Are you curious about how to make safety matches? If starting a matchbox manufacturing business is your goal, this article will tell you everything you need to know – from raw materials to manufacturing processes.
Matches have been widely used ever since ancient times. However, it was Arthur Albright who pioneered the industrial production of safety matches in 1851 in London. Joshua Pussey holds the distinction of being the first individual to take out a patent on a matchbook in 1892.
Nowadays, most matchboxes are made of wood or a type of waxy cardboard. This article will provide an overview of the manufacturing process that utilizes wood.
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5 Steps to Start a Matchbox-Making Manufacturing Business
1. Create a Matchbox Manufacturing Project Business Plan
If you are wanting to start a matchbox-making manufacturing business, it’s essential to come up with a project plan. This plan serves as your company’s guide for current and future operational activities and is the most central document for getting investments from investors.
You can draft your business plan yourself or enlist the help of a professional writer. The following are essential elements that must be included in your project plan:
- Startup & recurring costs
- Target customers
- Pricing plan
- Where and how can I sell matchboxes?
2. Register and Procure Required Licenses
Registering your matchbox manufacturing business is essential for it to function correctly within the legal parameters. The right legal structure will be determined by the scope of your operation and available resources.
To choose the best company structure and get the necessary licenses and permits, consulting a local attorney is advisable.
3. Raw Materials Required for Safety Match Making
The manufacturing of matches involves two components: the matchstick and the match head. Let’s discuss each one separately.
- Matchsticks are typically made from wood that is required to be robust enough to withstand the pressure caused by striking and porous so it can hold the chemicals used when processing. Pine and aspen trees usually make up matchstick production, but currently, wax and plastic are also employed in their fabrication.
- The match head is the top of a matchstick, where chemicals like sulfur and potassium chlorate, plus binding agents, are passed over to produce fire when struck with the striking surface of a matchbox. Powdered glass, starch and other materials are also used.
- Matchboxes are usually made out of cardboard, with the sides containing a mixture of red phosphorous, powdered glass, and glue. The sides can also be used for striking.
4. Buying Mchine Safety Matchbox Manufacturing Process
The first step in starting a matchbox manufacturing business is buying the necessary machines and equipment, which can be either semi-automatic or automatic based on the size of the operation and budget.
Manufacturing safety matches involves five main steps.
- Cutting Matchsticks
To make wooden matchsticks, a log of white pine or aspen wood must be gathered. The bark needs to be taken off next. Once this is done, the raw wood can be cut into the desired lengths. For businesses that want to make lots of matchsticks, machines are available to assist with the process.
- Preparing Matchsticks
Matchsticks are cut, then soaked in an ammonium phosphate solution. After drying, they are passed through a rotating drum to clean them, before being sent to where the matchheads will be created.
- Forming Match Heads
After covering one end of the matchbox with the chemical mixture, dry the matchstick for one hour to complete the coating process.
- Preparing the MatchBoxes
Matchboxes are typically made of cardboard. They are designed, printed, and stored in different areas. The side of the matchboxes is then coated with a chemical solution.
- Packaging the Safety MatchBoxes
Matchsticks are uniformly arranged in matchboxes, which are placed into a carton constructed from corrugated cardboard for shipment.
5. Safety Measures in MatchBox Making
When producing matchboxes, it is vital to practice caution as it involves hazardous chemicals. Poor quality control can be disastrous as flammable materials are used in the process.
The matchbox industry has transformed from manual to automated production. This large-scale industry shows slow growth in developed countries, as other options are available. Developing countries, however, demonstrate great potential for continued growth.
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