How Crayons are Made?

With an annual output of 3 billion crayons, or 8 million daily, the company has expanded from eight initial colors to 120 vibrant hues. The manufacturing process involves heating paraffin, a non-toxic waxy substance, with pigments, clay, and synthetic chemicals. Rotary machines reduce waste, producing 2700 crayons per cycle, while individual vats and molds ensure color consistency. Quality control is crucial, with random samples tested for color accuracy, hardness, and other specifications before packaging and distribution.

In this section of the "How Crayons are Made" YouTube video, the history of Crayola, the market leader in crayon production since 1903, is discussed. The company produces an astounding average of 3 billion crayons per year, which is equivalent to 8 million crayons daily. This number is impressive when considering that crayons were initially available in only eight colors, and now come in 120 vibrant hues. The production process involves using paraffin, a waxy substance derived from wood coal or petroleum, which is non-toxic and safe for use. Paraffin is heated and mixed with pigments, clay, and synthetic chemicals to create the final product. The pigments are made from chemicals and are then dried and blended for color consistency. Additional ingredients like glitter, perfumes, and scents can also be added. Paraffin is a flammable material, and strict safety measures are taken during production. The mixture is poured into molds, which are cooled to harden the wax and capture the color pigments. The final crayons have a distinctive hexagonal shape and are known for their vibrant colors.

In this section of the "How Crayons are Made" YouTube video, the manufacturing process of crayons is detailed. The use of rotary machines reduces waste, producing 2700 crayons per cycle, with several machines working together creating 30,000 crayons hourly. After cooling, crayons are inspected for defects and those that fail are returned for remelting and recasting. In the past, an entire factory floor was dedicated to producing a single color, but today, individual vats and molds are dedicated to only one or a few colors. After molding and inspection, crayons are labeled using a machine that can label 8500 crayons per hour. Quality control is crucial, with random samples tested for color accuracy, hardness, and other specifications. Once crayons pass quality control, they are packaged in cardboard boxes or plastic containers and prepared for distribution through logistics coordination.