Where Are White Flyer Clay Targets Made?

Clay target shooting is a popular recreational and competitive shooting sport that involves shooting at special flying targets known as clay pigeons or clay targets. Participants shoot from various stations at clay targets that are launched away from the shooter at high speeds from devices such as hand throwers or automatic clay target throwers.

White Flyer is one of the leading manufacturers of clay targets for this sport. The company has a long history tracing back to the 1930s. White Flyer clay targets were originally manufactured by the Olin Corporation, which was a major American manufacturer of ammunition, chlorine products, and other chemicals. In 1979, a company called Reagent Chemical and Research, Inc. acquired the White Flyer target business from Olin and continued manufacturing the iconic White Flyer brand (Source).

Today, White Flyer remains one of the most recognized names in clay target shooting, offering a variety of high quality clay targets for trap, skeet, and sporting clays. The company manufactures their clay targets in the United States and distributes them across North America and internationally.

White Flyer Manufacturing Facility

The main White Flyer factory is located in Orestes, Indiana. This 250,000 square foot facility sits on over 100 acres of land and is equipped with state-of-the-art machinery capable of producing over 500 million clay targets per year.

The Orestes factory has several automated production lines dedicated to different types and sizes of clay targets. Raw materials like limestone and pitch are precisely measured and mixed before being molded into clay pigeons by the machines. The targets are then baked in industrial ovens to achieve their signature orange color and durable finish.

In addition to production, the Orestes facility also houses testing labs, quality control centers, packaging lines, and shipping docks all under one roof. This allows White Flyer to closely monitor every step of the manufacturing process to ensure a consistent, high-quality product.

White Flyer Production Process

White Flyer targets are made from a precisely formulated mixture of pitch, limestone, and clay. The production process begins by weighing and mixing the raw ingredients according to the recipe.

The raw materials are fed into a pug mill which mixes and kneads the clay mixture. The pug mill extrudes the clay into long strips which are cut into biscuits or pucks. The biscuits are then loaded into high-pressure molds that form the shape of the targets.

The molded targets are placed on dryer carts and moved into drying ovens. The targets are dried at precise temperatures and humidity levels for up to 24 hours. This process sets the targets into their final hardened form.

After drying, the targets are inspected and graded for quality control. Approved targets are packaged and prepared for shipping to retailers and shooting ranges. Defective targets are recycled back into the production process.

Throughout the manufacturing process, White Flyer enforces strict quality control and production standards to ensure consistency and performance of every target they produce.[1]

Quality Control

White Flyer has rigorous quality control standards and testing procedures in place at their manufacturing facility in Odessa, Missouri. All raw materials and finished products go through extensive testing before leaving the facility.

Clay targets are tested for weight consistency, strength, and breakability. Each batch of targets is weighed to ensure uniformity, with allowable variances within strict tolerances. Targets are tested by specialized machines that simulate the force of different shotgun loads to evaluate durability and breakage patterns across different velocities and angles of impact.

White Flyer adheres to industry standards established by the Amateur Trapshooting Association (ATA), National Skeet Shooting Association (NSSA), and National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA) for competition grade targets. They frequently collaborate with these associations to pioneer new quality control procedures and test methods.

In addition to in-house testing, independent audits are conducted periodically to verify quality standards are met. All targets are inspected visually for defects and consistency prior to packaging.

With strict process controls and a culture of continuous improvement, White Flyer aims to produce the most consistent, highest performing targets in the industry.

Packaging and Distribution

After the targets are manufactured, White Flyer utilizes an automated packaging system to package the clay targets for shipment to customers. The targets are mechanically counted and loaded into cardboard boxes, plastic bags, or other types of packaging depending on the quantity ordered. Most standard boxes contain around 250-500 targets.

To prevent breakage during shipping, the targets are carefully packed to minimize movement and vibration inside the boxes. Once packaged, the boxes are sealed, labeled, and moved to the distribution warehouse on-site. From there, the packaged targets are loaded onto pallets and shipped out to customers via trucks. White Flyer has a large transportation fleet to handle the high volume of clay target deliveries.

The manufacturing facility and packaging operations are strategically designed to maximize efficiency and meet demand. With optimized packaging equipment and distribution logistics, White Flyer ensures its clay targets arrive intact and ready for use by recreational shooters, shooting ranges, and competitive shooters.

(Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/WO1995003258A1/en)

Environmental Sustainability

White Flyer is committed to reducing their environmental impact through eco-friendly manufacturing processes and materials. According to White Flyer’s website, their clay targets are 100% free of lead, antimony, and arsenic, making them a more sustainable alternative to traditional clay targets (source).

In recent years, White Flyer has shifted to using more eco-friendly, biodegradable materials in their targets. Many of their clay pigeons now utilize a water-based biodegradable adhesive instead of toxic petroleum-based pitch (source). This allows their targets to break down naturally within 2-6 years after use.

The company has also invested in renewable energy like solar panels to power their facilities. They are continuously seeking ways to minimize waste, recycle, and reduce their carbon footprint through energy efficiency and sustainable practices (source). While not perfect, White Flyer shows a genuine commitment to eco-friendly manufacturing in an industry that has faced environmental criticisms.

Workforce

White Flyer employs under 25 people at its manufacturing facility according to ZoomInfo. The company values expertise and experience when hiring for manufacturing roles. Employees receive extensive on-the-job training to learn the specialized skills required for clay target production. Operators are trained on operating the presses and machines as well as quality control procedures.

According to Indeed, the average salary for White Flyer employees is $55,000 per year. Employees praise the friendly work environment and opportunity to work for an industry-leading company.

Competitive Landscape

White Flyer faces competition from other major manufacturers of clay targets used for trap shooting and skeet shooting sports. Some of the top competing brands include Champion, Petersen, and Winchester in the United States. Internationally, White Flyer competes with Laporte from France and Eley from the UK.

White Flyer has established itself as the premium American brand of clay targets and is the official target of many major shooting competitions and events. With over 50 years of experience manufacturing excellent quality targets, White Flyer maintains significant market share in the US and continues to expand globally. The White Flyer Pro line, known for bright colors and durability, is a favorite among competitive shooters.

Latest Innovations

White Flyer is continuously innovating to create new and improved clay target offerings. They employ engineers and designers dedicated solely to developing cutting-edge products. Some of their latest innovations have focused on new target types and technologies to enhance the shooting experience.

One recent development is the new MOTOTrap target designed specifically for trap shooting competitions. This innovative target features a slimmer profile and harder edges to create a more challenging target for expert trap shooters. The MOTOTrap has quickly become a top product on the trap shooting circuit.

In terms of new technologies, White Flyer introduced the BioTARGET line which utilizes a biodegradable formulation. These eco-friendly targets break down naturally over time without leaving behind plastic pieces or toxins. The BioTARGETs provide the same bright flashing and visible smoke as standard targets. This demonstrates White Flyer’s commitment to developing sustainable products.

Looking to the future, White Flyer is exploring ways to incorporate smart technology and data collection into clay targets. This could allow real-time feedback and analytics to shooters during practice and competitions. They are also developing reactive targets with enhanced visual effects upon impact. The company consistently pushes the boundaries to create the most innovative and exciting clay targets on the market.

The Future of White Flyer

With its recent acquisition by Olin Corporation in 2023, White Flyer is poised for significant growth and expansion in the years ahead.

According to Olin – Winchester Acquires White Flyer Targets Business, White Flyer will benefit from Olin’s global reach, operational experience and access to capital to accelerate its growth plans.

Specific areas of expansion for White Flyer include increasing its presence internationally. While White Flyer already distributes its products in over 30 countries, Olin plans to expand their footprint even further in Europe, South America and Asia.

Additionally, Olin hopes to leverage its expertise to help White Flyer continue innovating and developing new clay target products. This could include targets made from more sustainable materials as well as high-tech “smart” targets.

Overall, with Olin’s resources behind it, White Flyer is poised to cement itself as the premier global manufacturer of clay targets while also continuing to push the envelope with new product innovations.