DoD braille printing investment is ‘final link’ in production chain of folding cartons for pharmaceutical applications using digital

Chester Medical Solutions is a specialist carton and leaflet manufacturer and contract packer, and has an established footprint in using digital to produce folding cartons for the pharmaceutical industry. It operates three digital packaging and leaflet presses, including Xeikon technology, and can print cartons and leaflets on stock from 60gsm to 350gsm, and self-adhesive labels.

Installed in the company’s PS9000 certified digital production suite at its carton and leaflet manufacturing facility in Deeside, Flintshire, the 150,000 GBP (232,000 USD) investment allows the printing of braille dots onto a carton without the need for braille tooling, so making it ideal for short runs and digitally printed cartons. The system uses a polymer drop-on-demand nozzle to apply the braille, which is then UV cured.  After application, a vision verification system checks each carton for dot presence, height and circumference and translates the braille into human readable text for operators to check.

Print quality and resolution are outstanding, Chester Medical Solutions said, and the height of the dot meets all international requirements. Equally important is adherence of the dots to the carton, which is described as ‘excellent’, and transit trials carried out by Smithers Pira have confirmed the robustness of the braille. The braille font used is Marburg Medium, which is recommended by relevant European and North American standards for pharmaceutical packaging.

‘This major innovation places us at the forefront of digital carton manufacture for pharmaceutical applications,’ said Patterson. ‘It provides the final link in the production chain and further enhances our ability to offer a fast response and flexible service in the creation of packs that meet all international standards.’

Read more about developments in the digital carton printing market in L&L issue 4, 2015

L&L issue 5, 2015 will include coverage of the latest developments in the pharmaceutical label and packaging market. To contribute to this feature, contact David Pittman on dpittman@tarsus.co.uk