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This year the Stabilo BOSS highlighter turns 40 (see P2P Icons on page 23). Stabilo claims that in Europe it still outsells its nearest competitor by 10:1. In other parts of the world, it faces stiff competition from rival brands, including Sharpie.

Huge in the US, Sharpie is making inroads into the European stationery market. It is already well known for its permanent markers and has now introduced a broad range of brightly coloured highlighters in neon shades of pink, yellow, green and orange. Sharpie highlighters come in Jumbo, Liquid, MINI and Pocket versions, the last two featuring ‘Smear Guard’ technology to protect highlighted text.

Pen To Paper has been testing a Sharpie Accent Pocket highlighter, featuring a pull-off cap and pocket clip. This attractive pen-shaped highlighter is arguably a more convenient shape than traditional offce highlighters, like the Stabilo BOSS or Staedtler Textsurfer, enabling it to be accommodated more easily in a desk tidy, pen holder or jacket pocket.

Key features include a chisel tip giving a choice of line thickness and ‘Smear Guard’ technology.We tested the latter on printed and handwritten text and found that it was only partially successful. It highlighted text written in biro and water-proof uni Super Ink without any problem, but, perhaps not surprisingly, there was some smearing when we tried it on copy written with gel or liquid ink long after the ink had dried.

One of the most interesting aspects of the highlighter market is its great variety. Even so, Pen To Paper did a double take when it encountered the Pelikan M205 Duo fountain pen with fuorescent highlighter ink (available from Stone Marketing). This lets you draw attention to important words or passages as you write them, rather than overwriting afterwards.

Pen To Paper has not just been testing highlighters and pens (see our pen review on page 17).We have also been putting Brother’s P-touch 2430PC labelling machine through its paces (see page 14). Designed for printing identifcation labels rather than address labels, this amazingly user-friendly machine has all sorts of applications in the offce. One of the best features of Brother's labeller is that there is no need to load software, making it plug and play in the truest sense of the word. Dymo, too, has gone down this route with its LabelManager Plug and Play. This offers similar functionality to Brother’s machine but has a maximum label width of 12mm compared to 24mm on the P-touch. In its favour, it features a lithium ion battery that can be recharged via USB connection

to a PC. Brother's needs mains power or six AA batteries.

Having used Brother's P-touch to label folders, fles, cabinets and generally create a more ordered working environment, I would like offer the following variation on a well worn business saying: ‘What you can label, you can manage’.

No part of P2P can be reproduced without prior

The paper used in this magazine is obtained from manufacturers who operate within internationally recognized standards.

The paper is made from Elementary Chlorine Free (ECF) pulp, which is sourced from sustainable, properly managed forestation.

Independent paper merchant Premier Paper is stocking a range of Xerox papers in its 15 distribution centres, following its appointment as an Authorised Reseller. These include Colortech+ optimum paper for colour output; the Symphony range of tinted papers; synthetic paper, such as

Premium NeverTear; and creative papers such as packaging board, embossed and translucent paper. 0121 313 1115 .

Digital print and copier company Altodigital has expanded into the offce supplies business with a new website selling printer consumables, stationery and furniture to existing and new customers. Altooffce.com gives customers the option of setting up an account or paying for goods by credit card.

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