Many people are familiar with it from production: markings are made to define positions for prints, embroidery or cuts. Magic markers or thermal markers are often used for this purpose.

The idea behind it is simple: apply the marking – heat or steam – and it disappears.

Sounds good. And it works – most of the time.

The problem is that not all markers behave in the same way.
There are variants where the marker disappears when exposed to heat, but becomes visible again in the cold or after prolonged storage.

And this is often only noticed at a late stage:

• in the warehouse
• with the customer
• or in the worst case only after delivery

Suddenly, lines or shadows are visible on the fabric that should have been “gone” long ago.

What is behind it?

The dyes used react depending on the temperature. They are not permanently removed, but merely “made invisible”. They return under certain conditions.

The good news is that in many cases the problem can be solved.

With the right analysis and suitable processes, these residues can be removed in a targeted manner
– depending on the material and equipment.

Our experience shows that what at first glance appears to be an irreversible mistake can often still be saved.

If you are unsure whether your goods could be affected, it is worth taking a closer look – especially before goods are written off.

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