Three Key Features to Look for in Metal Detector Marker Pens

Metal detectors have become key features in food production lines. Along with strict health and safety protocols, metal detectors provide the last line of defence against accidental food contaminants that could put your business or consumers' health at risk.

To help keep your operation and consumers safe, metal-detectable items, including pens, have become staples of the production line. A simple pen might seem insignificant at first; however, a shard of plastic or misplaced coil is more than enough to shut down your production line and possibly even trigger a recall or, worse, lead to injury.

To help avoid this worst-case scenario, here are three things you should consider when selecting metal-detectable marker pens for your business.

Product Material

Metal detectable pens are rarely made from metal; these types of pens can get uncomfortably cold in certain settings and are notoriously difficult to hold. Instead, metal detectable marker pens are made from plastics infused with ferrous material.

However, some metal detectable marker pen manufacturers suffer from quality-related issues. The ferrous material added to the plastic can make the plastic brittle and more prone to breakage. A metal detectable marker pen with too much ferric matter may increase the chances of foreign object food contamination. Your best option is to choose a slightly less ferrous but more durable metal detectable marker pen. 

Pen Type

The environment employees need to operate in will influence what type of detectable marker pen is right for your operation. For example, retractable gel ink pens are designed to provide an even ink flow even in sub-zero temperatures. Meanwhile, other production facilities may have rules specifying only "one-piece" pens are allowed, in which case you would need to source non-retractable metal detectable pens. 

Other factors worth considering include whether the detectable pen comes equipped with a lanyard loop – a feature many health and food safety inspectors say significantly decreases the likelihood of accidental foreign object contamination. It's important to note that worker safety requirements may prevent lanyards from being attached to clothing and are limited to clipboards only.

As an alternative, you may be interested in clip pens.

Colour Options

Cohesive colours help departments within large manufacturing facilities keep their equipment organized. If this is the case for your operation, you may wish to source metal detectable pens that coordinate with the colour coding throughout various departments.

Metal-detectable marker pens are available in red, yellow, green, and blue with either standard blue or black ink or housing-coordinated colour ink.

Don't Forget About Metal Detectable Accessories

While you're not as likely to lose a clipboard are you are a pen, it's always better to be safe than sorry. There's a wide range of metal detectable products designed for food production facilities, including detectable clipboards, metal lanyards, and even detectable handheld calculators.

Detectable product options for work on your production line include everything from scoops and jugs to knives and scrapers. Each product type is typically available in the standard red, yellow, green, and blue colour options to help you keep your line safe, lean, and organized.

It only takes one instance of consumer food contamination to harm a business irreparably. Better to be safe than sorry by choosing quality, detectable pens and tools.