Bell & Howell Inserter Machines: Models, Features & Benefits

Introduction to Bell & Howell Inserter Machines

Bell & Howell inserter machines are an essential piece of equipment for many mailing, fulfillment, and printing operations. As leaders in the industry for over 100 years, Bell & Howell's innovative line of inserter machines enable companies to effectively automate their document processing to improve productivity, efficiency, and quality.

What is a Bell & Howell Inserter Machine?

A Bell & Howell inserter machine is an automated system designed for high-volume mail processing and fulfillment operations. The inserter feeds documents from different sources, assembles them into mail pieces, inserts them into envelopes, seals and closes the envelopes, applies postage, and stacks the finished mail pieces for delivery.

Inserter machines have modular designs that allow you to add or remove components as needed to match your specific production mail requirements. They combine flexibility and customization capabilities in a heavy-duty production machine built for 24/7 operation.

Benefits of Using a Bell & Howell Inserter

There are many reasons companies rely on Bell & Howell inserters as the backbone of their mailing operations:

• Process high volumes up to 36,000 mail pieces per hour
• Flexible configurations to meet wide range of needs
• Modules for Bound-Printed Matter (BPM) processing
• High duty cycles and rugged design for continuous use
• Intuitive controls and user-friendly interface
• Generate significant return on investment

By automating the assembly and preparation of high volumes of mail, inserters enable companies to scale their operations, reduce labor costs, improve accuracy and quality control, and get mailings out faster. This makes them indispensable tools for direct mailers, online retailers, utilities, banks, insurers, nonprofits and other major mailers.

Types of Bell & Howell Inserter Machine Models

With over 100 years perfecting insertion technology and automation, Bell & Howell offers a full line inserter machines capable of processing anything from simple mailings to complex multi-part documents:

Entry-Level Inserters

• 6 Series: Compact tabletop machines for smaller operations inserting basic mail pieces up to 6,000 per hour.
• BH 100: Desktop model good for mailings, notices, flyers at speeds up to 5,000 pieces per hour.

Mid-Volume Inserters

• 8 Series: Free-standing flexible inserters handling a variety of documents at up to 8,000 pieces per hour.
• Relay 5000/6000: Heavy- and light duty models with options like sequence tracking for up to 6,000 pieces per hour.

High-Volume Production Inserters

• OptiFlow: Highly configurable, speeds up to 36,000 pieces per hour.
• Standard Fusion: Mid-range production model up to 22,000 per hour.
• 255 Series: Entry production model up to 20,000 per hour.

Key Features of Bell & Howell Inserter Machines

With speeds that can handle over 2 million mail pieces per week, high duty cycles for continuous operation, and flexible configurations - Bell & Howell inserter machines come equipped with robust capabilities:

High Speed Processing

Process anything from postcards and notices to complex, multi-page documents at blazing speeds up to 36,000 per hour depending on model. Maintain accuracy and precision even at high volumes.

Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMB) Printing

Print IMB directly onto mail pieces for greater tracking capabilities and postage discounts from the USPS. Bell & Howell inserters can be equipped with onboard thermal inkjet printers.

Color Touchscreen Controls

User-friendly color touchscreen stations provide access to job setup functions and make it easy to load jobs and operate. Stores frequently run jobs for quick recall.

Modular, Customized Configurations

Add or remove modules like document feeders, folders, insert stations, stackers, barcode readers to cost-effectively match your setup to production needs.

Integrated Postage Metering & Stamp Affixing

Apply metered postage or stamps automatically for instant savings versus manual stamping. Interfaces with all leading postage meter manufacturers.

Field-Upgradeable Platform

Inserter machine chassis provide future-proofing allowing you to upgrade capabilities over time as operational needs evolve. Protects your initial investment.

Types of Jobs for a Bell & Howell Inserter

From transactional documents and direct mail to customer orders and membership packets - some examples of jobs to run on a Bell & Howell inserter include:

Direct Mail Promotions

• Coupons
• Catalogs
• Special offers

Transactional Documents

• Invoices
• Statements
• Healthcare EOBs
• Renewal notices

Customer Orders

• Packing slips
• Receipts
• Return labels

Membership Mailings

• ID cards
• Welcome kits
• Renewals

Bell & Howell inserters help organizations streamline the preparation and assembly of all types of bulk and single mailings from start to finish.

Choosing the Right Bell & Howell Inserter

With a wide variety of inserter models available, selecting the right Bell & Howell inserter machine for your needs depends on factors such as:

Mail Volume

Mail volume per hour/month determines if a tabletop (up to 5,000/hr), mid-volume (up to 8,000/hr) or high-volume production inserter (up to 36,000/hr) is required.

Types of Documents

Simple notices may only require an entry-level model. But transactional documents, customer orders and membership kits call for more advanced inserter configurations.

Budget

Bell & Howell inserters range from around $5,000 for tabletop models up to $75,000+ for high-end production systems with full configurations.

Future Needs

Select an inserter machine with upgrade capabilities or additional modules that enable you to cost-effectively add functionality over time.

Partnering with Bell & Howell gives you access to over a century of mail automation expertise to help you select the optimal solution.

Getting the Most from Your Bell & Howell Inserter

To gain a competitive edge while getting the highest ROI from your Bell & Howell inserter investment:

Focus on Productivity

Optimize productivity by taking full advantage of your inserter's capabilities and running it at peak volumes.

Reduce Waste

Consistent precision inserting from your Bell & Howell machine minimizes waste from inaccurate manual processing.

Add Automated Feeding

Eliminate manual hand-feeding of documents by adding versatile high-capacity sheet feeders or on-demand feeding capabilities.

Install Postage Meter

Integrate an inbound postage meter for instant metering without slowing your inserter's speed.

Implement Proactive Service

Preventive maintenance and proactive service ensures maximum uptime and reliability for peak production volumes.

Contact the insertion experts at Bell & Howell today to explore how our mail automation solutions can transform your business!

FAQs

What types of documents can you run on a Bell & Howell inserter machine?

Bell & Howell inserters can process all types of documents including invoices, statements, direct mailers, notices, catalogs, coupons, membership packets, order fulfillment kits, and more. Almost any application that requires automated multi-page collating, inserting, and mailing is a fit.

How fast do Bell & Howell inserters run?

Entry-level tabletop models run up to 6,000 pieces per hour while high-volume production inserter models reach speeds of up to 36,000 finished mail pieces per hour.

Can you add postage directly onto mail pieces?

Yes, many Bell & Howell inserter models can have onboard thermal inkjet print heads installed to print IMB barcodes and apply postage directly onto your mail pieces as they are processed.

What types of configurations are available?

Bell & Howell inserters have modular designs that allow you to add or remove components like sheet feeders, folders, inserter modules, barcode readers, stackers, postage meters etc. to match different production needs.

Is operator training included?

Yes, Bell & Howell provides both virtual and on-site training options for operators on how to effectively set up jobs and run the inserters to optimize productivity.