How Crayons are Made

How Crayons are Made
Quizzed ESL Activities

Crayola Crayon Production Process

Overview

Crayola, the market leader in art supplies, produces 3 billion crayons per year, with a daily production of 8 million crayons.

Materials Used

  • Paraffin: a waxy substance derived from wood, coal, or petroleum
  • Pigments: powdered form, made from chemicals mixed together in wooden tanks
  • Additional ingredients: glitter, perfumes, and other scents

Production Process

  1. Paraffin is heated and mixed with clay, synthetic chemicals, and pigments
  2. The mixture is pumped into a rotary machine and injected into molds
  3. The molds are cooled, and the wax solidifies, capturing the color pigments
  4. Crayons are inspected for defects and rejected ones are remelted and recast
  5. Crayons are labeled and packaged in cardboard boxes or plastic containers

Quality Control

Random samples are tested for color accuracy, hardness, and other specifications to ensure that the crayons meet the desired standards.

Distribution

Packaged crayons are prepared for shipment to retailers, schools, and other distribution points, involving logistics coordination to ensure timely and cost-effective delivery.

Term Definition Example Usage
Paraffin A waxy substance derived from wood, coal, or petroleum Crayola uses paraffin as a key ingredient in their crayon production process.
Pigments Powered form, made from chemicals mixed together in wooden tanks Crayola’s pigments give their crayons their vibrant colors.
Rotary Machine A machine that injects the crayon mixture into molds Crayola’s rotary machines help produce millions of crayons daily.
Quality Control A process that ensures products meet desired standards Crayola’s quality control process involves testing random samples for color accuracy and hardness.
Logistics The coordination of the movement of goods from one place to another Crayola’s logistics team ensures timely and cost-effective delivery of their crayons to retailers and schools.
Defects Flaws or imperfections in a product Crayola’s quality control process involves inspecting crayons for defects and rejecting those that don’t meet standards.
Recasting The process of melting and re-molding a product to remove defects Crayola recasts defective crayons to ensure they meet their high standards.
Color Accuracy The degree to which a product’s color matches its intended shade Crayola’s quality control process involves testing crayons for color accuracy to ensure they meet their standards.
Synthetic Chemicals Man-made chemicals used in the production process Crayola uses synthetic chemicals in their crayon production process, along with paraffin and pigments.
Perfumes and Scents Additional ingredients added to crayons for fragrance Crayola offers a range of crayons with different perfumes and scents, such as strawberry and blueberry.

Crayola Crayon Production Process Vocabulary Quiz

Test Your Knowledge

1. What is the term for a substance made from chemicals mixed together in wooden tanks?








2. What is the process of ensuring that products meet the desired standards?








3. What is the term for the process of planning and managing the movement of goods?








4. What is the term for a waxy substance derived from wood, coal, or petroleum?








5. What is the term for the process of melting and reforming rejected crayons?









Answer Key

1. b) Pigments

2. b) Quality Control

3. c) Logistics coordination

4. b) Paraffin

5. d) Rejection and Remelting

Passive Voice in Technical Processes

The passive voice is often used to describe technical processes, focusing on the actions rather than the doers. This is achieved by using the verb ‘to be’ in combination with the past participle of the main verb, e.g., ‘is mixed’, ‘are pumped’, ‘are inspected’. The passive voice is particularly useful in technical writing as it allows the writer to emphasize the process itself rather than the person performing the action.

Quiz: Passive Voice in Technical Processes (CEFR C1)

  1. Paraffin _______________________ with clay, synthetic chemicals, and pigments in the production process.
    1. mixes
    2. is mixed
    3. mix
    4. are mixed
  2. The molds _______________________ and the wax solidifies, capturing the color pigments.
    1. are cooled
    2. cool
    3. cooled
    4. are cooling
  3. Random samples _______________________ for color accuracy, hardness, and other specifications.
    1. test
    2. are tested
    3. are testing
    4. tests
  4. Crayons _______________________ for defects and rejected ones are remelted and recast.
    1. inspects
    2. are inspected
    3. inspect
    4. are inspecting
  5. Packaged crayons _______________________ for shipment to retailers, schools, and other distribution points.
    1. are prepared
    2. prepare
    3. are preparing
    4. prepared

Answer Key

  1. B) is mixed
  2. A) are cooled
  3. B) are tested
  4. B) are inspected
  5. A) are prepared

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