I just read a note that Canada Post will introduce 95 new Toshiba Multiline Optical Character Readers (MLOCRs) in all major mail processing plants beginning January 2010 (starting with the new Winnipeg plant). The introduction of MLOCR equipment in the early 1990s is responsible for the appearance of the inkjet postmarks.

I wonder if the new cancelling machines will be discernibly different from the current inkjet cancels. It is probably worthwhile to watch out for test mail and EKUs concerning this transition when time comes. Which also brings me to my question: who is the manufacturer of the MLOCR equipment currently in use in Canada? The Candian inkjets are notably different form their American counterparts, which I believe are from Pitney-Bowes machines (?).