SnapLock is a popular brand of plastic storage containers that are known for their airtight and watertight seal. With their distinctive snap-locking lids, SnapLock containers are trusted by millions of people to keep food fresh, store leftovers, and transport meals safely. But where exactly are SnapLock containers manufactured?
The History of SnapLock
SnapLock was founded in 1976 by James Thomas in Akron, Ohio. Thomas came up with the idea for a new type of plastic food storage container when he grew frustrated with the limitations of existing options on the market. At the time, most plastic containers had lids that were prone to cracking and didn’t seal tightly. Thomas experimented in his home workshop to design a container with a lid that “snapped” tightly into place around the base, creating an airtight seal.
After developing a prototype, Thomas launched SnapLock out of his garage in Akron. The new containers were an immediate hit with consumers looking for a better way to store and transport food. Within a few years, SnapLock expanded into a small factory in Akron and began selling nationwide. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the brand steadily grew in popularity and became a staple in millions of kitchens and pantries.
Today, SnapLock offers a wide range of plastic food storage containers in various shapes and sizes. Popular products include the classic round containers, rectangle containers, and SnapLock’s patented “Snap N’ Stack” containers that allow for space-efficient storage. However, while the product line has expanded over the decades, all SnapLock containers are still made with the signature snap-locking lids that made the brand famous.
SnapLock’s Manufacturing Process
SnapLock containers are made from polypropylene plastic using an injection molding process. This specialized manufacturing technique allows the plastic to be injected into molds under high pressure to form the components of the containers. Here are some key steps in how SnapLock containers are produced:
- Plastic pellets are loaded into a hopper and fed into an injection molding machine
- The pellets are heated until they become a liquid plastic solution
- The liquid plastic is injected under pressure into closed mold cavities
- The molds are cooled until the plastic solidifies into the shape of the containers and lids
- The finished pieces are ejected from the mold cavities
- The containers and lids are inspected, packaged, and prepared for shipment
This injection molding process allows SnapLock to efficiently mass produce plastic containers to meet consumer demand. The company closely controls the manufacturing process to ensure consistent quality and durability across all of its container products.
Where SnapLock Containers Are Made Today
While founded and originally manufactured in Ohio, SnapLock containers are no longer made in the United States. In 1998, the brand was acquired by storage products giant Rubbermaid. Shortly thereafter in the early 2000s, Rubbermaid shifted all manufacturing of SnapLock containers overseas to reduce production costs.
Today, SnapLock containers are made in a number of factories and facilities throughout China. Major production centers include:
- Taizhou, Zhejiang province
- Hangzhou, Zhejiang province
- Wenzhou, Zhejiang province
- Dongguan, Guangdong province
Rubbermaid carefully selected these regions in China for SnapLock production because they offered access to skilled workers and efficient supply chain infrastructure while keeping manufacturing costs low. Additionally, China had become a global hub for plastic injection molding production.
By leveraging China’s manufacturing capacity, Rubbermaid has been able to significantly scale up production of SnapLock containers to meet growing worldwide demand while still maintaining strict quality control standards. Today, SnapLock claims to produce over 50 million containers per year across its factories in China.
Working Conditions in SnapLock Factories
While SnapLock relies heavily on manufacturing in China for efficiency and low costs, there has been some controversy around working conditions in SnapLock factories. Like many major brands that outsource production to developing countries, SnapLock has faced allegations of underpaying workers and providing unsafe working environments.
For example, in 2010, the National Labor Committee advocacy group published a highly critical report on working conditions in a SnapLock factory in Dongguan, China. The report alleged that workers made just 47 cents an hour and regularly worked over 80 hours a week. The findings led to protests and calls for Rubbermaid to improve oversight of factories producing SnapLock products.
In response, Rubbermaid conducted audits of the Dongguan factory and implemented new rules to limit overtime for workers while requiring better documentation of hours. The company also claimed it would monitor other SnapLock suppliers in China more closely to ensure fair working conditions.
Rubbermaid maintains that strict standards are upheld across all facilities making SnapLock containers today. However, outside organizations remain skeptical about the degree of oversight and working conditions at some Chinese factories supplying major Western brands like SnapLock.
Final Assembly in the United States
Although the plastic components of SnapLock containers are manufactured in China, the final assembly process for some products occurs in the United States.
SnapLock has an assembly and distribution facility in Lancaster, Texas. At this facility, the plastic container bases, lids, and other accessories made in China are inspected and combined to create finished SnapLock products ready for sale. The Lancaster facility has an assembly line dedicated to putting together popular SnapLock container sets.
By completing final assembly in the United States, SnapLock can put the iconic “Made in USA” branding on select products. Having domestic assembly also allows for faster distribution to stores and consumers across North America.
However, it is important to note that only a small portion of SnapLock products sold today are assembled in the USA. The vast majority of the manufacturing process, including the injection molding of plastic components, still takes place in China where costs are lower.
SnapLock’s Global Distribution
SnapLock has evolved from a small operation in an Ohio garage to a globally distributed brand available in thousands of retail stores. Here is an overview of how SnapLock reaches worldwide markets:
- Manufacturing occurs at multiple factory locations in China as outlined earlier.
- Plastic components are shipped from China to distribution hubs in the United States, Europe, and other major markets.
- At company distribution centers, products are assembled (if applicable), packaged, and prepared for retail customers.
- SnapLock leverages large distribution partners to deliver products to retail stores. Major partners include Walmart in the US, Tesco in the UK, and Loblaws in Canada.
- The branded products arrive on store shelves and are sold directly to consumers in over 50 countries.
This global supply chain allows SnapLock to cost-effectively manufacture high volumes of products in China while still reliably delivering to both huge retailers and small shops worldwide. Strategic assembly facilities in local markets also allow SnapLock to tailor products to regional preferences.
Competing with Low-Cost Rivals
Today, SnapLock faces competitive pressure from lower-priced plastic container brands also manufactured in China. Competitors like Ziploc, Glad, and various private label store brands have similar products often made in the same Chinese factories.
To maintain market share, SnapLock has focused on product innovation and differentiation. Examples include microwave-safe containers, “smart” lids that adjust to seal in freshness, and new container shapes optimized for meal prep and travel. Premium branding has also helped SnapLock stand apart from bare-bones generic containers.
However, cost-conscious consumers have many affordable alternatives. Going forward, SnapLock will need to continue providing innovative features and quality worth paying a little extra for in order to compete with cheaper copying competitors.
The Future of SnapLock’s Manufacturing
It’s unlikely that SnapLock will shift manufacturing away from China anytime soon. The factories and infrastructure are well established, and the low production costs are hard to match elsewhere. Labor and raw material costs would be significantly higher if SnapLock tried to move production to the United States or Mexico, for example.
But supply chain disruptions caused by COVID-19 and trade tensions between the US and China have drawn attention to the downsides of concentrating manufacturing in one country. Some experts predict that SnapLock and other brands could begin exploring regionalization, where production is distributed across multiple countries to mitigate risk.
There are also concerns that manufacturing in China leaves SnapLock vulnerable if consumers start avoiding Chinese-made products. In one survey, 70% of Americans said they would be willing to pay more for products made outside China.
So while China will likely remain the core manufacturing base for SnapLock, the company may look to expand and diversify production across Southeast Asia and beyond. More localized assembly facilities could also help SnapLock adapt products to specific markets and shorten supply chains.
Conclusion
SnapLock has transformed over nearly 50 years from an entrepreneurial American startup into a global consumer brand produced at scale in China. Although no longer made in the USA, SnapLock containers are churned out by the millions each year at factories across China’s manufacturing hubs. Localized assembly in the US and other markets supplements Chinese production to help get products onto store shelves worldwide. Going forward, SnapLock faces pressure to keep innovating and maintaining quality while competing with low-cost copycats. The company must also adapt its supply chains to mitigate risks and meet customer expectations.