The U.S. Postal Service has selected Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] to deliver approximately 1,200 Wide Field of View (WFOV) camera systems for Delivery Bar Code Sorter Input and Output Subsystems with Expanded Capability (DIOSS-EC) transports used at postal operations throughout the nation.

Two camera systems will be installed on each DIOSS-EC mail transport to fulfill both the bar code reading and the optical character recognition functions. This $26 million project marks the first time Lockheed Martin's WFOV camera system will be used for both bar code reading and optical character recognition by the Postal Service.

"Using WFOV systems on DIOSS-EC mail transports, enables the USPS to meet several transformation goals such as image quality improvement, enhanced read rates, simplified maintenance, and reduced error rates," said Brian Tanton, vice president of material handling and identification solutions for Lockheed Martin Distribution Technologies.

USPS Vice President of Engineering Thomas G. Day said, "This is another major investment in automation technology aimed at further increasing productivity and reaching ever higher customer service goals. We expect the system will prove its value with higher read rates for POSTNET and other bar codes and optimum maintainability in more than 1,700 installations around the country. WFOV technology is a critical component to our delivery bar code sorting systems."

All of the camera systems for the DIOSS-EC program are being manufactured at Lockheed Martin's facility in Apalachin, NY, and will be delivered by the end of this year.

During 2003, Lockheed Martin successfully deployed more than 10,000 WFOV camera systems at more than 1,700 Postal Service locations for single-use applications on other letter sorting equipment.

Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin employs about 130,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services.

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http://www.lockheedmartin.com/

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin