A mug is a type of cup with a large handle. It’s usually used for hot drinks like water, milk, coffee, and tea. In some Western countries, people also drink soup from mugs during work breaks. Mugs have a handle and are often cylindrical. They can be made from porcelain, glass, stainless steel, plastic, or even natural stone. Do you know how a ceramic mugs factoryceramic mugs factory mass produced ceramic mugs?In this blog, you’ll learn how our ceramic mugs are made.
Steps to Make a Ceramic Mug
Mass production of ceramic mugs involves 15 steps, from raw material preparation to firing the finished product.
Below is the flow chart for manufacturing.
Ceramic making flow chart
1.Choose raw material
Many types of materials can make ceramic mugs.
- Dolomite: light, suitable for seasonal use
- Porcelain/Stoneware: durable, usually for daily use
- Bone China: luxury but expensive, can be used for hosting.
2.Ball Milling
Then we should combine clay, quartz, feldspar, and water. We have a machine that can do this.
3.Mudding
Mix the chosen clay with water to form a paste called slip. Filter the slip to remove impurities and air bubbles.
4.Forming
There are several methods for forming ceramic mugs:
- Potter’s Wheel: A traditional method where a potter shapes the clay on a spinning wheel.
- Slip Casting: Fill a mold with slip, let it set, then empty it to leave a thin clay layer in the shape of the mold.
- Pressing: Press dry clay into a mold using high pressure to form the mug’s shape.
5.Trimming
Let the mug dry to remove excess moisture. Trim the mug’s edges
6.Handle
Glue a handle for the mug
7.Body firing
After adjusting the mug shape and surface, then fire it in a kiln at about 1500°F (800°C). This can take 2 to 12 hours
8.Glazing
Choose a color we want to make glazing for the mug.
9.Decal or painting
Decorate the mug using painting, glazing, or decals. Decorations can be applied before or after firing
10.Decoration firing
Fire the decorated mugs in a kiln at 1800°F to 2300°F (1000°C to 1300°C) to vitrify the clay, making it durable and non-porous.
11.Finish products
After firing, the mugs are ready.
12.Quality Control
Inspect each mug for defects like cracks or irregularities. Reject any defective mugs.
13.Packaging
Pack the finished mugs into boxes or crates for shipping to distribution centers or retailers
14.Customization
Create customized packaging for your mugs, such as gift boxes, PDQ (Product Displayed Quickly) displays, hang tags, or price labels
15.Shipping
- Air Freight: Faster but more expensive.Suitable for smaller, high-value shipments or urgent deliveries.
- Sea Freight: Cost-effective for large, bulky shipments, but slower.
- Express Couriers:Companies like DHL, UPS, or FedEx offer door-to-door services. Ideal for small packages and e-commerce.
Here is a video to show full progress.
