Do you want to know about making safety match? Interested in starting matchbox manufacturing business? If so, find here in this article how to make matches with raw materials and manufacturing process.
The use of matches is prevalent from the old days. However, it was Arthur Albright who was the first in producing large scale production of safety matches in the year 1851 in London. Later in 1892, Joshua Pussey war the first person to patent a matchbook. At present, matchboxes are mostly found based on wood or waxy cardboard. Here in this article, we will cover the manufacturing process based out of woods.
Steps to Follow to Make a Matchbox
Raw Materials Required for Safety Match Making
There is two-part in the process of the manufacturing of matches. One is the matchstick and another is the match head. Let us cover the two aspects one by one.
- Matchstick: Matchsticks are generally made up of wood. The wood must be strong enough to absorb the pressure while striking. It also needs to be porous to absorb chemicals when treated. Pine and aspen trees are preferred in matchstick manufacturing. However, presently wax and plastic are also used to make matchsticks.
- MatchHead: The head of the matchstick is the match head. This is where the chemicals are passed over for creating a fire when struck with the side face of the matchbox. The chemicals used mainly are sulphur, an oxidizing agent like potassium chlorate, powdered glass, binding agents, starch, etc.
- MatchBox: Matchboxes are generally made of cardboard. The side surfaces are used for striking purposes. The side surfaces are mixed with red phosphorous, powdered glass, and an adhesive.
Safety Match Manufacturing Process
There are broadly five steps to follow while manufacturing safety matches.
Cutting Matchsticks
In the case of producing wooden matchsticks, you need to arrange a log of white pine or aspen wood. Then the bark is scratched off. The raw wood is then cut into desired pieces. If you are producing for commercial purpose, there are machines which make the job easier.
Preparing Matchsticks
The matchsticks after properly cut are soaked with a dilute solution of ammonium phosphate. After soaking the sticks are dried and cleaned through a rotating drum. The cleaned and dried sticks are then transported to the place where matchheads will be formed.
Forming Match Heads
The next step is to wrap up one end of of the matchbox with the chemical mixture as mentioned above. After the treatment process of coating is complete, the matchstick with the coated match head is dried for an hour.
Preparing the MatchBoxes
The matchboxes are generally made of cardboard. They are developed and printed and stored in a separate area. The side of the safety matchboxes is treated with the chemical solution (mentioned above).
Packaging the Safety MatchBoxes
The matchsticks are the packed in matchboxes in a uniform manner. The matchboxes are packed in a carton of corrugated cardboard boxes for shipping.
Safety Measures in MatchBox Making
One must be very careful in making matchbox manufacturing as the process deals with toxic chemicals. Negligence in quality control may lead to an accidental explosion due to the presence of combustible raw materials.
The matchbox industry has traveled a long way from manual to completely automized production process. Nowadays the match manufacturing industry is treated as large scale industry. Though developed countries like the USA showing slow growth due to better alternatives, developing countries continue to show significant growth potential.
