Match developing history and manufacture process

MATCH DEVELOPING HISTORY AND MANUFACTURE PROCESS

Early match manufacturing was mainly a manual operation. Mechanization slowly took over portions of the operation until the first automatic matches making machine was patented by Ebenezer Beecher in 1888. Modern match manufacturing is a highly automated process using continuous-operation match stick making machines that can produce as many as 10 million matches in an eight-hour shift with only a few people to monitor the operation of matchstick machine.

Matches are manufactured in several stages. In the case of wooden-stick matches, the matchsticks are first cut, prepared, and moved to a storage area. When the matchsticks are needed, they are inserted into holes in a long perforated belt. The belt carries them through the rest of the process, where they are dipped into several chemical tanks, dried, and packaged in boxes.