unit.) Business Reply or Freepost it must always in thickness and not exceed 5mm. 20mm Recommended minimum paper weightPlease k eforep Clear Zones free of text, logo appear above Business Reply or Freepost. ● In the case of international addresses, the name of the Plastic envelopes is 75gsm. Transparent, plastic & destination country should appear on the last line of the Suitable Fonts and Sizes Transparent, plastic & shrink wrapped items 0.18mm shrink wrapped items are fine for OCR but shrink address. The recommended address font is Arial black are not permitted for Letters or Postcards. 18mm wrapped items should have a consistent surface ● Addresses should be left justified. Nothing resembling an text on a white background. Other sans serif and plastic wrapping tightly fitted. When over- Height to length ratio address should be printed on the back of an envelope. No fonts such as Gothic, Helvetica or Calibri can labelling plastic or shrink wrapped items, please The length of the envelope should be 1.5 x its height. non address text should appear within the address block. also be used. ensure that the address is printed on a white label. ● Do not use colour, italics, underlining or punctuation Font sizes 11pt, 12pt and 13pt are perfect with a

including commas in the address. pitch value of 10, 11 or 12 (i.e. letters not too close 80mm 50mm 90mm 80mm 50mm 120mm Return Address Logos/Advertising Postage Area Return Address Logo Postage Area ● Printed addresses are recommended, however if the together). address is hand written please use block capitals.

Address Block 2 0mm

20mm Clear Zone Please keep Clear Zones free of text, logos or images PO Box 12345 Postage Paid Dublin 1 Baile Átha Cliath Postas Íoctha Ceadúnas Envelope content and colours L 0000

Content Preferred colour: When posting keys, coins, metal objects or thick card it is Mr A Sample Company best to use jiffy or padded envelopes. Staples, metal Suitable colour: 80mm 50mm 90mm Newtown Road Return Address Logos/Advertising Postage Area or plastic clips should not be used on the envelope itself. Wexford Unsuitable colour: Certain levels of phosphor and/or metal in the outer cover 20mm Clear Zone of mail items can result in the rejection of the mail items Please keep Clear Zones free of text, logos or images

Perfect Fit Postage Paid Baile Átha Cliath from the automated system. Please contact the Customer Postas Íoctha Ceadúnas PO Box 12345 L 0000 Service at 01 705 7600 for technical advice. Dublin 1 Check that contents are not loose in the envelope, otherwise the address can disappear The clear zone at the bottom of the front and back Colours PO Box 12345 of the envelope should be the same white or pastel Postage Paid from the window.Dublin 1 Baile Átha Cliath Postas Íoctha Ceadúnas L White and pastel coloured envelopes provide the best 0000 colour. This avoids colour contrast between the background for OCR recognition. Dark backgrounds such front and back which can sometimes lead to false as red, yellow, orange, blue or green are unsuitable and doubles detection. Mr A Ryan should not be used. Town Road Wexford Ensure all envelopes are sealed without excess glue which can cause envelopes to stick together.

4 Postage Paid Baile Átha Cliath 5 Postas Íoctha Ceadúnas PO Box 12345 L 0000 Dublin 1

PO Box 12345 Postage Paid Dublin 1 Baile Átha Cliath Postas Íoctha Ceadúnas L Mr A Ryan 0000 Smith and Company Town Road Wexford Mr A Simon Co Wexford

Postage Paid Baile Átha Cliath Postas Íoctha Ceadúnas PO Box 12345 L 0000 Dublin 1

Mr A Simon Co Wexford Windows, labels and paper quality Sample address layouts

Windows and Labels Dublin Postal District address County Dublin or Provincial address Sample layout Sample layout Ensure the window or label is positioned within the address

block & text is left aligned. If undelivered return to: If undelivered return to: Murphy and Sons Place Murphy and Sons Place PO Box 12345 528 Dame Street 528 Dame Street Dublin 1 Stamp  Stamp  Postage Paid Baile Átha Cliath Dublin 2 Dublin 2 Label sizes min 32mm x 70mm, max 50mm x 120mm Postas Íoctha here here Ceadúnas L 000 D02 6966 D02 6966 Make sure that only the address appears in the window/label. Banking Headquarters Text should not be closer than 15mm from the left edge of the Corporate Centre Mr A Ryan Mr D Ryan Blackrock Smith and Company 5 Montclare window/label and not closer than 5mm from the top, bottom & Co Dublin D08 DX47 252 Parnell Street Claremont Road right hand side of the window/label. Dublin 1 Killiney D01 F5P2 Co Dublin Ensure the address (and label if using one) is straight. The A96 TY23 maximum tolerance for text skew is +/- 5° from the horizontal. Window Surface

PO Box12345 Window surface should be shiny rather than matt with no Professional Business Ltd. HA C Dublin 1 T L A I Dock Road, Dublin 5 E A PO Box 12345 L T

I Í H P

Dublin 1 A 00.00.00 O O B C S Postage000 Paid T Baile ÁthaT Cliath Business Reply Freepost A Postas Íoctha H S 00000000CeadúnasA wrinkles. Contrast ratio should be >50% L 000 Sample layout Sample layout ● Window opacity <25% Banking Headquarters Banking Headquarters Corporate Centre ● Corporate Centre Blackrock Window transparency >75% Blackrock Co Dublin Postage will be paid No Postage Stamp necessary Postage will be paid No Postage Stamp necessary Co Dublin D08 DX47 by Licensee if posted in the Republic of Ireland by Licensee if posted in the Republic of Ireland Paper Quality D08 DX47 Ensure your paper quality is not so poor that letter text is Mr A Ryan visible through either the envelope or address area. Paper License DU0000 Smith and Company PO Box12345 Professional Business Ltd. HA Dublin 1 T CL A I specifications for small and large envelopes are outlined E A Dock Road, Dublin 5 L T Smith and Company

I Í H P A 00.00.00 O O 252 Parnell Street

B S 000 C T T A H separately under the envelope specifications section. The S 00000000 A Business Reply Freepost Banking Headquarters Dundalk Corporate Centre Dublin 1 gloss levels on the paper should not be too high to prevent Blackrock Co Louth Co Dublin D01 F5P2 the absorption of ink used for ID tag printing during the D08 DX47 A91 H381 automation process.

Use of plastic covers The use of plastic covers on letters / postcards is prohibited. PO Box However in the case of large envelopes customers who wish to Sample layout

print addresses directly onto plastic should do so on a white If undelivered return to: Murphy and Sons Place background ensuring the plastic is tightly wrapped around 528 Dame Street Stamp  Dublin 2 here each item. D02 6966

Smith and Company PO Box 1234 Dublin 1 Return addressing, advertising D01 F5P2 and other insignia

PostagePaid PO Box 12345 BaileÁthaCliath Postas Íoctha Dublin 1 LOGO Ceadúnas L 0000 PostagePaid PO Box 12345 BaileÁthaCliath Postas Íoctha Dublin 1 LOGO Ceadúnas L 0000 PO Box business reply PO Box Freepost Sample layout Sample layout

Postage will be paid No Postage Stamp necessary Postage will be paid No Postage Stamp necessary by Licensee if posted in the Republic of Ireland by Licensee if posted in the Republic of Ireland Return Address Mr Kris Klienbaum Postage 4Maximillain Strasse Return address should appear Munich 91112 Postage should go here Germany here, Font size 8 or smaller. Air Mail Mr Kris Klienbaum License DU0000 4Maximillain Strasse Air Mail labels should Smith and Company Munich 91112 Smith and Company Logos & Advertising appear to the left of the PO Box 1234 Germany PO Box 1234 Place logos or advertising here. postage area. Business Reply Freepost Dundalk Dundalk Co Louth Co Louth A91 H381 A91 H381 Back of large Envelope: logos and advertising can appear on the back of the envelope.

6 7

Postagewill be paid Return address here by Licensee No Postage Place Stamp stamp Required here

MrASample MrASample Company Company Western Road PO Box12345 PO Box1234 Dublin 1 Freepost County Cork

Postagewill be paid Return address here by Licensee No Postage Place Stamp stamp Required here

MrASample MrASample Company Company Western Road PO Box12345 PO Box1234 Dublin 1 Freepost County Cork For further details with regard to speeding up your post:

Visit: anpost.ie

Call Customer Services: 01 705 7600

Email: [email protected]

Write to: An Post, Customer Services, GPO, O’Connell Street Lower Freepost, Dublin 1, D01 F5P2

Call into: your local Post Office and ask for details.

xxxxx

For your world 8