Introduction
Glass is a rigid and transparent material that has been used for centuries. One of the most popular and common uses of glass is for packaging purposes. This means storing the products safely in containers, jars, and bottles. glass is a very common and important product that is used for packaging in many different industries. Most importantly, they are used in beverage-making factories like Soda, Juices, and Milk.
When it comes to pharmaceutical industries, they are used to store medicine safely. The cosmetic industry also uses glass to store different skincare products, perfumes, lotions, and related products. The glass bottles come in different sizes like 250ml, 375ml, and 750ml glass bottle.
One of the most important factors in using glass is that it can be easily recycled. It can be restored as many times as required without losing quality. On the other hand, plastic is difficult to recycle and has some harmful effects on the environment. The process of manufacturing glass is easier than that of plastic. Its process includes melting raw materials like sand, shaping the glass to the required shape, and then cooling it down. Many whiskey bottle manufacturers also use glass to manufacture bottles.
Raw Material Used in the Manufacturing of Glass Bottles
There are some minor ingredients used in the manufacturing of glass. These materials are heated at a very high temperature until they become liquid. It is then shaped into glass. The important raw materials used in the manufacturing of glass bottles are written below:
Silica Sand: The purest form of sand is called Silica Sand. It is a very important ingredient used in the manufacturing of Bottles. It looks like regular sand, but it is very clear and pure.
Soda Ash: Soda ash is a very important material in the manufacturing of glass. It helps the sand to melt at low temperatures. It works as a saving ingredient in the process of manufacturing. Without Soda Ash, the sand will require a higher temperature to melt.
Limestone: Limestone is a material that is used to make the glass stronger. It helps the glass to last longer. This makes the glass stable, so the glass won’t break easily.
Cullet(Recycled Glass): The material that is used to make the glass a recyclable container is cullet. Cullet are small, old, and broken pieces of glass that are melted and reused in the making of new glass. The cullet is a material that melts fast then other raw materials. So, it reduces fuel or other energy sources.
Refining and Melting Processes
After the assemblage of all the raw materials, Silica Sand, Soda Ash, Limestone, and Cullet. They are mixed together in the best amount suggested by the experts. The mixture is then putted into a large giant sized owen which is used to melt these materials. This Owen is called a furnace.
After fedding the materials in the furnace, the temperature of the furnace is increased upto 1700OC. This temperature is greater than the Lava from a Volcano. At this huge temperature, the raw material is turned into liquid glass.
When the materials are turned into liquid glass, they are not shaped in to bottles directly. Before the shaping process, the glass is refined. The refining process of glass consists of removing the bubbles and other small impurities. This refining makes the glass smoother and stronger. There are some other additives that are used to improve the quality of glass and can they can also change the color of glass.
Packaging and Decoration of Bottles
When the manufacturing process of glass bottles is completed, they go through a decoration process. The decoration of glass bottles makes them attractive and ready for sale. Different ways of decorating bottles are explained:
Labelling and Color Coating: The bottles are coated with different colors to make them attractive. Some of the labeling of the bottles is done by the Brand that uses the bottles to put its product in the bottle.
Screen Printing: This Process is used to directly print the logos, brand names, and designs on the bottles with special inks. This printing makes the bottles more attractive and professional.
After the decoration process, the bottles go through a packaging process to make them secure before being sent to stores and factories. The packaging process includes:
Palletizing: After decoration, the bottles are stacked on a large wooden and plastic platform called pallets.
Wrapping: To save the pallets from moving or breaking, a strong plastic film is wrapped around the bottles.
This process makes sure that the bottles are served to customers in the best possible conditions.
Conclusion
Glass bottles play a very crucial role in many industries. They are used to store beverages, medicines, and cosmetic products like lotions, perfumes, and creams. They are used in these industries because glass bottles are strong and safe, and they don’t react with contents being carried. One of the most important reason of using glass bottles is that it is Eco-friendly. On the other hand, plastic bottles have a serious impact on the environment. The glass bottles tend to be recycled again and again without losing their quality. This saves natural resources and reduces waste materials.
As the time passes, the manufacturing and quality of glass bottles will improve. It will make it more cost effective and increases production speed. With the increase of awareness of saving the planet, the demand for using the recyclable bottles will grow.
