Artline 19 Industrial Permanent Marker: Tough Black Ink

If you've ever watched ordinary marker ink bead up on a greasy machine part or wipe straight off a steel shelf, the Artline 19 Industrial Permanent Marker is the fix. This black chisel-nib industrial permanent marker is built for the surfaces that defeat everyday pens — and it comes in a box of 12, so the whole team is covered.

Why an industrial permanent marker matters

Most permanent markers are designed for paper, cardboard and whiteboard-adjacent jobs. The moment you ask them to write on metal, glass or anything with a film of oil or grease, the ink struggles to bond and the marking fades, smears or flakes. That's a real problem in three places we know well.

In the office and warehouse, illegible labels on racking, returns cartons and equipment mean wasted time and mis-picks. In schools, asset tags on metal furniture, sports equipment and workshop tools need to survive years of handling. And in hospitals and aged-care facilities, stores teams, engineers and facilities staff rely on durable marking for asset registers, maintenance tags and storeroom bins — places where a faded label can mean a lost trolley or a missed service date.

What makes the Artline 19 different

The Artline 19 uses an instant-drying xylene-based ink formulated for exactly these conditions. According to the manufacturer's specifications, it handles porous surfaces such as cardboard and wood as well as non-porous surfaces like steel and glass, and the xylene base makes it suitable for use on greasy surfaces where standard inks won't grip.

Key features

The barrel is hard-wearing aluminium rather than plastic, so it survives life in a toolbox, ute tray or stores trolley. The chisel nib writes line widths from 2mm to 5mm — turn it on its edge for finer detail, or use the broad face for bold, readable labels at a distance. The ink is black for maximum contrast, and the product is RoHS compliant. Each box contains 12 markers, which makes it easy to issue one per workbench, ward storeroom or maintenance kit without constant re-ordering. A full specification sheet is available from the manufacturer, Acco Brands Australia.

Artline itself is a brand of Japanese manufacturer Shachihata, which has been making pens and markers for nearly 50 years and holds ISO certification for both quality assurance and environmental management — reassuring when you're standardising on one marker across a whole site.

Where it earns its keep

In the office and warehouse

Use it to mark steel shelving locations, label returns and archive cartons, write on strapped pallets and tag equipment for service. Because the ink dries instantly, freshly marked cartons can go straight onto the conveyor or truck without smudging.

In schools

For facilities teams and design-and-technology departments, the Artline 19 is ideal for asset-numbering metal-framed chairs and desks, labelling workshop tools and machinery, and marking sports equipment that lives outdoors. Given the industrial ink formulation, it's best kept in staff hands rather than student pencil cases — think of it as part of the maintenance kit, not the classroom kit.

In hospitals and healthcare facilities

Hospital engineering and supply departments deal with metal, glass and plastic surfaces all day: stores bins, IV pole bases, trolley frames, gas cylinder cages and plant-room equipment. A marker that bonds to steel and stays legible helps keep asset registers, maintenance tags and storeroom labelling accurate. As always, follow your facility's own labelling and infection-control procedures for anything used near patient care areas.

Tips for the best results

Wipe loose dust off the surface first — the ink copes with grease, but a clean-ish surface always gives the sharpest line. Use the broad face of the chisel nib for labels that need to be read from a distance, and the edge for serial numbers and dates. Cap the marker firmly after use to protect the nib, and store it flat. And because the ink is genuinely permanent on non-porous surfaces, test on an inconspicuous spot before marking anything you may want to re-label later.

Stock up for your site

Ready to put a marker in every toolkit? Order the Artline 19 Industrial Permanent Marker (box of 12) from The Stationery Store, or browse the full industrial markers range and the wider markers collection for every other marking job on your list. We deliver across Australia to offices, schools and healthcare facilities.