The U.S. Postal Service's Automated Package Processing System begins national deployment next month after passing its first test at the Twin Cities Metro Hub in Minneapolis, the agency said yesterday.
The system combines automated package sorter technology with optical character reader, barcode reader and video coding capabilities to process a range of packages and bundles, including irregularly-shaped ones.
The system will replace more than 100 mechanized small parcel and bundle sorting machines at 70 postal facilities nationwide.
National deployment begins at the annex in Oklahoma City in July. Seventy-four APPS will be deployed to 70 mail processing facilities by fall 2005.
