Curiosities
Statistics show that about 6 trillions of matches are used annually. Matches were produced out of compound containing sulphur, which was eventually found hazardous in past. Recently two ignition parts are always necessary to light up a match. One part is a match head, while the other part is usually placed in striking pad. All the producers keep the recepies of these compounds as a company's secrets. Those days when a cowboy used to strike a match against the sole of his boot are away. All the matches made for European Union have to be environmentaly friendly, and they have to comply with the strict European Union Rules. Sulphur and heavy metals once used for the production of matches now belong to a history. The compounds now differentiate upon the climates that the matches are exported to. There is difference between compounds for tropical regions from other regions. The major influency has humidity that is nearly to 100% in tropical regions, therefore each match has to be designed to ignate in such conditions. It is usual that customers from these regions are testing the quality by placing match head on their tongue for a while and then ignate. Our matches always worked!
The best quality matches are made out of aspen wood, another choice would be poplar wood, and other woods depending on the location of the manufacturer. Aspen wood is easy to peel, but most of all its fibre structure provides a good support even for something as thin as a match. Matches made out of woods with more knotty structure such as pine are more likely to break in the process of striking.
Today's matches come mostly in paper boxes. Wooden boxes are not as common anymore. In Europe there is only one last manufacturer who still makes them. Each box is required to have marking of its compliance with the codes as well as the name of its manufacturer. It may be the least expensive item on the market, but still it has to be safe and approved by industry officials. For instance, the striking pad should be good enough to endure at least the amount of matches in the box, but some manufacturers prefer to apply the compound with a brush, which is not good enough. This technique also gives less control over the precise outline of a striking pad. We prefer to print it on in such a way, that a good solid layer you can rely on is created, and no other areas of a matchbox are affected. With this technique we can also choose the solid or the grated patterns of the layer, which are preferred by Western Europe.
The essential rule of a "safe match" is the fact, that the wooden stem does not continue glowing after being smothered by blowing the match off. A good quality match should ignite itself by being struck gently against the ignition pad in about 30 degrees angle. The head of a match should then remain compact (no fall off of the burning material is allowed), and the flame should soon transfer itself onto the wooden stem of the match. The paraffin used to saturate the wood of the match supports such a transfer. After extinguishing the flame the match should look burned black and any glow should not be seen. Inspite of that, used matches should not be returned into the box for safety reasons. Our matches are always designed and fabricated to meet all of the above-mentioned requirements, and we are determined to keep it that way. We have noticed, that not every manufacturer of matches is as serious about their business as we are, so we would like you to make a note of that, it might be in your best interest.