Xaar positions digital inkjet braille as a scalable solution for accessible packaging

UK – Inkjet technology specialist Xaar is advancing the conversation around accessible packaging with the publication of a new whitepaper.

As reported by Packaging Insight, the company highlights how digital inkjet can deliver reliable, high-quality braille printing as regulatory, brand, and consumer expectations increasingly converge.

Tom Mooney, Product Manager for the Versatex Printbar at Xaar, says accessibility is no longer a niche compliance issue but an essential component of the modern brand experience, particularly in regulated sectors such as pharmaceuticals.

“Pharmaceutical packaging is increasingly required to combine accessibility, compliance, and premium branding, often within the same production run,” Mooney explains.

According to Mooney, the Xaar Versatex Printbar enables converters to digitally apply high-build varnish, braille, and high-opacity whites alongside variable data, without reducing production speeds or adding secondary finishing steps.

The system leverages Xaar’s Ultra High Viscosity Technology to jet functional and decorative fluids with tactile clarity and durability, while TF Technology ensures continuous ink recirculation for stable performance during long runs.

“This combination allows pharmaceutical brands to meet accessibility requirements while maintaining consistent quality and traceability,” Mooney notes.

“At the same time, digital inkjet supports shorter runs, frequent design changes, and regional variations, which are increasingly common in regulated markets.”

The push for accessible packaging aligns with broader legislative developments. In Europe, the EU’s accessibility requirements for medicinal packaging continue to influence packaging design, while similar discussions are gaining momentum in other regions as healthcare systems priorities inclusivity.

At the same time, brand owners are seeking solutions that avoid the cost and rigidity of traditional embossing and screen-printing processes.

Mooney stresses that precision and consistency are critical when producing tactile features such as braille and doming.

The Versatex Printbar’s compact, modular design allows it to be installed inline on analogue presses or offline on finishing lines, enabling converters to add digital embellishment and braille without major mechanical changes or full press replacement.

The latest iteration of Versatex includes a dedicated braille mode, delivering higher build at increased speeds to achieve more clearly defined dots with consistent height and spacing. Supporting both left-to-right and right-to-left press directions, the system is designed for flexible integration in space-constrained finishing environments.

Powered by Nitrox printheads, High Laydown Technology, and SureFlow nozzle management, Versatex can achieve builds exceeding 200 microns in a single pass, even with highly viscous and pigmented fluids.

As accessibility legislation evolves and demand grows for premium, functional packaging, Xaar says it is working closely with converters, OEMs, and ink partners to refine print modes, fluid compatibility, and system integration, positioning digital inkjet as a dependable, scalable solution for the next phase of accessible packaging production.

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