How Silicone Wristbands are made?
Silicon wristbands (others spell this as silicone) are one of wearable devices made from the silicon gels. During the ’80s, people primarily called them gel wristbands. As these wristbands became a trend in the early years of the 21st century, they are popularly known as “silicon wristbands.” The silicon wristbands have been intentionally used by the people since then to support a specific cause, from charitable events, health-related activities, and environmental awareness, to political campaigns.
The entire world has been revolutionized by the power of silicone wristbands. Today, silicon wristbands are used everywhere, from public gatherings to high-tech industries. With the introduction of different technologies, the use of silicon wristbands continues to expand and can no longer be considered a fad.
How the Silicone Wristbands are processed?
The silicon wristbands cannot be manufactured without the presence of its main material- silicon gel. By its description, the silicon gel is a type of heat-resisting, synthetic material that is easy to process in factories. It is said that silicon possesses these three exceptional qualities- water resistance, high elasticity, and low toxicity. Silicon was a common material to manufacture different things, such as, but not limited to, kitchen wares, computer hardware, electric materials, and absorbent materials.
But how does the silicon wristbands are made? Despite its popularity as an accessory, people have not been familiar with the process of how these wristbands are personalized. Here are the step-by-step instructions on how different companies are manufacturing the silicon wristbands:
Raw Material Processing or Prospecting
The first phase of manufacturing the silicon was to look and process for the raw silicon material. In this phase, companies who use them as their prime material for their products tend to look for silicon suppliers or look for the best quality of silicon that marks the standard of making a silicon-based product. Once the perfect quality of silicon has been chosen for manufacturing, it is suitable to go through the next phase.
Companies who manufacture silicon must see to it that the material would be able to withstand the volatile temperature caused by the process it may undergo in the next phase. Choosing the exact quality of the silicon material it needed for production affects the entire manufacturing process. Should the manufacturers disregard this phase, the company will bleed money without getting much profit.
Preparing the Raw Material
The second phase of manufacturing the silicon wristbands would be the preparation of raw material into a paste-like structure. The raw material will be liquified so that it will be easier for the next phase to shape, resize, or adjust the silicon wristbands to the desired, overall aesthetic. In this phase, machines would process the raw silicon materials they have chosen and make a sticky figure, ready to be molded in the next phase of manufacturing.
Molding the Silicone Wristbands
The third phase of manufacturing the silicon wristbands would now be its molding process.
The liquid silicone mixture, now infused with creativity, is injected into molds that determine the wristband’s size, shape, and design. These molds, typically crafted from metal, come in diverse sizes and configurations, allowing for the creation of an extensive range of wristbands. The molds are sealed tightly, and the liquid silicone is injected under high pressure, capturing the essence of the design.
The once-liquified mixture was molded to become a solidified structure. This phase focuses on the entire physical appearance of the silicon wristband (overall design would be in the next stages of the manufacturing process) and how it should be molded according to the customer’s desire. Should the molding process be successful enough, the molded structures are now waiting to be completely sturdy until ready for design and customization.
Designing the Silicone Wristbands
The fourth phase of manufacturing the silicon wristbands would now be focusing on the designing process. The silicon wristbands at this phase are now designed for their color, style, and more. In this stage, the designs are both conceptualized and immediately integrated into the sturdy wristbands. This process does not come easy as both the wristband designers and the customers must reach an effective collaboration to proceed to the next phase.
In this phase, the customers can now freely suggest what type of design they want for their silicon wristbands. On the other hand, the designers of the company’s end must be in direct communication with the customers to identify what their customers want for their orders. This phase will already reveal more complications in the process of manufacturing their silicon wristbands. If both the customers and the designers reach a mutual agreement on how the wristband must be designed, the wristbands must proceed to the next phase of manufacturing.
Customization of the Silicone Wristbands
The fifth phase of manufacturing the desired silicon wristbands for customers would be their customization as silicon wristbands. The phase does not just focus on the designs agreed upon by the customers and the designers during the last stage, there would be critical trial and error moments at this phase. There are numerous possibilities that the design may not fit the wristband and vice versa.
Silicon wristbands transcend their utilitarian origins through customization. Printing machines equipped with precision technology take center stage, adding colors, logos, slogans, or any desired design onto the wristbands. This stage allows for a myriad of customization options, turning each wristband into a unique canvas for personal expression or a powerful tool for brand promotion.
Once the silicon wristbands have successfully been fully customized without any problem, it is good to proceed to the next phase. The process of customization involves implementing embossing and debossing designs on the wristband, which is different from the designing process. After this process, the silicon wristbands will have their specific usage that fits the needs of the customers. Should everything be done in this phase, the silicon wristbands must undergo the remaining phases.
Quality-checking is a crucial phase for the newly designed silicon wristbands. The goal of this phase is to ensure that all of the silicon wristbands generated are already spotless. In this phase, the company employees must see to it that the silicon wristbands have no printing errors, design incompatibility, undesirable shapes, and many other problems.
After thoroughly checking the silicon wristbands, if they are found to be in 100% condition, safely usable, and undamaged, they are good to be packaged.
Packaging the Silicone Wristbands
After the entire manufacturing process has been completed and the silicone wristbands are ready to be delivered to the customers, the final part would be packaging them. Although packaging the silicon wristbands is already a part of quality-checking, the manufacturers need to ensure the product’s quality until it reaches the hands of their customers.
The silicon wristbands must be well-packaged to preserve their quality. Hence, this gives the impression to the customers that companies prioritize excellent delivery and service over profit.
Therefore, the creation of silicon wristbands involves a meticulous dance of technology, craftsmanship, and creativity. From the careful selection of raw materials to the final stages of packaging, each step contributes to the unique identity of these seemingly simple accessories. The next time you slide a silicon wristband onto your wrist, take a moment to appreciate the complex journey it undertook—crafted with precision and purpose, it symbolizes far more than a colorful adornment. It encapsulates a narrative of identity, support, and the power of personal expression in our ever-evolving society.