Unique to Braillo braille embossers is that we use magnets and 168 (or 180 with our SW2 and SF2) unique embossing systems to produce our industry-leading braille, whereas all other manufacturer’s use a few solenoids. While solenoids can work for personal braille document printing (small jobs), they simply cannot handle the heavy stresses of continuous braille production – they aren’t designed to operate in that capacity.

Using magnets and having a specific, unique embossing process allows Braillo to set the industry standard, and meet all Braille Authority standards in 3 categories: braille height, braille placement and braille shape.

Braille Height

To achieve the 0.5 mm minimum braille dot height, Braillo uses a powerful press (paper shoes) that locks each embossing pin in place before a magnet triggers it to be mechanically pressed into the paper by a dedicated motor. Every Braillo embosser is equipped with 168 embossing pins (180 for CS2, SW2 and SF2 models), giving each pin a singular purpose: to create a perfectly positioned braille dot with correct braille height in a single column. Braillo is the only manufacturer capable of consistently producing 0.5 mm minimum dot heights across all pins.

Competing embossers rely on solenoids, which use electrical current through a thin copper coil to fire a slug into the paper. These solenoids are highly sensitive to fluctuations in voltage and temperature, often resulting in inconsistent dot heights. Most competitors use only 6 to 39 solenoids to attempt the same workload that Braillo achieves with 168 – or 180 – dedicated pins.

As a result, Braillo embossers consistently meet nearly every national braille height standard, while solenoid-based competitors cannot reliably do so.

Braille Placement

Perhaps the most critical—but often overlooked—aspect of quality braille is dot placement. For readers to accurately interpret each character, every dot must align perfectly within columns and rows so that tactile patterns are clear and consistent.

Braillo embossers feature 168 – or 180 – embossing systems fixed directly into the paper shoes, allowing an entire line of braille to be embossed at once. This line-by-line approach ensures that every dot is precisely positioned in its correct location, providing consistent alignment across the page.

Solenoid-based embossers, in contrast, rely on a much smaller number of solenoids—typically between 6 and 39—to place all the dots. To keep up, these solenoids must move both horizontally and vertically for every dot. The constant motion, combined with heat and timing challenges, inevitably leads to misaligned dots. Over multiple lines and pages, it is virtually impossible for a solenoid-based system to achieve the same consistent, precise placement as a Braillo embosser.

The Shape of Braillo Braille

The actual shape of a braille dot is what provides readers with an exceptional tactile experience, combining clear readability with a comfortable feel. Braillo braille dots are engineered with a gently crowned top and a subtle ridge, delivering a distinctly crisp tactile sensation without being sharp or pointed. Thanks to the state-of-the-art engineering discussed earlier, Braillo embossers can reproduce this ideal dot shape consistently, time after time.

In contrast, solenoid-based embossers rely on between 6 and 39 solenoids to perform the work that Braillo’s 168 – or 180 -embossing systems achieve effortlessly. To keep up, these solenoids must move both horizontally and vertically for every dot. This extensive motion often results in misshapen braille, as the solenoids cannot fully press each dot with the precision required. By the time a dot begins forming, the carriage may already be moving to the next location, creating inconsistencies in the braille output.

Durability Due to Design

A production braille embosser produces millions of dots every hour, and a Braillo embosser can sustain this pace 24 hours a day, day after day. The rigorous demands of high-volume braille production require every component to be precision-crafted from high-strength materials to ensure durability and consistent performance.

While Braillo embossers are built to last, competing solenoid-based embossers often cannot withstand the demands of true production-grade operation. Many competitors adapt personal printer components and place them into larger enclosures to create the appearance of a production embosser. Compare the internal engineering of a Braillo embosser to that of other machines and see the Braillo Difference for yourself – it is truly remarkable.