Machine making of soap usually involves the following steps:
- Ingredient preparation:
Fats and oils (e.g. olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil, etc.) and alkalis (usually sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide) are the main raw materials. These raw materials need to be prepared before the machine is made. - Grease and lye are mixed:
Grease and lye are added to a special reactor. This process is called saponification reaction. The machine ensures precise proportioning and mixing. - Stirring and heating:
The mixture in the reactor is stirred and heated to induce a reaction between the grease and lye. This step usually takes a while to ensure thorough saponification.
4 Add flavors and colors (optional):
During the reaction process, fragrances, colors and other additives can be added to give the soap a specific scent and appearance.
- Inverted mold shaping:
When the mixture reaches the proper consistency, it is poured into molds. These molds are usually of various shapes and sizes, depending on the manufacturer’s needs. - Cooling and curing:
After molding, the soap needs to be cooled and cured for some time, usually at room temperature. This helps the soap to become stronger.
7 Cutting and Packaging:
Once the soaps are fully cured, they are cut to the desired size and then packaged. Packaging usually includes labels and an outer wrapper to keep the soap fresh.
Each of these steps can be performed by machines to ensure production efficiency and quality consistency. Manufacturers can adjust formulas as needed to produce different types of soaps, such as solid soaps, liquid soaps, or special purpose soaps.