German Cito Launches Two Innovative Braille Processing Systems

European AMG regulations will take effect on September 1, 2006. From the effective date, all pharmaceutical packaging must include braille printing. Some people may think that this is not new, because the embossing and embossing of the product packaging has been used in the carton production for a long time. However, what needs to be noted is that so far there is little evidence that the pharmaceutical industry is willing to pay any additional costs for this pharmaceutical packaging improvement that is of paramount importance to the visually impaired.

Since Braille printing on pharmaceutical packaging is limited by the packaging size and die-cutting technology, it is necessary to leave sufficient indentation area for embossing and embossing, and the embossing and embossing processes need to be performed separately from the cutting process. This increases the number of processing steps. So far, the printing plate for Braille embossing and embossing has to be produced separately, which also makes the cost of Braille embossing and embossing process higher.

Cito-System near Nuremberg, Germany, designed two innovative processing systems for Braille embossing and embossing. The first system is to use a flatbed die-cutting machine for braille printing, and the second system is a new concept of new technology, which uses convex-concave printing as a part of ordinary printing for braille printing. Both systems provide flexible, flexible Braille printing solutions.

For flatbed die cutting in Braille printing, standardized fonts have long been developed, each letter containing up to six Braille grids. The pattern can be easily mounted on a die-cut template made by laser cutting. The template is equipped with a magnetic system that can be placed in the desired position. The Braille punch can be easily placed on the font, and the template is secured by magnetic force. The punch with self-adhesive coating is glued to the die-cutting die by mechanical pressure and precisely positioned on the corresponding template grid. In this way, Cito Braille punches are well integrated with traditional indentation plates or templates, and also simplify the manufacturing process of each punch punch. On the basis of standard common materials, only one independent post-printing process is required to complete braille printing. The blank part of the punch punch is made of magnetic material and no other adhesive coating is required. The use of a microcomputer-controlled device for embossing can simplify the embossing process. In addition, the operation of the device does not require special expertise. The company has plans to mass-produce these devices for the supply of die-cutting and packaging machinery and equipment manufacturers.

The second technology developed by Cito Corporation is the simultaneous embossing and imprinting process with the printing process. This technology uses the RSP wire processing system. Cito (West Way) believes that the rational method of Braille embossing and embossing is to use it as a step of the printing process, not only because the process of printing and embossing is easy to accurately coordinate, and the resulting benefits are also very significant. At the same time, there is no need to worry about the minimum required distance from the package indentation, and the embossing and embossing using the rotating technology will not cause the cracking of the printed layer, which will significantly improve the quality of the embossing and imprinting and ensure better visual effects.

The brazed embossed and printed connection processing makes the subsequent packaging die-cutting and folding processing faster and easier, thus also lowering the packaging processing cost.

The nature of the embossing and stamping process is almost the same as that of the flat die cutting process. Both of them transfer the braille on the RSP polyester grid positioning template to the cardboard on the impression cylinder. In order to rapidly produce typefaces, special stencil materials have been developed that can be braille printed on presses. The metal surface of the stencil is a colorless coating, the middle layer uses a relatively smooth filling material, and the back surface is a self-adhesive layer. The pattern material is first cut as needed, and then positioned on the RSP polyester grid. With the relative rotation of the blanket cylinder and the impression cylinder, sufficient pressure is applied to each other to emboss the pattern material on the print sheet. The conical shape of the embossing punch locating pin ensures greater adaptability of the embossing on the stencil, thus providing a greater range of materials for the embossing process.

The new method of Braille embossing and imprinting on presses has been tested at the Cito Technical Center. Printing and embossing were simultaneously carried out on a Heidelberg Speedmaster press, die-cut on a Dymatrix die-cutting machine in Heidelberg, and formed on a Diana folder-gluer. Comprehensive testing has proven that using this technology will make the whole process of pharmaceutical packaging more perfect.

Source: "Global Box Industry"