1. Cylinder Type (Premium) Rice Cooker Shell Production Process
The cylinder rice cooker is a classic model with a relatively simple shell production process and lower equipment investment.
1.1 Raw Materials
The shell of a cylinder-type rice cooker is made from color-coated steel sheet, with common materials including:
Galvanized film-coated steel: Surface protected with a film, good corrosion resistance
401 Stainless Steel: Moderate corrosion resistance with a bright appearance
1.2 Production Process Flow
The cylinder-type rice cooker shell production process consists of the following steps:
|
Process Step |
Equipment |
Description |
|
Color-coated steel sheet cutting |
Shearing machine + Feeder |
Cut the color-coated steel sheet to required dimensions |
|
Corner punching |
12T Punch Press |
Punch corners to facilitate subsequent curling and avoid rib positions |
|
Bending (lock seam) |
12T Punch Press |
Bend the sheet into a basic cylindrical shape |
|
Rounding (fasten with bone strip) |
- |
Round the cylindrical shell and fasten with bone strip |
|
Curling (top edge / bottom edge) |
Curling machine |
Curl the top and bottom edges for improved strength and appearance |
|
Double-head curling (optional) |
Double-head curling machine |
Optional process for specific models |
|
Switch panel hole punching + flanging |
16T Punch Press |
Punch and flange the switch panel mounting hole |
|
Power inlet hole punching |
16T Punch Press |
Punch the hole for the power socket inlet |
|
Handle hole punching (side) |
12T Punch Press |
Punch side handle mounting holes |
2. Drum Type Rice Cooker Shell Production Process
The drum-type rice cooker is more popular in modern markets. Its shell is made from cold-rolled steel (ST15) and formed through hydraulic press drawing - a more complex process that allows for more diverse and stylish product designs.
2.1 Raw Materials
The drum-type shell uses cold-rolled steel ST15 as the primary material - a high-quality cold-rolled steel sheet with excellent drawing and forming properties.
2.2 Production Process Flow
The drum-type shell production process is fundamentally different from the split type:
|
Process Step |
Description |
|
Hydraulic drawing |
A hydraulic press draws the cold-rolled steel sheet into the shell shape in one operation |
|
Punching |
Punch press punches switch panel holes, power inlet holes, handle holes, etc. |
|
Trimming |
Specialized trimming machine removes excess material after drawing |
|
Curling |
Curls the shell edges |
|
Complete painting |
After all mechanical processing, the entire shell is painted/coated |
3. Comparison: Advantages and Disadvantages of Both Processes
|
Comparison Dimension |
Cylinder Type Rice Cooker |
Drum Type Rice Cooker |
|
Raw Material |
Color-coated steel sheet (galvanized film-coated / 401 SS) |
Cold-rolled steel ST15 |
|
Core Process |
Cutting → Punching → Bending → Curling |
Hydraulic drawing → Punching → Trimming → Curling → Painting |
|
Key Equipment |
Shearing machine, 12T/16T punch press, curling machine |
Hydraulic press, punch press, trimming machine, painting line |
|
Equipment Investment |
Lower (no painting line required) |
Higher (requires hydraulic press and painting line) |
|
Process Complexity |
Simple |
Complex |
|
Painting Required? |
❌ No (color-coated steel has pre-applied color) |
✅ Yes (entire shell must be painted) |
|
Design Variety |
Limited (traditional styles) |
Rich (heat transfer printing available) |
|
Design Appeal |
Older styles, simple functions |
Modern, stylish designs |
|
Suitable Production Volume |
Small to medium batch |
Large batch production |
Cylinder Type Rice Cooker – Advantages
- Lower equipment investment: No expensive hydraulic press or painting line required - just punch presses and curling machines
- Simple process: Short production flow, easy to operate, lower skill requirements for workers
- No painting process: Color-coated steel comes pre-finished with color and film - saving environmental compliance and equipment costs
- Limitations: Traditional styling, limited design options, relatively basic functionality.
Drum Type Rice Cooker – Advantages
- More design variety: Hydraulic drawing allows flexible shell shapes to meet diverse design requirements
- Modern appearance: Full painting combined with heat transfer printing enables various patterns and finishes - more stylish
- Higher product grade: One-piece drawn shell construction is more durable and offers better fit and finish
- Limitations: Higher initial equipment investment (hydraulic press + painting line), more complex process - best suited for large-scale production.
4. How to Choose? Match Your Target Market Strategy
Choosing between a cylinder-type and drum-type rice cooker depends primarily on your target market. Different countries and regions have distinct consumer preferences, purchasing power, and aesthetic tastes.
4.1 Popular Styles by Market
|
Market |
Popular Style |
Reason |
|
Bangladesh |
Cylinder type |
Price-sensitive market with basic functional requirements - split type offers the best value |
|
India |
Drum type |
Consumers value appearance and variety - drum type offers more modern designs |
|
Philippines |
Drum type |
Southeast Asian markets prefer stylish looks - drum type with heat transfer printing has strong appeal |
|
Malaysia |
Drum type |
Mid-to-high end market - drum type design matches local aesthetic preferences |
4.2 Investment Recommendations
If you are targeting price-sensitive markets like Bangladesh:
Cylinder type rice cooker is recommended
Lower equipment investment, simple process, quick production start-up
Competitive pricing - ideal for high-volume export
If you are targeting design-focused markets like India, Philippines, Malaysia:
Drum-type rice cooker is recommended
Higher initial equipment investment, but offers more design variety and modern appearance
Heat transfer printing enables product differentiation and higher margins
5. Summary
The two mainstream shell production processes - the Cylinder type using color-coated steel sheet (punching, bending, curling) and the drum type using cold-rolled steel (hydraulic drawing and painting) - each have their ideal applications.
|
Comparison |
Split Type |
Drum Type |
|
Equipment Investment |
⭐⭐ Low |
⭐⭐⭐⭐ High |
|
Process Complexity |
⭐⭐ Simple |
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Complex |
|
Design Variety |
⭐⭐ Limited |
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rich |
|
Suitable Markets |
Bangladesh, etc. (price-sensitive) |
India, Philippines, Malaysia, etc. (design-focused) |
6. About Davinci Machine
If you are planning a rice cooker production line or need related equipment support, we offer 16 years of industry experience and can provide:
- Cylinder type rice cooker shell production line equipment (shearing machine, punch presses, curling machines, etc.)
- Drum-type rice cooker shell production line equipment (hydraulic press, punch presses, painting line, etc.)
- Complete rice cooker CKD/SKD production line solutions
- Full technical support and process guidance
