Braille standards soon to become commonplace

All medicinal products must comply with the Braille requirements in Europe by October 2010. The requirements in Europe are already migrating here. Some large pharmaceutical companies have begun to incorporate Braille on their packaged products. Although there isn’t any current North American legislation on the use of Braille in packaging, the writing is on the wall. It will either become law or pharmaceutical companies (and others) that produce and market consumer products will begin to incorporate it on their own. Given these factors, the new standards provide a foundation for printers to have available when the application presents itself.

Some of the highlights of the new standard includes details on the balancing of strong, deep Braille embossing while avoiding breaks in the carton surface that can make the cartons aesthetically unacceptable. It also discusses material selection and the wide range of carton boards in the marketplace. The standard also points out that it is simply not possible to prevent minimal variation in embossing heights on the same folding carton or in the same production batch, a very important point when educating the end user.

The fabrication section discusses the methods available for embossing the Braille and the recommendation of encompassing the embossing within the cutting tool or applying the Braille in-line in the folding/gluing process. It also outlines the correct positioning of the Braille embossing and the amount of text that can be incorporated on a specific carton.

How to Incorporate Braille

With the new standard in place, and an increase in the demand for Braille, instructions on pharmaceutical and other packaging right coming, choosing the best method to apply the embossed Braille becomes the challenge. The good news is that in most cases, the Braille should be able to be incorporated into existing either through a male/female embossing engraving that is incorporated into the steel rule die; or it can be through the use of a male/female embossing wheel attached to a folder-gluer that can emboss the Braille cells in-line.

Embossing in-line has become more popular over the past few years and foil and embossing die manufacturers have worked closely with the steel rule die manufacturers to solve many of the challenges with the process. With this, embossing the Braille in-line when the cartons are being creased and cut is a practical solution for many applications. In most cases, it may be the most economical solution and the best choice for shorter runs.

Although applying the Braille during the folding/gluing process may be preferred for many applications, both methods are an efficient way of embossing Braille cells without creating an additional run through the press. The length of the run and the positioning of the Braille lettering will affect the final decision as to the best method for application.

In addition, converters should keep in mind that when applying Braille in-line with either process, the opportunity is there to emboss other portions of the folding carton for decorating purposes. Embossing can be used to enhance the package design while also meeting the needs of the visually impaired with Braille instructions without adding any additional costs to the package.

A copy of the Braille standard is available at

www.iadd.org.