MESSERÜCKBLICK 2009

The 13th annual Post Expo exhibition and conference, held on 29, 30 September and 1 October 2009 in Hannover saw a host of new products and solutions launched, and many new contracts announced. The show was attended by visitors from around the world, including from Botswana, France, Brazil, Hong Kong, Malaysia and South Africa.

Held alongside the exhibition, the conference saw presentations from leading industry experts, providing their valuable insight into some of the most important issues within the industry. Topics covered included transport and logistics, mobile technology solutions, efficiency and optimisation, automation, the environment, retail and customer solutions, and the economy.

Left: Edouard Dayan speaking at the Chief Executive Forum. Courtesy of the UPU/Axel Heimken.

A highlight for many was the World Postal Business Forum, which was held in association with the Universal Postal Union (UPU). Edouard Dayan, director general of the UPU, said: "Post Expo 2009 was well organised and an event the UPU looks forward to attending annually. This was the ninth year we organised the World Postal Business Forum in association with Post Expo, and our conference attracted some of the world's top CEOs, many other high-level speakers and a large audience that was very involved in the issues raised. It was a great opportunity for the UPU to share some of the most pressing issues facing the postal sector today, and showcase its own technology and work in areas, such as quality of service, e-services and climate change. The dialogue and exchanges has certainly helped us define some of the issues we should integrate into our next world postal strategy."

With over 180 exhibitors, the event showcased a great collection of the latest solutions and services available in the industry. Here are some of the highlights:

Handheld
Casio Europe revealed the new IT-800 industrial PDA, which offers 3.5G wireless WAN capability, providing a high-speed data connection, as well as voice communication for telephone functionality. This makes the remote access and downloads of information from an office server very easy and also enables field workers to communicate rapidly with the management department without using a mobile phone. IT-800 can gather information by scanning 1D or 2D barcodes, take images with the PDA’s built in digital camera, read Smart Cards and transfer the GPS location information. The new PDA also comes with numerous security features such as a login verification system that uses the contactless Smart Card reader.

Last mile
Intelligent last-mile locker solutions were on show from LockTec. The new ServiceBox with its attractive design received positive feedback from visitors. This solution can be used for different delivery services. Therefore not only urgent parcels, goods and tools can be delivered to the ServiceBox, but also several services like laundry cleaning or repairs can be handled via the system.

White light
Camera and scanners often have trouble distinguishing red codes and text on white backgrounds, and black codes and text on green backgrounds. This problem has now been alleviated with Vitronic’s VICAM-ssi2 camera scanner, which is now available with white LED illumination, enabling it to read a wider range of parcel labels. Used to coordinate sorters in automated handling systems, VICAM-ssi2 operates above powered conveyors and captures high-resolution images of parcel labels, which it interprets using a decoder attachment or standalone computer. The system reads barcodes and 2D codes, even behind reflective packaging. It also identifies text and human written information using OCR. The VICAM-ssi2 is now equipped with an advanced sensor, which improves the camera’s performance by increasing its sensitivity to light enabling the unit to take high quality pictures above conveyors running at speeds of up to 4.5m/s.

According to Malcolm Smith, UK sales manager at Vitronic: “VICAM-ssi2 is fast, efficient and identifies nearly 100 percent of codes correctly, allowing users to sort parcels automatically at high speed.”

Direct mail handling the easy way
Schur exhibited its new A1083 collator, a high-speed, high-volume machine that is tailor-made for postal services and distribution centres that deal with door-to-door delivery of direct mail, promotional prints, magazines and other printed material, regardless of whether it is unaddressed or targeted to a specific recipient. The new system has a mechanical speed of 50,000 copies per hour and can be equipped with up to 60 hoppers. Its main use is to centralise and automate the labour-intensive routines used in the preparation of printed media for distribution. Schur also showed a live demonstration of its new box loading system for automatic loading of strapped bundles into a foldable large container or onto a EUR pallet for safe transportation. The system offers optimum flexibility by allowing a wide variety of bundle sizes and product formats to be loaded into the same container and eliminates all heavy lifting. Sixteen of these systems are currently being installed at the distribution centre for France Routage in Paris.

Flexibility
ByBox demonstrated its latest innovation, The Box Office, which provides the functionality of a Post Office in a modular automated solution. This flexible solution includes: a PO box column, where customers can receive their mail; a return door column for customers to deposit mail; a smart payment kiosk to manage all Box Office services and for the printing of postage labels and stamps; a vending column where customers can purchase retail items; an ExpressCube weighing and volumising unit; and a delivery column where items are delivered for collection.

Experience
Postea, a technology incubator for the postal, mailing and logistics industry, launched its family of companies and next generation products. Postea may be a new name in the postal and mailing industry but its team of executives is not. The team comes from IGI Innovations Group, Proiam and Singapore Post. As a result, the company has brought together some of the most experienced and influential leaders to help create the next generation of postal products and services. Postea invests in technologies and companies that enable operators to better compete in the deregulated postal market and its portfolio includes emerging and established companies – all of which are forward thinking and innovative.

Energy-saving sorting
Siemens Mobility announced that it has received an order from Swedish Mail (Posten) for a its new energy-saving flats sorting machine. The Open Mail System (OMS) is capable of processing up to 50,000 items of mail per hour, making it the fastest system in the world. The advantages for Posten lie in the higher productivity, lower energy consumption and more careful handling of items of mail. The new flats sorting machine is scheduled to go into operation in October 2010. The purchase contract also contains an option for further sorting machines. The Open Mail Handling System represents a new generation of machines for sorting flats. The integration of new automation technology into a multi-function system makes the new sorting machine the fastest in the world. It also masters a very broad spectrum of envelope materials. The passage of items of mail through the machines is particularly gentle, thus minimising damage. “The Swedish Mail is getting the fastest sorting system for flats currently available on the market. What’s more, energy consumption has been cut by as much as 20 percent in comparison with the previous machines,” said Göran Persson, head of the industry sector at Siemens AB Sweden.

Versatile robot
Cimcorp showed how MultiPick, a versatile robotic solution, can help postal operators provide fast and reliable deliveries at a competitive cost. The MultiPick system is ideally suited to tray handling in mail processing and sorting centres, giving added value to the sorting process by, for example, acting as buffer storage in mail processing. In the sorting centre the robot sorts mail trays into stacks according to destination. When all the trays for a particular destination have arrived at the MultiPick storage, they are automatically loaded onto a transport unit for transfer to the delivery vehicle. Thanks to this effective stack handling, trays can be sequenced and dispatched without delay.

Digital maps
GfK GeoMarketing announced the release of an expanded and updated digital map edition for Asia, with all its maps being revised to reflect the latest status of the 48 countries in the region. The edition, which comprises over 600 maps, also contains new and even more detailed regional administrative and postal units. Regions and map elements are labelled with international place-name attributions and, in many cases, the official local names and associated script. These digital maps can serve as the foundation for the geographic analysis of data in specialised applications such as market analysis, sales planning and clarifying strategic decisions.

Paperless post
Zumbox has created a web-based platform for the delivery of paperless mail, making it the world’s first and only paperless postal system. For every US street address the company has created a corresponding digital mailbox – a Zumbox – enabling mail and other content to be sent as digital files and received online with no paper, printing, postage or scanning. It represents a more cost-effective and environmentally responsible way to send postal mail. Compared with standard email it is also secure, data-rich and spam-free. As a marketing channel Zumbox offers precise geo-targeting and analytics capabilities, while empowering consumers with greater control and convenience. Zumbox is a closed system with bank-level security and complies with PCI, HIPAA and BITS security standards.

Address recognition
In addition to the latest version of its mCorrection address recognition solution, Syslore presented several innovations designed to deliver cost savings and business benefits to postal operators. New solutions included Quality Tool, a web-based monitoring and measuring tool for address recognition and mail sorting processes, and Address and Recipient Learning System, a breakthrough solution creating a major improvement in postal operators’ reading and coding processes by leveraging postal address databases with an intelligent self-learning technology.

Crisplant sold to Beumer Group
Representatives on the Crisplant stand were delighted that Melrose Plc had recently signed a contract to sell all the shares and activities of Crisplant AS to Beumer Germany. This transaction is in line with the long-term strategy of the Beumer Group to develop business sustainably and to expand its position as quality leader in the market. In 2008 the Beumer Group achieved orders worth a total of approximately Euro 260 millions with 1,000 employees; Crisplant generated Euro150 million with 950 employees. Crisplant also presented its industry-leading, energy-efficient system for high-speed sorting. The LS-4000 tilt-tray sortation system, with the linear synchronous motor (LSM) technology, reduces power consumption and the high-speed sorter cuts energy consumption by up to 75 percent compared with conventional technology.

Flat cancelling and franking
Sohns Maschinenbau is a manufacturer of innovative mail handling machines. The company’s product range covers simple cancelling machines up to highly efficient mail sorters and automation systems. One of the company’s latest developments, the Flat Cancelling & Franking Machine FCFM is a special unit in the company’s series of mail sorter modules. It has an automatic feeder for items up to 30mm and a manual input for mail up to 50mm. It can handle weights up to 5kg. Depending on the machine layout, a single operator can process more than 8,000 mailpieces per hour.

Modern retail techniques
Transend, a specialist international postal group that has worked in over 60 countries worldwide, used the Expo to launch PostLink International, its postal specific retail point of sale/counter automation system. PostLink International is an affordable, modular solution designed to be rapidly deployed, streamline processes, reduce costs, enhance customer service and be easily configured to take advantage of new opportunities. PostLink has been in operation in the postal world for more than 15 years, is advanced and robust and provides a one-stop point-of-sale solution for all services including postal assessment, merchandise sales, banking, financial services and bill payments on-line and in real time. Transend, a division of New Zealand Post is able to effectively implement and deploy PostLink through its highly experienced postal professionals and continues to support and develop PostLink throughout the postal world.

High-performance sorting
On display at the Böwe Bell + Howell stand was the Criterion APEX letter sorter, which has been designed with the latest technology to increase productivity at up to 70,000 pieces per hour, process a wider variety of mail and ensure greater flexibility to suit changing needs. The APEX processes the full spectrum of business and collection mail, whether it is in uniform batches or mixed with various types and sizes. In addition the new BBH controlled gap feeder features constant gap control, constant pressure and pickup speed to ensure the highest throughput, keeping the processing time of every job to a minimum. The optional BBH Doubles Detector helps to maintain the integrity of mail operations, as do a metal detector, height detector, indicia detector and thickness detector.

Camera-based reading
Operators in the fields of material flow, parcel logistics, warehousing and mail order have a growing need to optimise their logistic processes. A major method for achieving this is through automated data collection relating to products, parcels and customers. This process also includes identifying addresses (OCR), barcodes, 2D codes and customer-specific codes, as well as the online measurement of volume and weight. One company exhibiting equipment to help on all these areas was Vitronic, which had new products for three-dimension pallet measuring (Vipac 3D), a handheld camera system for OCR and code reading (Vipac R), and what it claims to be the smallest, lightest and most energy-efficient line-scan camera available (Vicam ssi2). Also announced was the web-based Vipac monitoring system for process analysis and querying of system information for all Vipac systems.

Advanced RFID
A world-leading supplier of solutions for optimising postal logistics for more than 30 years, Lyngsoe Systems offered demonstrations of various RFID systems designed to help overcome logistics and operational challenges. Among these was the LS3400 RFID Truck Reader, which can be mounted in trucks for automatic registration of RFID tag-mounted load bearers. This enables unique identification of which load bearers are delivered to or collected from each customer, thus providing full visibility of each load bearer’s location. Also shown was the LS1123 multimode RFID tag, an advanced tag that can be configured to solve almost any RFID challenge. A noteworthy feature is its long battery life of approximately five years.

Mail-on-demand
Esker, a leader in document automation solutions, announced that Singapore Post has chosen to integrate the company’s FlyDoc technology to develop its own service called ClickPost. This new partnership reinforces Esker’s strategy to expand its mail-on-demand technology worldwide. The ClickPost service offering enables users to send mail on demand, direct from their computers or enterprise applications. It relieves users from manual processes including printing, folding, stamping and dropping off to the postal service, and makes sending postal mail as easy as sending email. Singapore Post’s plans for the new service include launching to enterprises, then branching out to small and medium-sized businesses and finally to individual consumers.

Self-service post office
Arousing great interest was the Self Post Locker from TRECO, an electronic self service post office that completes the challenge of first and last mile logistics. When customers have purchased a stamp for a letter they can drop it off in the letterbox built into the system. A separate letterbox for registered letters or Express mail is an option that can easily be added. The locker can also function as a traditional PO box, only with much less administration. As the locks of the boxes are controlled electronically, there is no need for keys, which can easily become lost; Customers still have a unique PO box number, but the actual box containing the mail may be different from day-to-day depending on the volume of mail for received. Thus it is also possible to receive parcels in the box and pay for parcels where COD or customs fees apply.

Innovative mailing solutions
Pitney Bowes unveiled powerful and innovative mailing solutions, showcasing its latest products for the creation, sorting, weighing, distribution and tracking of mail in the corporate, small business and retail postal environments. One of the main products was the MultiSort sorting system, which helps sort letters, flats and irregular mailpieces by using a combination of a manual and an automated process. MultiSort is designed to process 500 to 1,000 mailpieces per day, so is ideal for private post companies, courier services and corporate mailrooms looking to reduce manual processes. It handles incoming as well as outgoing mail. Other products being exhibited included the Mail Distribution Manager Software Suite; VariSort; the Olympus FlexTier Stacker Section; an inline weighing solution for the Olympus product line; and the Infinity high-speed metering solution.

Hybrid mail
Several new additions to its ePOST suite of hybrid mail solutions were presented by Gemadec. Delivery of normal printed letters can now be now combined with delivery by SMS, MMS, email and fax, and senders and receivers may select their preferred path. The web portal WEBePOST has numerous new functions to create or upload letters to a website, and PCePOST makes collection of enterprise mail easier than ever. Gemadec also introduced an invoicing system designed for developing countries, as well as a brand-new remote hosting concept.

Vital statistics
In addition to indulging in the most amazing coffee, visitors to the Vanderlande Industries stand could experience the company’s new Vital software suite, which offers a flexible, real-time solution for operational management, both on an everyday basis and at the planning and strategic level. The Vital.DS (Destination Server) module offers a flexible, modular solution for parcel and postal sorting systems from small to large. It covers the whole range of physical handling functions and can be integrated seamlessly between the low-level control systems and the host information system. Its main function is to support the routeing, sorting and destination planning for the entire sortation system.

The Vital.BPI (Business Process Intelligence) module makes it easy to access integrated management information on system performance in overview form. It collects a wide range of data from the parcel and postal handling system and makes it available for reporting in a customisable form. Key performance indicators are presented as required, showing faults and errors as well as trends in system performance and workload. At the daily maintenance level, Vital.BPI enables effective corrective action by focusing on the main issues, instead of following a time-consuming ad hoc approach. The integrated Vital.SCADA visualisation module gives managers and shift supervisors at-a-glance system status and progress information, enabling them to take timely decisions for workload and operator planning. Process visualisation offers a graphical interaction between system and supervisors, showing current equipment status and system behaviour.

Curvaceous
Interroll exhibited its new Interroll Belt Curve which provides essential security, and is extremely reliable and easy to operate. The Type 4608 continues the company’s series of proven belt curves that have been successfully implemented worldwide. Highlights are its space-saving, well-considered design, exceptionally quick belt change without the necessity of removing the motor, and minimal noise emission. In addition Interroll Automation presented the Interroll Crossbelt Sorter with its robust mechanical design, which is seeing deployment in many postal services worldwide.

Vertical lift
Nerak, world-leading specialist in vertical product lifting, introduces the new PH type console lift. A horizontal belt or roller conveyor on a wheel-guided central carrying structure serves multiple levels in warehouses, manufacturing plants, sorting centres and anywhere products have to be transported between different levels. A servo-drive and precise control enable high vertical speed and ensure high capacity in a very small space requirement. Protective covering can be attached direct to the support structure, avoiding the need for expensive and space-consuming safety fences.

A breath of fresh air
Swiss Post, partnering with Oxygen, announced that it is launching the world’s largest existing ecological fleet for postal service. The Post is doubling of its fleet of 250 two-wheel electric scooters only 12 months after they first entered service. These 250 new scooters were delivered by Oxygen to Swiss Post in September by Oxygen, Europe’s leading company for the development and production of electric vehicles. The Swiss managers were not only convinced by the great environmental benefits of electric vehicles for the environment, but also by their exceptional technological capabilities. Oxygen’s electric CargoScooter is a zero-emission vehicle supplied with lithium-ion batteries and designed for professional use with a range up to 120km. Equipped with the same technological and safety devices of a luxury car, the scooter is easy-to-use and reliable. Recharging is via an ordinary an electrical socket, which guarantees unequalled cost-saving.

Machine vision
Ruler E – a complete new generation of Ruler – was demonstrated on the Sick stand. With an ultra-fast gigabit Ethernet interface it is more than four times faster and has three times higher resolution than the previous generation. Ruler E is an ideal solution for demanding 3D production line applications and is designed to measure any size and shape. Ruler E is intended for tough environments and contains a laser and image sensor assembled in fixed positions. It is calibrated before delivery to give high-quality 3D data. Also being shown was the Inspector, an intelligent vision solution in an easy-to-use sensor package. It inspects part details such as contour, contrast and grayscale areas at any position or rotation of the part. It is ideal for label inspection, handling multi-inspections such as date code presence and logo identification simultaneously. The Inspector is also most useful for checking wheels on sorting systems, ensuring that they are present, round and at the correct diameter for the equipment to perform correctly.

Postal activity monitoring
Partners CODE Plus and Systar announced the launch of STARplus, a postal activity monitoring solution that combines Systar’s proven Business Activity Monitoring (BAM) platform and best practices along with CODEplus two decades of experience in postal operations and expertise in developing technologies for postal logistics, all within a single product. Advanced, industry-specific BAM solutions, such as STARplus, use operational, financial and other key indicators to identify what drives value in the respective sector and provide the facts necessary to make informed decisions. STARplus is specially designed to provide the real-time monitoring and analyses of postal processes and workflows that enable stakeholders to anticipate risks, improve efficiency and uncover revenue opportunities. It gathers data from across postal technologies and silos and transforms it into actionable information in order to reduce costs and improve operational performance.

Automation
The latest OCR and video-coding technologies were shown by Prime Vision, leading with the introduction of ParcelVision 3.0, a highly flexible platform for parcel automation. Other new developments are centralised and/or web-based video-coding solutions, 24-hour worldwide support through the company’s LiveLink concept and guaranteed read-rates. Also demonstrated was the company’s OCRlite using different cameras, as well as the word recogniser, which automatically reads handwriting.

Mobile computers
Left: The CN4e courtesy of Intermec Technologies

New from Intermec were two members of the CN family of advanced mobile computers, the CN4, CN4e and CN50. They have been designed to enable enterprises to process more transactions and use applications with higher data-exchange requirements, thereby helping to improve productivity and efficiency. They are compact, lightweight, rugged and packed with a range of advanced features including 3.5G or 3.75G WAN radios, colour cameras, enhanced mobile document imaging (eMDI), area imager and integrated GPS.

Flexible solutions
DX Business Direct continued to demonstrate that it is a leading provider of flexible first- and last-mile solutions. On display were its latest intelligent locker systems, representing an investment of over £500,000 in ParcelXchange. The new modular design provides a flexible solution that can grow and adapt to business needs, enabling enhanced delivery options and improved success rates by giving customers access to an alternative secure collection and delivery point for their mail and parcels – which they can access at a time convenient to them.

Comments from exhibitors, speakers and visitors:

“We have exhibited at Post Expo since 2005, and 2009 was the best event so far. We signed a significant contract there, had meetings with existing partners and also got interesting new prospects, so we are very happy with the results. We have already booked a space for Post Expo 2010 in Copenhagen.”
Timo Heikkinen, marketing manager, Syslore – exhibitor

“The show was a wonderful opportunity to meet up with postal experts from all over the world. As we have moderate experience in the postal sector, it was a great chance to make our company, as well as our yard management system, known to the wider public. We hope that as a result we will gain many new clients. This year was our first time participating and it will definitely not be our last!”
Dr.-Ing. Eva Savelsberg, head of intermodal solutions, Inform – exhibitor

“Post Expo was an excellent event to allow us to introduce our products to the postal, courier and fleet markets. We did not meet a huge number of people but those we did meet were of high calibre and real decision-makers. We are looking forward to receiving a great deal of business as a result of Post Expo.”
Michael Fulton, global key account manager, e-max ev scooters – exhibitor

“Post Expo is a great platform for us to meet possible distributors who want to represent and market our product range in countries we are not currently present in. Another aim was to demonstrate a new and innovative machine for customers in the postal sector and to gain their opinions and feedback. In general we had a number of selective and profitable discussions.”
Reinhard Haas, sales director, ATB Automatentechnik Baumann – exhibitor

“This year Post Expo attracted a number of high-level visitors from postal organisations and helped us to promote products, such as the Cross Belt Sorter, Belt Curve and Zero Pressure Accumulation Roller Conveyors, to systems integrators and end-users.”
Christian Spiess, global key account manager, Interroll – exhibitor

“Post Expo is an inescapable meeting point for all the main actors in the postal industry. It provides us with a global outline of the different techniques currently used in the sector and a vision of what will be used in the postal world tomorrow.”
Gurwann Le Fouler, key account manager, Peugeot Motorcycles – exhibitor

“Post Expo was a perfect opportunity for us to demonstrate our commitment to the postal and parcel markets. It also provided us with an excellent forum to meet with key decision makers and discuss future projects. In addition, as the show was located in a significant postal/parcel market, it added to the value of our participation.”
Charles Jondal, vice president, global accounts, Datamax-O’Neil – exhibitor

“On behalf of Francotyp-Postalia I would like to say that we were very satisfied with Post Expo. We made plenty of valuable contacts and are looking forward to exhibiting again at next year’s show in Copenhagen.”
Ludger Bornemann, product manager, Francotyp-Postalia – exhibitor

“Post Expo 2009 enabled Synaxio to meet new clients and as a result gain new partners. Without the event, we would never have been able to meet so many people in such a short time. Post Expo enabled us to share with people in the industry our postal market vision and to present our ideas to everyone. During the event, we met with many innovative companies – the next step for us now is to work together to bring new solutions to the postal market.”
Fabien Lerays, business analyst, Synaxio – exhibitor

“Post Expo 2009 was a good exhibition for us as we had the opportunity to show for the first time our new box loading system to the postal industry. We have many interesting leads to follow up for the machine and also many interesting leads for our direct mail handling concept. Tuesday was the best day for us with visitors from all over the globe. Wednesday was good in the sense that visitors came back for more in depth discussions. In general the visitors were top management people and decision-makers. We look forward to meeting our customers in Copenhagen next year.”
Anna-Karin Jönsson, marketing manager, Schur Packaging Systems – exhibitor

“For The Bowe Group, Post Expo 2009 proved to be a successful one. We felt those that attended were there for the right reasons, which was perhaps a positive affect of the economic climate.”
Waleed Khan, sales and marketing director EAMEA, Bowe Bell + Howell – exhibitor

“Post-Expo gave us access to a wide audience by being allowed to present to a conference workshop, which was a great opportunity. While we are starting to achieve real success worldwide, any help to see if we can change people’s view of transit packaging is most welcome – it is just as important as the other areas like automation and will make a huge difference to all our lives via the transport benefits of up to 40 percent less trailers going up and down the motorways every day!”
Edward Fanshawe, sales manager, Loadhog – exhibitor and speaker

“We made a number of strong contacts and generated leads, as well as continuing to develop our existing networks.”
Duncan Macgregor, international business manager, Transend – exhibitor

“Post Expo was a great chance for me to see what’s on the agendas of the major decision makers in the industry, and how they are thinking during a time of severe change for most players. I also found the engagement in environmental issues an inspiration. Now it obviously is not about ‘if’ but about ‘how’ to respond to climate change. A question not only for the postal operators but also for all their stakeholders.”
Ingemar Persson, secretary general of PostEurop – speaker

“After a couple of years away from Post Expo it was very good to be back. Even though the show felt a bit smaller it was very useful to meet the postal community again and discuss the latest trends of the global postal industry. I’ll be happy to be back again in 2010.”
Marten Buettner, program director, ESMT Customised Solutions – chairman

“Post-Expo 2009 was a very successful event. It has provided me with opportunities to meet with stakeholders from within the postal industry and to share views and experience in tackling the challenges that we are facing. I look forward to another successful event next year.”
Michael Chung, assistant postmaster general (Business Development), Hongkong Post – speaker

“It’s the second time I have attended Post Expo. For me it has been once again been a great opportunity to share and verify our SwissPost ePostal plans and solutions with peers in the industry. For me it’s a great platform to meet people I already know, as well as to establish new business relationships.”
Adrian Humbel, CEO, SwissSign AG – speaker

“Post Expo is the place to see the complete range of technological innovation in the post and logistics sector, and it is always amazing how much there is on show.”
Elmar Toime, consultant, E Toime Consultant – chairman

“Post Expo is a unique opportunity for two major industries whose worlds are being thrust together in the new digital economy – retail and the post – to engage together and unearth new futures. Within a few years, half of all consumer goods will be conveyed to people via direct delivery rather than be collected by them from shops. This shift is crucial for society in its quest for energy saving efficiency as it is for the posts, which need new business to replace diminishing mail volumes. Post Expo is where the senior, informed debate takes place, and the key customers and suppliers meet.”
James Roper, chief executive of IMRG, the e-retail industry body – speaker

“The conference was very well organised and provided useful information and ideas about the sector. Most of these can be implemented in the business policy and the strategy of Magyar Posta. I am very glad that my interpreted views and notes in my presentation could draw the attention of the representatives of other postal organisations, which are undergoing similar transformation procedures.”
Dr Péter Kazár, deputy CEO of Magyar Posta – speaker

“We have reached a crossroad in our industry, the recent economic crisis and the technological on-going development have enhanced the need for innovation in our industry. I think that Post Expo is the right place to comprehend the new trends and the way forward.”
Stefano Gori, head of international business strategy, Poste Italiane – visitor

“Post Expo showed that the postal world is facing challenges. Most of these challenges are related to the fast-paced increase of digital messaging and mobility of individuals, not forgetting cost-cutting efforts to keeping expenses at a low level. I was happy to notice that the atmosphere at Post Expo was positive and looking to the future. Many new ideas and solutions to seek cost performance were presented both in conferences and exhibitions. Hence I would recommend Post Expo to all stakeholders related to the field.”
Dr. Juha-Pekka Koskinen, development manager, corporate strategy, innovations, Itella Corporation – visitor

“I thought the event was very well organised – I was a guest speaker on the Solystic stand, and it was important for me to give my company’s views on the use of their new eLearning products. I found it easy to network and make contacts, and I enjoyed using the many informal meeting facilities that were available on the site.”
John Kirk, learning technology development manager, Royal Mail – visitor

“From what we perceived from the general atmosphere we felt less quantity but a better quality of the visitors. Post-Expo granted the opportunity for Wincor Nixdorf to meet with other suppliers and also with competitive companies. So we considered it to be a good platform for postal industry organisations and postal IT suppliers.”
Kerstin Weidner, marketing and communications, Wincor Nixdorf – sponsor

"The conference gave us a great opportunity to talk about the new innovative solutions we have developed to automatically load parcels into trailers. With the leading people of the post market coming together in Hannover, we managed to get our message across and got great response."
Jasper van den Driest, managing director, Ancra Systems – sponsor and speaker

"Post Expo has always been a worthwhile event for GIRO, and this year was no exception. It's well organised and brings together all the right people – current customers and interested new parties – that are important for us to connect with in just a few days. This year we had the opportunity to present technological solutions to specific challenges that many posts are currently facing, which led to some interesting and positive discussions."
Serge Galarneau, director, Routing, GIRO – speaker and exhibitor

"The exhibition was a huge success for Beta Systems. We got plenty of high quality leads. Furthermore, the feedback on the Beta Systems Mail Sort Center was excellent. Private postal service provider found exactly the solution they were looking for to streamline their process support for incoming mail."
Anton Fendt, product manager, Beta Systems Software – exhibitor

"Once again we had a very good show. Although the number of visitors were a little less than last year the quality of the contacts were very high and we are looking forward to follow up on the leads. See you in Copenhagen in 2010!"
Flemming Toft, managing director, aCon – exhibitor

"Post Expo is a fantastic environment to see the latest innovations and hear thought provoking ideas. I was also able to catch up with many of my old collegues in a single convenient location, which was great."
Barry Larson, head of strategy, media – speaker

"For us, Post Expo is the place to be informed about the new expectations of postal operators around the world. It is also a place where we can make our customers and potential customers dream about the future. The exhibition environment puts everyone in the shoes of a forward thinker and pushes the industry toward ambitious goals."
Alexis Hernot, director of marketing, IER – exhibitor and speaker

"As a speaker at Post Expo 2009 I met a high level audience from posts globally, all well prepared and with an urge to learn. The sessions were of a very high standard, covering the subjects thoroughly, and keeping track of the situation that postal operators and their customers are in. The management of the event combined the German attention to detail with the British excellence in creativity and profound knowledge of the postal market."
Jacob Johnsen, hybrid mail consultant – speaker

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