Postal sorting equipment and delivery speed have been a subject of conversation during the recent election and holidays. However, did you know one of the issues that can disrupt mail processing is static? Mailer wraps are known to build up electrostatic discharge. This was first observed with magazines at a post office where the charge became so great that it discharge and damaged electronic sorting equipment. Since that time, the United States Postal Service required all mailer wraps to undergo performance testing. This test simulates the operation of mail sorting machinery, while measuring the magnitude of the electrical field. Below a certain voltage threshold, the discharge from the mailer wraps is not harmful, and therefore low-voltages during the test indicate that sorting machines can safely handle packages wrapped in this material.
