In this article, we explore the benefits and limitations of both Retractable and Non-Retractable Pens.

When it comes to finding the right pens for your food production site, one of the most important decisions to make is the choice between Retractable and Non-Retractable Pens. With this in mind, we wanted to provide an honest comparison of the two different styles, covering important factors such as writing experience, foreign body risks, lifespan, and durability.

Occasionally, food production sites will work with a customer that insists on the use of non-retractable pens. This will usually be in response to concerns surrounding the metal springs that sometimes feature in retractable designs. As you can imagine, non-retractable pens don’t require a metal spring, with the cartridge fixed in place at all times. This helps to reduce the risk of a foreign body incident.

Another benefit of a pen cartridge that is fixed in place is the fact that, no matter how much pressure is exerted on the writing point, the cartridge will not jump out of position. As a result, your operatives will enjoy a firm writing experience – ideal for time pressured situations in the harsh conditions of a working factory.

Although non-retractable pens eliminate the foreign body risk of a metal spring, some designs introduce a new risk in the form of a pen lid. Arguably this poses an even bigger threat than the metal spring, as instead of being encased within the housing of the pen, the lid is detachable and incredibly easy to lose. It is also less likely that your operatives will notice or follow up on a lost lid, as the pen itself will continue to work.

Unlike a retractable pen that pulls its nib inside its housing, a non-retractable pen is much more likely to dry out. This is especially true if the non-retractable design does not feature a lid. Another point to consider is that the ink of the pen is more likely to stain documents, PPE, and the hands of your operatives, as there is nothing to protect the nib when it’s not in use.

We decided to start with the limitations of retractable pens because a lot of these concerns are answered in the benefits listed below. Essentially, the relevance of these issues all depends on the specific design of your retractable pen. For instance, some retractable pens feature metal springs that are a serious foreign body risk. The use of these metal springs also means that the pen cartridges will often jump out of position if too much pressure is exerted.

Some retractable pens have been designed without metal springs in the interest of fixing this problem. However, this can often result in a pen that is harder to use, unable to provide the firm writing experience associated with metal springs.

In the interest of providing a pen that addresses all the concerns listed throughout this article, Retreeva has designed a retractable pen with a unique cartridge suspension system. This system ensures that, despite the pen not having a metal spring, the cartridge will not jump out of position and the writing experience is just as firm.

The retractable element also prevents the nib of the pen from drying out, ensuring the pen lasts longer and eliminating the cost of early replacements. Another point to add is that retractable pens don’t require lids, so this is another foreign body risk to rule out.