I was out look at Rimowa Limbo pieces and noticed the following imperfection in a number of bags. The orange arrow points to a line in the plastic.





I wasn't sure if this was a mold mark or a defect? These were along the top edge when the bag is standing in its vertical position, that is on all four wheels.

Have others noticed these in their polycarbonate pieces? Should I try to find a piece without this?

I'd expect to see worse after the luggage traveled or gets checked a time or two so it maybe sub-optimal to worry about it...

I looked at my newish Limbo IATA multiwheel and there is a very subtle line similar to what you posted at the top when it's upright on its wheel. It is very subtle and I did not notice it with the naked eye until you brought it up. Also I had to get my face within a foot of the case. I would think it is an imperfection in the polycarbonate. (It's possible it was caused during my recent travels.) It's the only line that I can find. I will have to look at my larger 30" Limbo to see if there's anything similar. It does not bother me because the case is structurally sound and I have some peace of mind with the 5 years warranty.

...without more pictures.

If here is a distinct and repetitive line and it is throughout the material (inside and outside) then I would guess it is what we call a "knit" line where the plastics flowed together during the heating process to make the polycarbonate panel.

Once again hard to tell without better and in depth pictures.

I took the pictures with my phone while I was examining pieces at a luggage shop. Are "knit lines" a potential weak spot? Or is that not really an issue and if the polycarbonate cracks it is usually due to external force in a specific location as opposed to some weakness from the moulding process? Just curious.

Hi rkv-

Are " knit lines " a potential weak spot ?

That is a very good question.

My answer would be that I would not purchase a case with a noticeable knit line running vertically along the case wall. Especially it were also observed on the inside of the case clamshell wall as well as the exterior. I would ask the store manager how such a case got through the inspection process with a defect like that.

However your good, and detailed photo does not seem to illustrate that. It appears more as a rub mark, which when you travel and check luggage you may find originating from the from the carousel belt. My wife and I find these all the time on our larger luggage cases, and we later remove them with window cleaner or a degreaser.

Such marks are more easily removed from the Salsa cases that those made from aluminum. But you are heading in the right direction: Always inspect and clean you luggage cases, inside and out, after travelling.

I think that's normal.

With respect to swissaire's prior post, these pieces were new in the store. I don't believe it was a rub mark. When I first saw it, I thought it was a problem with the paint as if it was a drip, because it had a certain three dimensionality to it. Every Limbo 880.73.xx.4 which this shop had on display had the same problem irrespective of colour. I did not inspect the inside of the shell so I can't say whether it went all the way through the polycarbonate shell or not. Also other Limbo pieces in different sizes did not have this same irregularity.

I am still favoring the Limbo. However, I plan on checking around in other shops to see if I can find pieces without this possible irregularity. If it is present I will certainly try to inspect the inside. That of course assumes the lining opens up in some fashion.

Also not this irregularity is fairly subtle. I believe I spotted it only because of the glaring overhead lighting in the show room. In the wild, I suspect it wouldn't stand out or be as visible.

Hello All,

Just to clarify, the lines on the case are inherent in the tooling and processing but we have been engineering a process improvement to eliminate or greatly reduce the lines in the molded shell.

For further questions, Please contact:

Jaylene Majich
Public Relations Coordinator

RIMOWA North America Inc.
90 Vondrau Drive
Cambridge, ON N3E 1B8
Canada

General Inquiries: (519) 653 1445
For RIMOWA Accounts: 1-888-RIMOWA8
Fax: (519) 653 4660
E-Mail: [email protected]
Internet: http://www.rimowa.com

Hi Jaylene -

Thank you for posting the helpful information !

I hope you remain active here on FT.

I just picked up a similar mark yesterday on my Rimowa Salsa Sports case, but it came off of the rubber plates of the GRU baggage claim carousel.

I asked the staff at the Quality Inn yesterday for a little window cleaner, and it came off with a little hand towel scrub. Good as new !

It took over 2+ hours to travel from GRU to the hotel just across from CGH. 2 weeks away from the start of the World Cup now.

Patience being a virtue, will be sorely tested next month.

Cheers !

Offcs,OP,you have to post detailed pics of your bag for anybody to decide this,have you not got a microscope!!!