Introducing Detectable Pens to your food production site is a great way to drive standards of food safety, reduce the risk of foreign body contamination, and reassure both your customers and audit inspectors.

However, before you take this step, it is essential that you first evaluate the different areas of your food factory – considering the environmental conditions of each zone, along with the pen features that could make life easier for your operatives.

To help you with this process, we have provided a closer look at four common factory environments, matching each one with the best Detectable Pen for the job!

From sub-zero temperatures to high-moisture environments, it is likely that your food production site is home to plenty of zones that require specialist equipment – designed to withstand more unusual conditions. However, for the majority of areas and applications, you will find that a Retractable Detectable Pen with standard ink is the most suitable choice. The pen housing is metal and x-ray detectable, FDA food contact approved, and available in four different colours. As for the internal mechanisms, the European ink cartridge will stay fixed in place, no matter how much pressure is exerted on the writing point. You can also expect a minimum writing length of 11km.  

When used in chilled or sub-zero temperatures, a standard pen is less likely to provide a consistent flow of ink. That is why Retreeva has developed a Gel Ink Retractable Detectable pen that is suited to extremely cold temperatures. This will save your operatives the time and hassle of struggling with an unreliable pen – driving efficiency and boosting morale.  

It is also worth noting that, in addition to being FDA food contact approved, plus metal and x-ray detectable, Retreeva housing is also incredibly durable. As a result, it is tough enough not to crack or splinter when exposed to the cold – eliminating a possible food safety risk. 

If any of the applications at your food production site involve a lot of moisture, grease, debris, or loose powder, you will need to find a pen that is suited to these conditions. Retreeva’s Retractable, Detectable Pressurised Ink Pen is a prime example, as it can be used to write on damp, dusty or slightly greasy surfaces. Pressurised pens are also suited to bakeries, where you typically find a lot of fine powdered ingredients. This is thanks to the air pressure used to drive the ink out of the pen.  

The metal and x-ray detectable, FDA food contact approved housing is also incredibly smooth. This supports easy cleaning, so your Hygiene Team will be able to wipe down each pen in one swift motion.  

A lot of sites produce a wide range of products throughout the year and have to remain flexible, with teams constantly updating their ingredients and processes. With this in mind, Retreeva has developed a selection of Detectable Dry-Wipe Pens – supplying both markers and fine-tip versions. These pens are ideal for areas and equipment that need to be updated on a regular basis. For example, they could be used to write on an ingredient bin or ID tag that will likely go on to have multiple uses.

Even at sites with fairly consistent production lines, Dry-Wipe Pens will also prove invaluable when it comes to updating Visual Management Tools such as Shift Changeover, KPI, and Team Update Boards.