How Crayons are Made | How It's Made

Crayon Production Process

The Invention and Composition of Crayons

• Crayons were invented in America in 1903, originating from a non-toxic version of the wax crayon used for marking crates and barrels.

• The primary material for crayons is paraffin wax, chosen for its low cost and ease of melting, which also provides a good rub-off quality on paper.

Manufacturing Process: Melting and Mixing

• Wax is melted to 62 degrees Celsius; a secret powder is added to strengthen the crayon and increase production efficiency.

• Synthetic chemicals are incorporated into the mixture to prevent sticking to molds and enhance rub-off properties with Stereoc acid.

Tinting and Molding

• The wax mixture is tinted by adding colors like yellow and red to create orange crayons; the factory can produce 127 different colors.

• A rotary machine injects the wax into molds, hardening it within 60 seconds using cool water. Excess wax is recycled during this process.

Labeling and Packaging

• After molding, crayons are ejected onto a conveyor belt leading to a labeling machine that applies labels at a rate of 8,500 crayons per hour.