Writing Instruments

Filtrona Porous Technologies provides the Writing Instruments industry with leading technology in the design and construction of writing instrument reservoirs and components. Rollerball pens, coloring pens, markers and highlighters rely on Filtrona Porous Technologies reservoirs to retain liquid ink without leaking and to provide uniform release while writing. We are recognized as a leading technology supplier to the global Writing Instruments industry. Click here for a demonstration.

TRANSORB® ECO & TRANSORB® BIO Reservoirs

Filtrona Porous Technologies' commitment to technological leadership in the writing instrument industry is clear with the industry's first eco-friendly component products.

TRANSORB® ECO is a writing instrument fiber reservoir made of 100%** post consumer/industrial fiber content delivering the same quality performance customers have come to expect from Filtrona Porous Technologies reservoirs. All the benefits of Filtrona Porous Technologies' XPE® writing instrument reservoirs — rapid ink absorption, 100% fiber-to-film seal, high ink release and uniform capillarity, and customized ink compatibility — are now available in an environmentally friendly format in TRANSORB ECO.

Transorb® BiO Reservoirs are made of 100% renewable and biodegradable materials. This product remains in development but is open to exploration for interested writing instrument manufacturers.

TRANSORB® XPE® Reservoirs

• Transorb® XPE® Reservoirs are the best available technology for all types of writing instruments. The patented process used to manufacture these products assures product performance and product uniformity not attainable through conventional reservoir manufacturing processes.
• Bulk density of the polyester fibers can be precisely adjusted for fiber densities of 0.080 to 0.400 g/cm³ to optimize the ink lay down, pen life and total pen system cost.
• Transorb® XPE® Reservoirs are available from 4.0 to 18.0 mm in diameter.
• Optimized fiber distribution uniformity delivers writing instrument performance that cannot be achieved with other ink reservoir manufacturing methods.

TRANSORB® FLO Reservoirs

• TRANSORB® FLO Reservoirs are designed for use with pigmented and metallic inks for a variety of applications, including cosmetic pens and body pigment marking devices. These reservoirs are ideal for new trends in metallic inking markers (such as gold, silver, and copper products) or glitter cosmetic marking devices.
• Transorb FLO reservoirs feature a unique fiber matrix that maximizes pigment distribution and prohibits pigment sedimentation. FLO reservoirs will prevent ink starvation common to pigmented- or metallic-inking reservoir systems.
• Transorb FLO reservoirs are offered with chemically resistant, distortion-free wrap.

TRANSORB® XPT Reservoirs

• TRANSORB® XPT Reservoirs are made from continuous polyester fibers that Filtrona Porous Technologies has custom processed. Internal control of the fiber processing allows Filtrona to custom design each reservoir specification to meet the customer's performance requirements.
• Reservoirs are available in diameters of 4.0 to 25.0 mm.
• Close control of fiber weight and fiber distribution ensures consistent marker performance.
• Transorb XPT Reservoirs are ideally suited for technical pens or novelty markers requiring special shapes.
• Reservoirs of almost any geometric profile can be provided.

TRANSORB® Polypropylene Reservoirs

• Polypropylene fiber can be used to create a reservoir that can be recycled.
• Polypropylene fibers also are useful in specialty writing instruments that incorporate high or low pH inks or reactive liquids.
• As with all Filtrona reservoirs, the polypropylene fiber can be specially designed to achieve the desired level of capillarity to optimize pen performance.

TRANSORB® XCA and Wrapped Acetate Reservoirs

• TRANSORB® XCA and Wrapped Acetate Reservoirs are produced using cellulose acetate fibers, retained by an oriented polypropylene film wrap.
• Reservoirs are available in diameters of 4.0 to 25.0 mm.
• These reservoirs are intended for use in low cost writing instruments and other marking applications that do not require the performance optimization benefits of XPE and XPT reservoirs.
• This construction provides a higher level of axial strength than other cellulose acetate fiber reservoirs and is well suited for the highest speed assembly of writing instruments.
• XCA reservoirs also have a 100 percent fiber-to-film seal, which provides the capability to produce very low fiber density reservoirs while retaining reservoir structural strength.
• XCA reservoirs can withstand high ink injection pressure, which will improve pen and marker assembly speed.

TRANSORB® Bonded Acetate Reservoirs

• TRANSORB® Bonded Acetate Reservoirs can be produced in a broad range of geometric profiles and are well suited for very large size marker applications.
• Specially processed cellulose acetate fibers are uniformly spaced and bonded in place to form self-supporting fiber structures that do not require an outer structural wrapping material.
• Geometric profiles, round or irregular, up to 40 mm in cross section can be provided.

Specialty Components

• Writing instrument reservoirs can be customized to include colored outer wraps, printed foil outer wraps, internal or external venting, slanted end cuts and unique reservoir cross sectional profiles. Your Filtrona Porous Technologies sales engineer can assist you with these design options to ensure the highest level of performance and cost optimization.
• Filtrona Porous Technologies has unique capabilities to manufacture bonded polyester, polyolefin and nylon components for use as transfer wicks, connectors and specialized ink transfer components. Specially treated hydrophilic and hydrophobic fibers can be used to control ink transfer rates of low surface tension inks.
• Filtrona Porous Technologies also produces components used in free ink type writing instruments. Polypropylene and nylon wicks and buffers can be custom designed to optimize fiber surface energy to match with the ink surface tension. Close dimensional control ensures ease of assembly and a high level of pen marker and highlighter reliability and leak resistance.

**Does not include reservoir wrap