Pressing
The pressing process is carried out exclusively with powdered paraffin or the finest paraffin shavings.
During production, liquid paraffin is sprayed onto a stainless steel drum, which immediately cools and solidifies it. This fine granulate is then transported through pipe systems to the candle press.
In the press, the paraffin is compressed into various shapes, such as cylinders or spheres. The wick is simultaneously pressed in using a needle. The entire process takes just a few seconds. The finished candle blanks are dipped or varnished immediately after production.
Casting
Casting technology is the oldest method for making candles. The basic principle has never changed. A wick is stretched into the center of any mold and filled with liquid wax. Once solidified, the finished candle can be removed from the mold.
To produce many candles, several molds were placed next to each other. Candle-making machines were later constructed based on this principle.
The pouring process is particularly popular because it allows for a wide variety of shapes and wax blends. Unusual candle shapes, such as star and figure candles, as well as solid-colored candles, are possible. Pure stearin candles can even be produced using the pouring process.
Dragging/ Pulling
Originally made by hand, this method of production has been modernized and automated in recent decades, so that candles are still made this way in many candle factories today.
Several hundred meters of wick can be wound around the drums and placed in a circular motion. The lower section of the wick passes through a wax bath, where the wick absorbs a layer of wax at a time. This layer cools as the wick continues its circular motion until it returns to the wax bath.
This allows the candle string to grow to the desired diameter. Once the required diameter is reached, the finished string is removed from the traction machine. A cutting and milling machine developed specifically for these systems cuts the continuously arriving candle string to the desired length and transports the cut candles to a milling unit. There, the candle head and base are milled simultaneously.
With a traction machine, it is possible to produce more than 10,000 candles per hour. This manufacturing process is primarily used for household candles and high-quality altar candles.