OverviewGeneric MICR Fundamentals Guide 1-5Recognizing significant market value in combining theadvantages of electronic laser xerography with MICR technology,Xerox initiated investigations in late 1979 and early 1980. Earlyefforts at the Xerox Webster Research Center concentrated onbasic material physics. The objective was to provide axerographic dry ink and developer that would produce high visualquality images that could be read using the standard bankingreader sorter equipment.Xerox’s MICR printing products combine the following:• A modified xerographic engine• A unique magnetic materials package• The standard ANSI and ISO MICR character setsThe Xerox MICR systems meet ANSI, CPA, and ISOspecifications for automatic check handling.Why MICR?MICR was chosen by the ABA because it can be read accuratelyby machine, it uses existing printing technology, and the printeddocuments are durable to withstand mutilation.A MICR encoded document can be read through overstamping,pen and pencil marks, oils and greases, and carbon smudges.However, MICR printing is one of the most quality-consciousapplication areas within the printing industry. It meets ABAsecurity requirements for negotiable documents. MICR is theonly system that produces reliable results at high processingspeed.Check printing capabilitiesA Xerox MICR printing system with a magnetic material packageand MICR fonts can print a character line at the bottom of acheck form that is machine readable by standard banking readersorter equipment. On blank security paper, the Xerox MICRprinting system can produce the entire check image, includingthe form, all fixed and variable data, logos and signatures, andthe MICR line, in a single pass.
