Glass bottles are manufactured in a highly mechanized process and are no longer hand blown as they were in the past. Factories that make glass containers are usually divided into a batch house, a hot end and a cold end.
The batch house contains the limestone, sand and soda ash among the other raw materials required for creating the glass bottle. They are measured out into calculated amounts and mixed together before being sent to the furnace.
The hot end of a glass manufacturing plant contains the furnace where the molten glass is formed into the containers. The batch is fed into the furnace at a controlled rate where it is transported to machines that actually form the glass bottles. The glass bottle manufacturer may then subject the container to additional treatment to improve their chemical resistance before being allowed to cool. This procedure, known as dealkalization, is required for glass beverage bottles.
Three points to consider when buying glass bottles:
- Settling for a boring round bottle isn't necessary. Specialty bottles are available.
- Buying large quantities through a wholesaler will keep costs down.
- Finding a supplier that is flexible will help you when you need to buy a small quantity.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Order glass bottles with unusual shapes or composition from specialty stores
Many companies sell glass jars and bottles with non-round shapes such as hexagons. This shape allows containers to be stacked together much more securely and prevents rolling.
I recommend: Find these types of bottles at
Specialty Bottle. This company also have bottles made of amber or cobalt blue glass that are used for storing drugs or other items that may be photo-reactive.
eBottles also sells bottles in a variety of shapes.
Save money by buying glass bottles wholesale
Glass bottles are usually bought in large quantities and this is reflected in the pricing. Volume discounts are routinely offered to all customers and many companies have additional discounts for preferred customers.
I recommend: Get a custom quote by contacting
Bottles-n-Jars directly if you need to buy glass bottles in quantities of five cases or more. Look for surplus glass bottles offered at substantial, low-volume discounts at
Wholesale Supplies Plus.
Check on minimums when placing small orders
The small business owner may need to locate a company that does not require a minimum order or service charge on small orders of glass jars or bottles.
I recommend: Order small quantities or even individual glass bottles from
Sunburst Bottles. The company also sells glass bottles wholesale (typically up to 5,000 or more units).
SKS Glass Bottles offers pricing on a wide range of quantities as well.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Always test your product with the glass container first before you buy wholesale glass bottles. Glass bottle suppliers rarely offer any sort of guarantee on product compatibility.
The official source of Glass Bottles is the Glass Bottles page at Business.com
Related Resources from Business.com
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