How Highlighter Pens Are Made | Insider

Highlighter pens were invented in the 1960s as a way to grab a reader's attention. Today, highlighters are made with tinted plastic pellets that are melted into pen molds. Once assembled, a machine has the pens draw 700 to 1000 circles to make sure the batch works properly.
Watch full episodes of the Science Channel series "How It's Made" on the Science GO app or at: insder.co/HowIt...
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How Highlighter Pens Are Made | Insider

[@chaospixie7863]

Testing the pens must be the highlight of the workers day

[@mayleesnakes4314]

Dude no

[@shamiraferns175]

ArtisticLili lol

[@chaospixie7863]

Maylee Snakes dude yes

[@kokom154]

ArtisticLili lol I’m DEAD

[@zackreacts2700]

ArtisticLili good one!!!!

[@chloeallitt6317]

Now I can say, "my highliter has survived being crushed by the weight of 350 elephants." 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@radish4092]

Lol

[@arandomrose5392]

XD

[@BlueBloxxerPlayerXD]

Ah it must be paiinful for da pens to survive

[@annpow5672]

@@BlueBloxxerPlayerXD lol

[@hitinchopra]

LOL!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@alanwatts8239]

ah, yes, the most common unit of weight measurement. *the elephant*

[@kalifern]

indeed

[@alexisbloodwood5587]

We all know that measuring in Washing Machines is superior to the metric system

[@kirby_ketchup]

dont forget to measure the strength of wind with trash cans

[@cchristine1879]

I was reading comments b4 watching the video and I swear I was so confused

[@ilovespidernoir]

GoldenRRMP r/wooosh

[@bbean.loosey]

“Highlighters come in all sorts of colors, even NEON” Wait I thought they were all neon to make it more visible when you highlight...

[@stray_bad_dog_]

logic?

[@sharonrancourt9865]

FadedComplexity not all of them are

[@StrawberryNinjaNibbles]

There’s pastel ones like mildliners? But idk why they said neon like that’s a color... any color can be neon, neon in itself is not a color

[@darthmortem585]

FadedComplexity uhm guys neon is a separate colour with blue tint

[@meganbarker6757]

I have pastle coloured highlighters

[@seifukirai623]

"The force applied is equal to 350 elephants" Me: How am I suppose to calculate how heavy is it

[@balokrumput9074]

Math

[@farileyass]

First find out the size of one elephant then times that by 350 Your welcome 😩

[@hanbigim]

there are lots of different elephants with different weights and what if its baby adult or in between lol

[@promethium2302]

@@hanbigim for this equation we should just mark it as a adult elaphant that we’re used to

[@mariana_utp]

I am intrigued since I thought the force was mass per the acceleration, but always has been elephants

[@gabbyomega]

I just love the brightness of the highlighters 😍

[@user-hw4cc]

I SEE YOU EVERY WHERE (my other account is SHISHTAR SQUAD)

[@vannesaaaaa]

Gabby Omega I mean that's kind of the point

[@oncearoha9907]

hence the name... -.-

[@flyingbugoybubblegum7203]

The highlighter's brightness is even brighter than my future 😢

[@itsstayten8391]

Student Rhea Wattal ikr

[@paradiseinheaven6289]

No wonder that they get empty so fast😂😂

[@jan2968]

paradiseinheaven they already test it XD😂

[@gracelockhart6040]

No. They just test a small batch of them

[@Lia-mr6bh]

@@gracelockhart6040 dude its a joke

[@cloroxbleach7377]

Mal Bow like you

[@urmum4023]

Alexgrand 707 that was uncalled for and unnecessary.

[@dammitpatrice9364]

I love that “shaft” “thrust” and “back-end plug” were said back to back. 😂

[@SpookyAsuna]

Same 😆

[@galacticat354]

Lmao I thought no one noticed

[@mallorystrom7511]

i still can’t work out if they did that on purpose or not

[@themoistfeltlipsofsatanasamupp]

Yeah…

[@sayumidalpathadu]

why did I think of the exact same thing lol

[@vivianshi9668]

Narrator: .......equal to the weight of 350 elephants *in other words, me after thanksgiving*

[@chiomatawose9520]

Or a 350 tons!

[@artbycallie6816]

This actually made me laugh 🤣

[@monicalal6575]

Am I ONLY the one who actually giggled for 10 minutes occasionally

[@ananyatiwari7380]

Omg

[@spilwo572]

Lol

[@AnhMinh-tf7xu]

I don’t have money to buy a highlighter so I use a black highlighter known as a Sharpie. It it such a vibrant color that I can’t read the text anymore (it's a joke don't take this srsly okay bye)

[@yong8664]

Anh Minh where I’m at, Sharpie are more expensive that a highlighter 😂

[@arleneazurin]

Pizza Pusheen me too hahahah 😂

[@azraaydn737]

Pizza Pusheen seriously

[@azraaydn737]

Same

[@nicolevanderwesthuizen3016]

Aren't sharpies like 3 times the price of a highlighter?

[@CuriosityCulture]

Since this day, textbooks and self help books have never been the same ;)

[@susanamosquera3399]

Harshil Patel hello again

[@Retro3]

Harshil Patel your everywhere 😂

[@cranbuurysoss4920]

Harshil Patel are u gonna replace Justin y.

[@oneismajor4863]

I've seen you in more than 20 videos

[@DS-Pakaemon]

Dude you are everywhere!

[@cooldudeworks7742]

Video: Even neon! Aren’t they all neon? Edit: I get it okay?

[@ihavenoidea4503]

Cool Dude Works ikr thats why its called highlighter if it were dark it wouldn’t be light and they would be called either highers or highdarkers

[@alanag4015]

Woah ;-;

[@gavinrand8368]

NO there’s FIRE ENGINE RED 😂

[@sanyatyagi645]

I mean, there ARE pastel ones but they all look neon to me

[@unknownweirdo8318]

Nope

[@fayehiggins1150]

You know the quarantine boredom is strong when you’re watching a video about highlighters

[@potassium5819]

Nope youtube forced me

[@annpow5672]

True

[@daraobongisonguyo]

Pretty much

[@hydrationsauce]

Actually it’s class boredom but yes

[@Kevin_A]

-1 year ago

[@mystic5362]

INSIDER: We need to show people how things are made. Employee: There's already a show that does that. INSIDER:

[@damonkehl3960]

Oh ok

[@Amber-md8ut]

This IS an episode of that show “How it’s Made”

[@bunnylover3983]

Amber Louise that’s the joke lmao

[@carolinesturgill1825]

The voice voice sounds the same

[@VoidKing666]

@@Amber-md8ut but it’s weird - it’s different than the other episodes

[@pieeeguy45]

"Highlighters come in many shapes and colors, even neon." Wow just learned a new fact today! I thought highlighters were navy blue!

[@alexsinnett6123]

@hellanize Oh stop being silly, they’re CLEARLY transparent… kids these days

[@ahyaan2552]

@@alexsinnett6123 useless, its made from antimatter

[@linos3cats235]

No they’re obviously silver..

[@bullbood7423]

Amateurs, they're obviously blood!

[@Medusa_The-Bard]

It's clearly milk 🙄

[@cassiesarchives]

No wonder why my highlighters don't work WHEN I JUST OPENED THE PACKAGE. They use all the damn ink to test it out. Ugh 😒😖 Edit: Ok so I was reading the comments and let's just say things were getting heated. *ITS A JOKE*

[@earlessroboticcat7102]

😂

[@emysayer4796]

I just commented that 😂

[@anacarolinareyes8213]

This all made sense when I saw this. I bought two brand new packages of highlighters and they were both dry.

[@m1zushi]

They only use one highlighter from each new misture of ink :v they don't test all the highlighters (It would take too long)

[@anacarolinareyes8213]

Mizushi we know it’s a joke

[@karimabizeid]

Don’t waste plastic, make them into highlighter pens *SAVE THE PLANET*

[@dennvincentvaldez6768]

karim abi zeid no

[@Renzo112345678]

True PREACHING! 🙌

[@kunal-ko]

It takes special type of plastic .

[@xyloneverett8647]

Why not just use Ohoo

[@healthybutgotOBCD]

But once it runs out of ink, you throw it right?

[@Awesome_Aasim]

I remember mixing the color caps up as a kid. Brings back memories.

[@sonce__]

I consider myself a highlighter addicted. This video was so satisfying to me from the start till the end

[@donororonoa5075]

sonce same! I highlight everything! 😂😂 i can’t study in white pages actually!😂😂

[@ineedabetterpfp2485]

Sonce, this is an intervention. We need to talk about your highlight addiction.

[@somethingstupidlol7389]

That is not correct grammar/grammer. It’s actually called a “highlighter addict,” or just a person who loves to be trendy, bright, and satisfied with random videos.

[@rudrakumar7421]

I hate girls of my class they use 4-5 Colors of highlighters even on notebook pages

[@yassermourchid4205]

Ppl who disliked the video are lowlighters instead of highlighters

[@tahanighannam4459]

Ooooh🤣🤣😎😎😎

[@meghana7576]

@@tahanighannam4459 ?????????

[@pifflie346]

Haha

[@beanieboo7776]

You're the type of dad that would go, "HI HUNGRY, I'M DAD," aren't you?

[@maidamunoz4768]

dOnT laUgH, DoNt lAuGH, dONt lAugH, don’t lAaAaaaaAaAAAaaaAaaaAAAUGHHHHHH

[@uradixukr]

the how it’s made songs brings back so many old memories with my dad

[@peachrose7365]

0:55 "the force applied is equal to 350 elephants" Ok

[@chuuly1880]

peach rose ?

[@peachrose7365]

Yes

[@chuuly1880]

peach rose I don’t get it

[@peachrose7365]

Rot In My Gacha Hell 𝘛𝘏𝘌𝘕 𝘚𝘏𝘜𝘛 𝘜𝘗

[@sardine6068]

How To Not Roast Anyone Chapter one: Just don't. Please. You're both really bad at this.

[@Monkeysantiago111]

0:35 me and my friends at a sleepover when my mom says yes to ordering pizza

[@irammalik3574]

😂

[@yatchicheese5808]

It makes no sense

[@NotErine]

LMAO

[@NotErine]

yatchi cheese the high lighters are like her and her friends celebrating

[@artbycallie6816]

Lol yep

[@JustinZamora]

To this day I still pretend to use them for homework.

[@stellcrystal1361]

"I wonder how they came up with that one" Cheeky

[@bluebunanimates6590]

1: pff yeah 2: Memento Mori

[@stellcrystal1361]

@@bluebunanimates6590 *sobs in redacted*

[@bluebunanimates6590]

@@stellcrystal1361 man, I miss that channel.. There were some amazing things there

[@evelyndiaz8375]

4:56 no wonder they run out once i buy them

[@awxlynnblueberry536]

0:04 now i know why Some of my highlighters are Out of inked

[@iaintedgy1984]

Yeah, went to the bookstore and bought a highlighter anddddd it was out of ink

[@camii9136]

@@iaintedgy1984 that happened to me ;-;

[@xCherryRedx]

Yeah happened to me too :(

[@birdie8844]

Who thought it was a good idea to waste that much ink?

[@spira543]

@@birdie8844 They don’t sell the ones they test

[@justaracoonchillinginatoilet69]

highlighter are soo smooth and satisfying to useee

[@benschmidt9846]

ur waifu sucks omg you're back

[@justaracoonchillinginatoilet69]

Korn yes HELLOOOOO

[@Avantisnailss]

ur waifu sucks omg I see u everywhere

[@bishbetterhavemymoney6699]

ur waifu sucks I love your user name

[@user-xn8fn3ol9m]

I miss you

[@allthepeas2809]

Him: Clear colored Me: I TOLD YOU! CLEAR IS A COLOR!!!

[@annpow5672]

Lol

[@anxiouspotato526]

Nobody: No soul ever: Yt 2019: HiLiGhTeRs!?!?!?

[@fortunevish2835]

Well it recommend it but you clicked it

[@fairygyu-]

Me

[@kittythegacha3095]

Highlighters*

[@fatnoodleharu]

Same goes for 2021 lol

[@brittanyvo9022]

its currently 5:33 am and I am intrigued and will continue watching instead of sleeping

[@beepbeeplettuce2239]

Reading this comment at 5:32 am after a night of no sleep

[@mrdugy9873]

4:05 australa

[@lukapuljic863]

Who knew they put so much work into a highlighter

[@annpow5672]

True

[@spidexhunter456]

I wish the triangle highliters at 4:06 became fidget spinners to make studying fun

[@seaside3485]

Wait! This is How It's Made! I used to watch this all the time when I was little!

[@goldenvenushiz6004]

Thats the point

[@CharlesBBarkin]

True

[@Green24152]

They're saving it!

[@alexazuniga7023]

Me too

[@xianeley7440]

They made a whole line of highlighters just for the Science channel. That’s so fun.

[@jj_jester]

"A RObotic Arm Thrusts It Inside A Plastic Container." *THRUSTS* Edit: I sometimes get notifications from this comment I made, never expected to really get this many comments or likes- Anyways just wanted to say yall make my day better whenever I come back

[@ashleycole6498]

xXOatsXx omg I caught on to that too, what is wrong with our brains??? 😂

[@amberlindsay3799]

GET YO MIND OUT OF DA GUTTER

[@lovemetillidie689]

Amber Lindsay Same bro ;)

[@ryanwillis7177]

Into the pen SHAFT. the BACK END PLUG goes on the same way... damn someone from how it’s made has their mind in the gutter

[@socksfersold]

Glad I'm not the only one who thought of that 😂😂😂

[@vayonan2995]

Sooo you’re just stealing vids from how it’s made now instead of making your own content? Edit: to all the people misunderstanding this, it's not about them stealing content (insider owns How it's made, they have legal rights and permissions) it's about pure laziness.

[@tabbiya9174]

I was about to say the same thing. Damn lazy

[@booper8551]

I would assume they have permission with how blatant it is and how many they make. Chill out.

[@vayonan2995]

Booper I was obviously calm, I just asked a rhetorical question. No need to think that every comment that points out something negative is angry. Plus I think you mistook my question. It’s not about stealing or permission, insider is a big company, they’d never do that. It’s about laziness. Normally, they take time to research, edit or even try things out for themselves. This right here is pure laziness. They could’ve at least added their own text or music but here they just cut out the original video, added an intro and an end, they didn’t even bother shortening it down. Hence the “instead of making your own content”.

[@dayglass]

Vayona Narekuli they own How It's Made--

[@zevelth8110]

it's theirs if it has their watermark. lol

[@soupenhancement]

How It's Made was my dad's favorite show. I used to watch it with him and it put me right to sleep. Miss those days :)

[@0hn065]

No wonder markers barely last 5:02

[@iminguendo]

they make hundreds and they use 1 of them from each color to test it. they dont use every pen

[@serenegenerally]

dang. That’s sad

[@starrednights]

Iminguendo 26 not always

[@iminguendo]

yes always. The ones at the stores are not used at all

[@starrednights]

Now I am not gonna start a fight but the blue pen never lasts and I have NEVER had a highlighter that lasted the shcool year. i have NEVER gotten good highlighter!

[@thebinay3030]

Me about to sleep at 3:45 . Yt recommendation : wait a minute .

[@tiff_00]

I love how the first Highlighter was a Thin one while i'm always used to the Thick one

[@DRAGONFANG18]

Do they sell the ink in buckets? So i can just dip my text books in them.

[@alainam.5090]

2:20 I got chills I hate needles 😫

[@milahancock6405]

1:36 wow! That’s satisfying!

[@quinnystavern2063]

I used to watch how it's made as a kid I've just remembered my childhood

[@Uhhhhhhhhhm]

1:00 what did they use these for? (I don't think they ever showed it in the video)

[@amberlinec.2460]

2:40 *when your period sinks in your pads*

[@ohpuffie6862]

Haha XD lol

[@NathanChisholm041]

Sounds fascinating please tell us more?

[@hannahherrmann4921]

@@NathanChisholm041 especially after you sneeze

[@hannahherrmann4921]

@Juha Bae simple. you just don't

[@hannahherrmann4921]

@Juha Bae it was a joke. My cramps are really bad so I can't but you do you

[@Kyriphine]

WOAH THE 3 IN 1 HIGHLITER IS SO COOL

[@rehamgul9690]

4:45 this was awesome XD

[@ispeekrandom6464]

3:28 "Robutt"

[@littlepancake639]

not me hearing 1:54 "a gay measures the speed" 💀

[@slimthickens3981]

2:48 Grihppurhh

[@sailaxmi7302]

It's so fascinating seeing the machines working!!!!

[@arelyc8561]

Caption: *How Highlighter Pens Are Made* My Mind At 0:05: *slinkys 🥰*

[@bird8847]

"The force applied applied is equal to the weight of 350 elephants." *Imagine getting your hand stuck in that*

[@melodymelz9166]

1:23 backend plug i think i know what you mean...

[@sinarmentari5495]

Seeing my highlighter had been used before i brought them home really...really hit me hard

[@annpow5672]

Yeah I thought they were new🥺😢😭😰

[@chelseastevens1642]

The random confetti tho 🤷🏼‍♀️😂

[@宮園かをり-p8e]

Porbably just me whos weird but i found 1:14 really funny

[@shep8519]

"And a robotic arm *_tHRusTS_* the polyester tube into the clear reservoirs"

[@NetITGeeks]

Watching this video was the highlight of my day!

[@mtaliaa]

No one: Absolutely No one: Not a single soul: Me: **looks at thumbnail** sO tHaTs WhY tHeReS nO iNk

[@illuminatedgecko4248]

This video is giving me 90's and early 2000's school video vibes

[@c_n_b]

2:03 4 revolutions per minute 🤔

[@P.willow]

Every morning b4 my son went to school I'd put this on and be totally mesmerised by the show.. How it's made was an awesome show I love knowing how things are made.. ..

[@Miss-Nadia]

damn, it's just a normal how it's made video. I thought huggbees was going to explain how highlighters were ACTUALLY made.

[@Se.vencity]

Them: draws many circles to test the higlighters Me: oh so thats why when I get a highlighter it always run out quickly

[@midnightkt5133]

This is how all of the highlighters have no ink in them when I buy them.

[@lefish5277]

That intro is such a banger. Love the how it’s made narrator

[@bangtan_trash4236]

This marks Month 4 of quarantine at 3am: the day I had an epiphany about highlighters

[@annpow5672]

Well 👍

[@miim_luv]

0:00 me and my friends at a school dance

[@taylorashwood6891]

This from how it's made. I love that show.

[@amarah1191]

This guy sounds like the pacer test guy

[@caffeecup5319]

So... that’s why I didn’t finish my exam They wasted my ink

[@alizamallal1613]

O

[@adequate1573]

Very true

[@pebberito]

One line was enough

[@blueberrypie9608]

*you use high lighter instead of pen?*

[@AquaticBlaze]

@@blueberrypie9608 i think they're talking about taking notes

[@juliaithinal4835]

The markers make it circles is just satisfying.

[@woocheongan1437]

I want to know about the companies that design all the equipment needed to make these products. Every time I see a "how it's made" video it seems like all the machines are unique and made specifically to suite each product. That takes some serious intelligence and creativity

[@NonbinaryLesbian]

Bro copied and pasted a different comment and thought we wouldn't notice

[@seoyeonkim7538]

0:36 NeOn

[@cheesedabber]

I cannot express my gratitude for making this video. This video changed my life and inspired me to keep going. I was in a dark place in my life but after watching this video I can finally see the light. My soul has been enlightened and my will is stronger than ever! I will continue pushing on no matter what happens cause I realized that the pain makes me stronger. I feel like I can become anything and everything. No one can break me down cause I will get back up. No one can push me away cause I will not even move an inch. Try shooting a gun at me cause I won't even flinch. I see what I want and then I go get it. I am unstoppable. I will embrace every moment no matter what happens cause as long as I am alive I can do everything. The day I stop dreaming is the day I die. And the day I die will never come cause I am unstoppable. I live everyday like I will die tomorrow. I will change the world. Nature has given me life and I will carry out my will. If you don't try you will never make it. Failure is not an option. I have the courage to keep on walking this dark and lonely path. I will endure anything that will come my way. I will keep on walking this path without looking back. I will not get distracted no matter what. I will work on myself and I will become a better person. I will become everything I want to become. I will reach my goals no matter what. Success will happen if you keep on trying and I will keep on trying no matter what. I will make everyone around me proud. I am not a talker but a walker. I won't tell people I am great I will work until people tell me I am great. There is no stopping. My success is inevitable. You will never know unless you try. Yesterday I said tomorrow but tomorrow doesn't exist. The only thing that exists is you right now. The only thing that exists is the present and that will never change. If you wanna start then start right now cause you can only start right now. Time is finite. Time is a valuable limited recourse. Never waste a moment. Work 24/7. It's about drive. I have the drive but not my drivers license. No excuses! Work no matter what happens and then and only then will you find success.

[@lolimagine307]

Factory: Has them draw 1,000 lines to test it Me: wondering why my highlighter has literally no ink:

[@polii8845]

The 3 In 1 Color Highlighter Is Honestly What I Want Right Now

[@kanoaokai2642]

Never know hightlighter’s whe’re so interesting 😮

[@Kicker-14]

Hope this highlights everyone’s day

[@johnster02]

“comes in many colors, even neon.” wait aren’t they all neon colored lol

[@deadaccount5427]

i never asked or cared about how hightlighters were made my whole life, but now all the sudden i'm very intrested after seeing this in my recamandation

[@Mary_OTT]

2:40 is the center of the video, idk why I just felt like typing this...

[@devd_rx]

Ok np

[@devd_rx]

But u r wrong

[@Luna_moona457]

@@devd_rxthere technically isn't a half for 5 that's equal

[@vcagande7998]

I always wanted those one of those triangle shaped highlighters in grade school

[@user_disconnected]

This video lives rent free in my recommended page

[@lyceumthesprout]

5:07 Me: (looks at roll) They do know we buy highlighters to use, right? They're not gonna use up all the ink, right?

[@elliotcam7369]

Nicole :P I know right

[@joannarosas9910]

Well I think they don’t use the highlighters they are using to test if they work

[@Liwaaaah]

Hearing that theme song takes me back to my very weird childhood and my obsession with discovery channel

[@inquest7]

@August Weather so you too!

[@Liwaaaah]

@@inquest7 hells yeah

[@howthingsaremade1745]

love seeing how things are made

[@etch-a-sketch3620]

“Just over a 3rd of a drop is enough to turn a fire engine *red* “ *not like the fire engine was already red*

[@fandomgacha3361]

instead of sleeping (its almost 2 am) im watching how highliters are made. Nice

[@Catigulaa]

Child: How do women get pregnant? Father: 3:09

[@Starribruins]

Go away

[@anachang4317]

I hope someone is watching in 2018! 🎉 😪

[@mattnavarro5397]

0:39 So this is how highlighters begin

[@57_dayo]

Damn. Satisfying video

[@SkunkMom]

Watching this video was the highlight of my day

[@mojonewslk]

“Food comes in lots of shapes and colors, even edible!”

[@lauracapuder1113]

How JEFFRIE STAR COSMETICKS made

[@makayladelile-mintywishes7221]

The beginning is so perfect man...

[@Butter.Sticked]

You didn’t search for this. This ended up in your recommendations.