The given diagram illustrates the stages and involved equipments in the production of matches, from raw timber to finished packaged product.
Overall, this process consists of 9 main stages, starting with preparing wooden logs and ending with packaging product. Throughout the production, the wood is treated, dried and coated with several substances.
At the beginning of the process, logs are peeled to product thin veneer, these sheets are then cut into matchstick-shape by a chopper. Next, the matchstick are soaked in an ammonium phosphate tank, which helps improve their safety. After this treatment, they are dried in a large dryer before being transferred through a metal duct into a hopper with the help of blower. The stick are countinue temporary stored in a storage area.
In the following stages, the sticks are inserted into holes on the perforated steel belt, allowing them to move through several chemical components. First, they are dipped into paraffin wax, followed by a base chemical solution. After that, the tips are covered with the chemical mixture that enables the matches to ignite. The final matches then pass through a drying area to ensure that the chemicals harden properly. Eventually, the completed matches are removed from the conveyor belt and sent to the packaging area, where they are packed into boxes ready for distribution.