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		Soap Production (CDI, 1995, 70 p.)
			(introduction...)
			1. INTRODUCTION
			2. GENERAL INFORMATION ON SOAP
			3. THE RAW MATERIALS
			4. THE MANUFACTURE OF SOAP
			5. THE TREATMENT OF OILS AND FATS
			6. SAPONIFICATION: COLD PROCESS
			7. SAPONIFICATION: SEMI-BOILED PROCESS
			8. SAPONIFICATION: FULL BOILED PROCESS
			9. SAPONIFICATION: CONTINUOUS PROCESS
			10. THE COOLING AND DRYING OF SOAP
			11. FINISHING SOAP
			12. PRODUCTION OPTIONS
			13. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR MANUFACTURING PROCESSES
			14. CDI EXPERIENCE IN SOAP FACTORY PROJECTS
			15. IMPLEMENTING A SOAP FACTORY PROJECT
			16. EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS
			17. TURNKEY SUPPLIERS AND ENGINEERING OFFICES
			18. THE SOAP MAKERS
			19. DEVELOPING A SOAP FACTORY PROJECT
			20. CHECKLIST: RAW MATERIALS
			21. CHECKLIST: THE SOAP MARKET
			22. CHECKLIST: DATA FOR A FEASIBILITY STUDY
			ANNEXES
			23. SERVICES OFFERED BY THE CDI
			OTHER TITLES
			BACK COVER

11. FINISHING SOAP

Once dried, the soap obtained in the form of bars, chips, pellets or flakes, depending on the cooling and drying method used, is sent to the finishing line, which gives the soap its final appearance. The following distinction is made:

® household soap, which is generally merely extruded in a plodder* and then cut to the desired size prior to packing;

* Like toilet soap, household soap can - albeit rarely - be passed through a crusher to incorporate any additives, or through a cylinder homogeniser to refine its properties.

® toilet soap, which requires more sophisticated finishing. The soap, in the form of chips, is introduced into a mixer-blender - "amalgamator" - and mixed with additives - dyes, perfumes, fillers, antioxidants etc. The process allows the mixture to be perfectly homogenised and changes the crystalline structure of the soap, which improves its lathering properties. The operation can be repeated if necessary. After blending, the soap is placed in the hopper of a plodder and extruded. The plodder can be of the simplex, duplex or even triplex type (with a single, double or triple screw) to refine and perfect the homogenisation of the soap. The plodder can also work under vacuum to remove trapped air and to complete drying. The extruded soap is then cut, and if necessary moulded, stamped, and packed.