University of North Texas Print & Mail Services has an Outstanding, Award-winning Reputation

By Bob Neubauer

Successful Mail Merger

Years ago, the print shop and the mail room at the University of North Texas didn’t talk to each other very much. Sometimes it was only after a job was printed and sent to the mail room that the in-plant learned its design flouted postal regulations.

In 1995, when the director of mail retired, Jimmy Friend was asked to merge mail into his printing operation. It’s been a beneficial relationship ever since.

“Our internal communication is so great now,” he declares. Mail managers check pieces when they’re still in the design stage so that once they’re printed they can move seamlessly into the mail stream. To teach in-plant staff and customers about the latest postal regulations, the in-plant holds Mail 101 classes.

The in-plant uses a Buskro BK640 addressing machine with a BK530 tabber, a PFE Maximailer inserter, Pitney Bowes DM1000 postage meters and Satori and SAP BusinessObjects Postalsoft Desktop Mailer software for NCOA/CASS certification.

Recently, the in-plant began delivering incoming mail directly to UNT’s 200 or so departments, saving them from having to send staff to the main post office every day to pick it up. In-plant employees pick up departments’ outgoing mail at the same time. This new service has made campus departments extremely happy, further bolstering the in-plant’s reputation.

A QUICK look at the list of winners from the In-Print 2010 contest will tell you what the folks in Denton, Texas, have known for years: University of North Texas Print & Mail Services is one of the most quality-conscious in-plants in the country. When the contest judging wrapped up last month, the 40-employee in-plant had won 10 awards—seven of them Gold awards—in both the offset and non-offset categories.

This is one in-plant that knows printing.

Sitting in his office on the UNT campus, about an hour northwest of Dallas, Director Jimmy Friend is ecstatic about his in-plant's accolades.

"It's unbelievable," he exclaims, almost speechless upon hearing the news. "I'm so, so proud of my staff."

Since 2004, he says, the in-plant has won an impressive 38 In-Print awards, earning it great respect across the 36,000-student university.

"The reputation we have here is unbelievable," proclaims Friend. Last year, he says, the university president even announced the in-plant's awards to all UNT staff and faculty at a luncheon, earning the unassuming Friend an ovation.

The stellar reputation of UNT Print & Mail Services is bolstered by more than just its print quality, though. Its customer service is legendary, its turnaround time unbeatable. The gratitude of the campus community has been heartwarming.

"Three weeks ago our Development office had a reception for us," says Friend, a man whose last name suits his personality well. His entire staff was invited, refreshments were served and the university's vice president of Development personally thanked all of them for their hard work.

"A vice president of a university our size doesn't break themselves away to come talk to the print shop and the mail room," says Friend, humbled by the experience.

That official and many others at UNT recognize the crucial role the in-plant is playing in the university's success. Whether it's fulfilling recruiting material, adding time-saving services or just paying close attention to customer needs, the in-plant is determined to do all it can to make UNT a success.

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Bob Neubauer Author's page Bob has served as editor of In-plant Impressions since October of 1994. Prior to that he served for three years as managing editor of Printing Impressions, a commercial printing publication. Mr. Neubauer is very active in the U.S. in-plant industry. He attends all the major in-plant conferences and has visited nearly 170 in-plant operations around the world. He has given presentations to numerous in-plant groups in the U.S., Canada and Australia, including the Association of College and University Printers and the In-plant Printing and Mailing Association. He also coordinates the annual In-Print contest, cosponsored by IPMA and In-plant Impressions.

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