Arden Software has launched an enhanced product for inspecting the quality of Braille on packaging.

The Arden Group has supplied the original DotScan machinery for the past six years, but Arden Software has now helped support the development of new features within the machinery, bringing an improved version of the product to the packaging sector.

The new equipment measures the height and position of Braille dots on packaging to ensure they comply with European standards. Features include the addition of an ultra-high resolution camera and adopts advanced 3D measurement technology to scan the individual Braille dots.

DotScan specialist Simon Usher said, ‘Our enhanced DotScan technology guarantees speed, accuracy and peace of mind for packaging manufacturers. The innovative 3D measurement technology not only determines the presence and position of Braille characters, but also provides a complete visual analysis, highlighting in clear detail where any quality errors may have occurred.’

The system can inspect Braille printing on folding boxes and embossing dies, and is effective from artwork proof to finished carton. It can also compare Braille quality in PDF files or simple text in 18 languages.

Matthew Hewitt, business development manager, added, ‘Arden Software is proud to bring this enhanced DotScan technology into our product portfolio for the packaging sector. This technology is trusted among the pharmaceutical and healthcare packaging industries where Braille on packaging is mandatory and there is no room for error. It’s also becoming increasingly in demand among other packaging producers who are keen to become more inclusive and accessible to people who are visually impaired.

‘Traditional methods of Braille inspection can be time consuming and costly, and just one tiny fault in the manufacturing process can have dangerous consequences for the visually impaired, but with DotScan, manufacturers can be confident of the highest quality control and eliminate the chance of incorrectly embossed cartons from ever reaching the consumer.’