M+H Plastics’ Braille Tubes wins Bottlemakers Award 2014

M+H Plastics has won this year’s Bottlemakers award for its innovative new method of printing Braille characters directly onto plastic packaging.

A high-build varnish is used to print the dots directly onto the product using extremely accurate measures, ensuring the height of the Braille alphabet remains uniform throughout the packaging run.

“We are really pleased to have won this award,” Michael Pye, Decoration Manager at M&H, told BP&R when receiving the award at Interplas. “The Braille packaging has had good feedback from users so far and we are constantly developing it.”

Printing directly onto the product has significant benefits over labels which can be easily damaged or peel off, as well as being less likely to rub off or be damaged by liquid. Although developed for Braille, this process can also be used in traditional screen printing; allowing customers to highlight specific design features by utilizing an embossed effect.

Samples of the Braille printing have been analysed by the Royal National Institute of Blind People and measured against the Marburg and RNIB standards. The RNIB has validated the samples; readability was found to be good as the 0.30mm dot height is above average. This new technique complies with BS EN 15823 as an approved labelling system.

The judges announced that two RPC designs, the Tetrosyl Demon Foam Container and the Extended Shelf Life Pack for Ragú, were both nominated for the Horners’ Highly Commended Certificate.

The Tetrosyl Demon Foam Container features a profiled recess at the rear, deep enough to retain the gun flush with the container surface. Moulded-in clips hold the gun in place. A second recess on the front provides pack strength and allows the gun’s operating switch to be accommodated.

The Extended Shelf Life Pack for Ragú offers glass-like transparency but with the added in-home safety of a non-shatter container. Further consumer benefits include easy re-closability thanks to the twist-off/screw-on lid and the pot is microwave, dishwasher and freezer safe.

The Horners Bottlemakers Award established 2002 is run jointly by the Worshipful Company of Horners (an ancient Livery Company of the City of London) and the British Plastics Federation (BPF).