Insulated stainless steel water bottle manufacturing takes place in stages. Stainless steel water bottle generally use one of 2 types of steel “SUS304, SUS316” to create bottles. Typically, the steel bottles used to keep water and other drinks cold 24 hours or hot 12 hours, because the steel insulated water bottle has vacuum properities. Stainless steel 18-8 is food grade material which is used for making water jug and food containers such as thermos flask, travel mug, wine tumbler, food flask; and there are 3 types of material to make the bottle lids, the lid materials are PP or Tritan with a silicone seal ring. To understand the manufacturing process, it is helpful to first examine the compositions of the materials they’re made from.
What are Steel Water Bottles Made of?
As mentioned above, Steel water bottles are commonly made of SUS201, SUS304 and SUS316, with plastic lid & silicone seal ring.
We’ll be examining how each material affects the stainless steel bottle manufacturing process below.
Stainless Steel (SUS304, SUS316) bottle body
Stainless Steel (SUS304 or SUS316) is food grade material which is completely comply with FDA/LFGB food contact grade regulation, SUS304 is widely used in kitchenware and tableware, it has good corrosion resistance and eco-friendly, and SUS316 has better corrosion performance which is widely used medical industrial now some high end brands also use SUS316 for its water bottle products, both SUS304 and SUS316 made water bottles are reusable, recyclable, and it is more and more popular in the market.
Before steel water bottle manufacturing, we need to decide which type of stainless steel to be used, and its shape “tube or plate”, thickness, these factors could affect its manufacturing process and its product unit cost.
PP or Tritan Plastic lid
Polypropylene is the most widely used plastic material for tableware and water bottle lid, due to it is food contact safety and easy to be molding, plus low cost.
Now some high end brands require to use Tritan to make the water bottle lid, it is high transparent and very durable, also it is BPA Free and completely food contact safe, it is getting more and more popular since YETI used tritan material to make for its tumbler lid.
Silicone seal ring or straw
Silicone is soft and food grade material to make sealing gasket or straw, it is manufactured by molding.
Insulated Stainless Steel Bottle Manufacturing Process
How are steel water bottles made? Bottle body is usually formed with double walls of steel container with over 10 manufacturing processes; and the bottle lid & silicone gasket are made with molding.
Steel bottle body forming
1.raw material → 2.shaping of outer cup and inner tank → 3.welding getter on the bottom piece → 4. copper lining on the surface of inner tank (optional) → 5. welding to join the outer shell with inner tank together → 6. ultrasonic cleaning → 7. vacuum producing (test vacuum 100% first time) → 8. electrolysis → 9. polishing (test vacuum 100% second time) → 10. decoration (painting, powder coating, water transfer, heat transfer printing, laser engraving, silk-screen printing etc.)
Plastic lid "injection molding"
Injection molding is an important process in the manufacturing of water bottle plastic lids and caps. It is a highly efficient and cost-effective way to produce large numbers of identical products with precision and accuracy. This process involves the injection of molten plastic into a mold which is then cooled down to form the desired shape. The molded parts are then trimmed, finished, and packaged for shipment. With this process, companies can quickly produce high-quality products at competitive prices.
Silicone sealing gasket "molding"
Silicone sealing gasket molding is a process that involves the use of silicone-based materials to create a gasket. This process is used in a variety of industries and applications, from automotive and aerospace to medical and industrial. The process involves the use of special molds to form the desired shape and size of the gasket before it is cured with heat or pressure. The silicone material then hardens into its final form, creating an airtight seal that prevents leakage. Silicone sealing gasket molding offers superior durability, flexibility, and temperature resistance compared to other materials used for this purpose. It also has excellent chemical resistance properties that make it ideal for use in harsh environments.
Choosing the right Stainless Steel Water Bottle Manufacturer
For businesses and product developers looking for an OEM/ODM manufacturer to carry out metal water bottle manufacturing, there are several things to consider.
Some steel water bottle manufacturers are more reliable than others, while some are better suited to certain types of water bottle than others. Some will have experience working with clients in product design & tooling development & mass production, which can be beneficial for brand company or design company to develop new design water bottles. Ask the manufacturers’ staff about their capabilities and experience.
A good metal water bottle manufacturer should offer all of the following:
1. Competitive prices
A water bottle OEM manufacturer will charge different rates based on their company size, experience and other factors. Choosing the right water bottle manufacturer involves finding a manufacturer with good prices — but this should never be at the expense of quality.
Although you need to be savvy, you should never select a water bottle supplier just because it offers the lowest rates. This can often spell trouble: if a water bottle supplier proposes a rate that clearly isn’t profitable for them, it means they’ll probably try to cut corners in order to improve their profit margins.
2. Confidentiality
A company working with a supplier for their custom water bottle design project, the whole businesses need assurance that their designs will remain private.
Fortunately, there are legal instruments for ensuring confidentiality between a supplier and its customers. Demand that your machine shop sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) before undertaking any manufacturing. This ensures that your designs will not be passed on to mysterious third parties.
Reject any water bottle manufacturer/supplier that refuses to sign an NDA.
3. Quality, reliability & honesty
Water bottle manufacturer should have experienced engineers and use modern production machines and measuring equipment. If you doubt whether this is the case, give the supplier a call or visit the facility in person before beginning your working relationship.
A water bottle supplier with a range of manufacturing capabilities are preferable to those with limited offerings. However, not all suppliers will be honest about their limitations: it’s better to find a supplier that tells you upfront what it cannot achieve than a supplier that tries (and fails) to go beyond its capabilities.
Looking for a respected steel water bottle manufacturer with all of the above? Look no further than ECOWAY, a global provider of OEM CUSTOM WATER BOTTLES, available and at your service. We ship your high quality water bottle anywhere in the world, in 30 days or less.
