Stationery inspection: fountain pen inspection standards and procedures

In the context of the continuing adjustment of the global trade pattern, Yiwu stationery industry has delivered an eye-catching report card for the sea. The latest data show that from January to July 2025, Yiwu City exported stationery products amounted to 410 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 12.3%, showing strong competitiveness in the international market. This growth is not only reflected in the figures, but also marks the transformation of Yiwu stationery from pure "quantity increase" to "quality rise", through innovative models, product upgrading and market expansion, is reshaping the pattern of global stationery trade.

For export stationery, a product with a high degree of standardization and clear quality requirements.third party inspectionIt is a "neutral bridge" connecting the exporter and the buyer - both to help the buyer to guard the bottom line of quality, but also for the exporter to avoid trade risks, is an indispensable link in the export process. So let's talk about the fountain pen in stationery products today in the third partyinspection of goodsThe standard and process when it comes to the bar.

As a writing tool with practical value and aesthetics, fountain pen quality inspection needs to take into account the multiple dimensions of functionality, safety and durability. We will systematize the core standard system of fountain pen inspection, the whole process of practical guidance and special scenarios to provide reference for stationery trade, procurement and quality control personnel.

I. Criteria for inspection of goods

Fountain pen inspection criteriaIt needs to be built on the basis of multi-level specifications, integrating national mandatory requirements, international common standards and industry-specific regulations. China's current effective "Tap Pen Standard" (GB 6140-85) clearly stipulates the core performance indicators of different grades of fountain pens, in which the anti-leakage of gold pens is required to be non-dripping under pressure of 70mmHg, iridium pens of 50mmHg, and ordinary fountain pens need to meet the standard of 30mmHg. This indicator is realized through the decompression meter test, simulating the sealing performance in extreme environments such as high altitude.

For the international market, the EN ISO 4755:2021 standard provides a general framework for the classification, characterization and testing of writing instruments, covering key parameters such as ink flow, durability, water resistance and light resistance. For products exported to the EU, they must also comply with the restrictions set out in Appendix 17 of the REACH regulation, in which the cadmium content must not exceed 100mg/kg, the sum of phthalates (DEHP, DBP, BBP, etc.) must be ≤0.1%, and nickel release must be limited to less than 0.5μg/cm²/week. For children's pens, the EN 71-3 standard additionally requires strict control of migratory heavy metals (e.g. lead ≤ 90mg/kg, arsenic ≤ 25mg/kg).

Material verification constitutes the core of quality control. High-end gold pen nibs should be tested for gold content by X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF), and the gold purity of 14K gold nibs should reach 58.3%, while that of 18K is 75%, and the end of the nibs should be labeled with the corresponding steel stamps. The quality of iridium particle soldering should be checked by microscope for the integrity of the bonding surface, and the thickness of the surface plating (gold / rhodium plating) should be ≥0.5μm, and the corrosion resistance should be verified by 24-hour salt spray test. Ink compatibility test requires pH value to be stabilized between 6.5-8.5 to prevent excessive acidic or alkaline corrosion of metal parts.

Second, the inspection process guide

1. Sampling program

AQL (Acceptable Quality Level) standards should be followed. Adopting General Inspection Level II, when the lot size is 5000 pieces, the sample size code is N, and the corresponding sample size is 125 pieces. Defects are categorized using a three-tier system: serious defects (e.g., ink leakage, nibs unable to write) have an AQL value of 0 and are not allowed; general defects (e.g., minor ink leakage, ink breakage) have an AQL of 1.0 and an acceptance number of 2; minor defects (e.g., minor scratches) have an AQL of 2.5 and an acceptance number of 5. For special cases, such as high-end art fountain pens, a stricter level of inspection should be adopted, namely, Level S-1.

2. Appearance inspection

Visual inspection of the pen body without obvious scratches (length ≤ 0.5mm), color difference (△ E ≤ 2), printing or engraving of the logo clear and complete, no blurred or misplaced. Metal parts need to use a magnifying glass (10 times) to check the uniformity of the coating, no bubbles or peeling. Tactile test pen grip comfort, no burrs or edges, rotating cap opening and closing smoothly, uniform resistance. For transparent pens, the internal inspection should be free of impurities or air bubbles, and the assembly gap should be ≤0.1mm.

3. Functional testing

It is divided into two types of tests: basic performance and extreme conditions. The basic test includes: continuous writing test (write the word "8" on 70g/m2 writing paper at an angle of 45°-75°, the gold pen needs to write continuously for 1,000 meters without ink breakage), and intermittent writing test (the pen can still produce ink normally after the cap is opened and left for 2 minutes). Extreme tests include: 1.2-meter drop test (no deformation of the nib after 3 drops on hard ground, still able to write), temperature difference test (-10℃ to 40℃ for 5 cycles to check the sealing), plateau air pressure test (simulating a low-pressure environment at an altitude of 5,000 meters above sea level).

4. Process inspection

The fit of the nib and the tongue should be tested by a pressure tester, and there is no gap when 50g of force is applied. Ink absorber sealing test using a centrifuge inverted dumping method, injecting a quarter of the volume of ink after dumping 10 times, no leakage is qualified. The elasticity test of the pen clip requires holding a 50g weight for 24 hours, and the deformation amount is ≤1mm.

III. Goods inspection reports

The standardized inspection report should contain quantitative data and image records. The report should present: sampling information, appearance defect statistics (type, quantity, photo records), functional test results (comparison of the measured value of each index with the standard value) and so on. For unqualified items, AQL judgment results (acceptance/rejection) and rectification suggestions should be clearly marked.

Fountain pen inspection is both a technical means of quality control and an important basis for value assessment. A professional inspection process can effectively distinguish between workmanship defects and design features, balancing product quality and user experience.Inspection OnlineProvide professional stationery productsinspection serviceIf you have stationery products inspection needs, welcome to contact us!