The history of soccer is profound. It finds its root in ancient Chinese history, and the first-ever soccer ball that we see in the pages of history is called tsu-chu, invented by Emperor Huang-Ti in 1697 B.C. Records from Huang-Ti’s time mention using a leather ball filled with cork and hair. With time, new technologies have been introduced, giving soccer balls a whole new look with many top-notch features. So, let’s have a look at the procedure of How Is A Soccer Ball Made.
The Material Used In The Making Of Soccer Ball
Though you will be able to find different soccer balls presenting other specifications and features, a few materials are frequently used to manufacture a soccer ball. It is typically synthetic leather and inflated with a rubber or rubber-like bladder stitched around a polyurethane or polyvinyl chloride patch. Genuine leather balls and cotton laces were used to close older balls. Modern balls have a valve that enables players to inflate the soccer ball quickly.
Manufacturing process Of A Soccer
The whole manufacturing process of soccer is divided into two main elements. The outer surface is also called the covering, and the inner part is the bladder which contains air.
In a central factory, bladders are manufactured, and a cover is die-cut and imprinted with logos. The stitching is done mainly by hand, but machine stitching is also quite common. 32 hexagonal panels make up the ball covering, and their stitching by hand is tedious and exacting. But modern soccer balls have fewer panels these days. Pakistan is one of the leading manufacturers of soccer balls. Let’s answer the question: how is a soccer ball made?
STEP#1: Lining The Covering Material
To strengthen the material, synthetic leather sheets are backed with several layers of cloth.
An adhesive is applied to the sheets through a press that attaches the cloth.
Two layers will be added to the material to make a ball cheaper.
It has four layers of fabric attached to make it stronger and more expensive.
STEP#2: Cutting Of Panels
Cutting soccer ball panels need special skills, so these panels are cut at a specific palace. Let’s look at the cutting process of the panels of a soccer ball.
Once the adhesive is fully dry, synthetic leather sheets are fed through a die-cutting machine.
In addition to cutting hexagonal panels, the die cutter punches stitch holes in the cloth.
Special workers are required for this process to professionally do the job without wasting the raw material that makes the manufacturing process.
STEP#3: Imprinting The Panels With Logos
To make the ball waterproof and attractive, manufacturers’ next step before marketing the ball is to imprint the soccer ball with gorgeous colors and logos. There are a couple of benefits of this process. There are two main reasons for this: firstly, the ball becomes more attractive, and secondly, it is more resistant to water.
Panels that have been cut are next taken to a screening area.
Each panel is silk-screened individually with the manufacturer’s logo.
Special fast-drying paint is used for this.
STEP#4 Manufacturing Bladder
Either natural rubber or synthetic rubber can be used for the bladder.
To convert into foam, the material is gently heated and forced into a mold
After the material cools down, it starts wrinkling. The bladder is removed and partially inflated to smooth them out at this stage.
At this stage, you have the material to manufacture a soccer ball.
STEP#5: Stitching The Ball
The next step is to stitch the panels that are already cut down. There are different types of soccer balls according to the types of panels. The standard one is a 32-panel ball.
Workers then assemble the ball by stitching different pieces of the ball.
Once the ball is stitched, the bladder is inserted and then stitched to the final seam. The finished ball is inflated with the help of a valve and pressure pump.
Conclusion
We hope that you would have had sufficient knowledge about the term “How Is A Soccer Ball Made”. The process is very easy. There are a total of 5 to 6 steps involved in the making of a soccer ball. Everything is explained here “shoot the soccer”.
