Research and Development

Our research and development activities are clearly focusssed on innovating the FP Group’s product portfolio. With a highly qualified team working in the fields of mechatronics and software development, printer technology, IT security and cryptography, we are constantly seeking relevant answers to meet customer demand. By binding product management and strategic services within the FP Group to on-site customer liaison work, we gather intelligence on what exactly our customers want from our products. This information is processed to develop the existing portfolio and conceive new products. Right from inception, all innovations are strictly targeted to demand, and planned in by product management using a tight process of target costing. In our research and development work, we assess all the major functions in any new development using QFD criteria before finalising product definition. 

Our innovation radar is simultaneously scanning the latest technology as it emerges. In concrete terms, that means we apply state-of-the-art technological ideas to prototypes, which are then subjected to field trials and assessment by reference customers under our close supervision. This enables us to determine the precise needs of our customers at an early stage. Internet-based services have become a driver for process rationalisation for mail distributors and postal services (mail tracking, mail data capture, electronic charges updating etc). These are areas of the market where we are constantly offering new intelligent services which can be closely integrated into existing postal service infrastructures – a process that is increasingly relevant to privately-run mail service providers. These innovations provide real added value, as customers gain from maximum rebates on postal charges, minimal processing costs and optimal cost transparency. We provide exciting solutions, and offer customers easy-to-operate products and services, enabling them to increase their competitive edge that bit faster.  

Many of our development projects are supported by the Federal Government or regionally by the State of Brandenburg, further underlining the innovative force of our research and development work.

Liberalised Post Markets and Electronic Solutions 

As the Internet penetrates more and more areas of business, our customers are increasingly asking us to provide electronic solutions so that they can rationalise their outbound mail processes and make them paper-free. Here the FP Group offers hybrid mail solutions with its products FPwebmail and FPbusinessmail.  These services comprise the electronic downloading of data by the sender, centralised mail processing, followed up by physical delivery of the finished mail. 

As the European mail markets liberalise, networks of private mail service providers are increasingly establishing themselves alongside the traditional national postal services. In the North American market, national mail companies are facing increasing competitive pressure from courier and express delivery services. In Asia, mail services are moving more in the direction of public private partnerships. As a result, in many countries our customers have identified new opportunities for change. We are responding to this by developing new solutions that provide them with a choice of best options for creating, processing and transporting mail cheaply and flexibly. 

Classic Products and Modern Methods 

Here we are primarily concerned with developing new franking systems and internationalising existing franking systems. When developing our mechatronics systems and components, we apply DFMA/DFS principles (Design for Manufacture and Assembly / Design for Service) from the outset in order to minimise manufacturing costs and downstream service costs for new products. Members of staff from our production and customer service departments are closely involved in this process, right from the product definition phase of a new product or service. This ensures that the later introduction of a new series runs optimally. Our software development process applies highly flexible methods that ensure full cooperation between product management and the software development team throughout the development phase. This ensures that new ideas that provide maximum utility to the customer are subjected to continual refinement before they are integrated into the new product. 

Alongside all this, we are forging ahead with the refitting of franking systems so that they can communicate with FP data centers via the Internet. We are also expanding the networking of our data centers to create a global infrastructure. This guarantees customers optimum security, reliability, service quality and innovative speed. 

Other particular areas of activity include product development incorporating new or improved functions, as well as product portfolio maintenance. This involves the continual and systematic evaluation of all products in order to optimise production processes, reduce manufacturing costs and increase the quality of our products.