Abstract: A flash unit (1) with a flash generator (20) with at least one energy store (21) and at least two luminaire channels and with at least two flash tubes (11, 12, 13), wherein the flash tubes (11, 12, 13) are supplied with energy by the energy store (21) via the luminaire channels, with an energy quantity control apparatus (14), by means of which any desired quantity of energy from the minimum charge up to the maximum charge of the at least one energy store (21) can be provided for each luminaire channel, and with a colour temperature control apparatus (15), by means of which a coloured temperature can be set for each luminaire channel independently of the quantity of energy provided therefor, and a corresponding method therefor.

Abstract: The apparatus has a weight sensor for determining the weight of a mailing item, as well as a measuring device for measuring the size of the same. A processing device determines an appropriate fee depending on the weight and size and, where applicable, other parameters, such as destination and type of shipping. The apparatus then generates a fee label indicative of the determined fee, e.g. in a machine readable code. The measuring device for measuring the size of the mailing item is formed by markings applied to walls perpendicular to the weighing table. The fee labels advantageously carry two machine readable encodings, one of which can be read by a cash register, while the other can be read in a shipping plant.