How Glowyard Factory Manufactures the SM22529 Classic Metal Iron Solar Path Light

For many homeowners, the classic metal solar path light is the first step into outdoor lighting. It looks simple from the outside—a brown iron cap, a patterned glass shade and a slim metal pole that disappears into the soil. Behind that simplicity is a carefully engineered manufacturing process.

Glowyard Lighting is a B2B manufacturer focused on decorative solar garden lights, including a full range of solar pathway lights. With production bases in Fujian and Guangdong and more than 15 years of export experience, we manufacture hundreds of styles every year. Our work on SM22529 is one concrete example of the broader capabilities outlined in our outdoor lighting manufacturing overview.

In this article, we take one representative model—the SM22529 classic metal iron solar path light—and explain how our factory turns it from concept into a finished product ready for garden paths around the world.

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1. Meet Model SM22529

SM22529 is designed as a premium yet mass‑market friendly solar path light:

• Materials

  • Iron cap, cage and pole, all protected by outdoor‑grade powder coating.
  • Real pressed glass shade with a faceted pattern that creates sparkling light on the ground.

• Function

  • Solar powered, automatic on at dusk and off at dawn.
  • Designed for around 6–8 hours of runtime under typical summer sunlight, based on Glowyard’s standard 300 mAh battery configuration.

• Applications

  • Residential garden paths, driveways and flower beds.
  • Landscaping for small hotels, resorts and cafés.

Buyers who want to explore more models in the same family can browse our Solar Garden Path Lights category or other pathway lights content on the site.

For readers who want a more general, objective view of how professional Chinese factories manufacture solar garden lights, you can also read our in‑depth guide:
How a Professional Chinese Factory Manufactures Solar Garden Lights.

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2. From Brief to Engineering: How SM22529 Is Defined

Every project starts with a brief that balances design, performance and cost.

• Market and scenario
  SM22529 targets garden paths in Europe and North America, where users expect quick tool‑free installation and low maintenance.

• Performance targets

  • Up to 8 hours of soft white light after a full day of charging.
  • IP44‑class protection against rain and splashes.
  • Stable performance over multiple seasons.

• Aesthetic and branding
  The brown iron finish and glass texture align with Glowyard’s decorative garden range, so retailers can build consistent sets and assortments.

Glowyard’s R&D team in Guangzhou leads this stage, following the OEM/ODM framework described on our OEM solutions pages.

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3. Engineering the Metal and Glass Structure

Our mechanical engineers turn the concept into manufacturable parts:

• Metal cap and cage

  • The top cap is deep‑drawn from steel sheet, with an opening for the solar panel and space inside for the PCB and battery.
  • The cage is formed from slim steel strips that are bent and welded into a lantern shape, protecting the glass shade and adding decoration.

• Glass shade

  • A thick glass cup is pressed in a dedicated mould.
  • The inner surface carries a patterned texture that refracts the LED light into a diamond‑like effect on surrounding plants and pathways.

• Pole and stake

  • Steel tubes are cut and formed; the bottom is pressed or welded into a sharp stake so users can push the light directly into soil without tools.

The resulting bill of materials (BOM) and drawings then feed into tooling and process planning, consistent with the process logic shown in our manufacturing overview.

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4. Metal Fabrication and Surface Protection

For SM22529, metalworking is one of the most important value drivers. The steps are typical of how Glowyard handles metal and iron solar lights, as introduced in more detail on our metal lights manufacturing process page.

4.1 Stamping and welding

1. Top cap

   • Steel sheets go through progressive dies to cut and deep‑draw the cap into its final curved shape.
   • Additional punching creates the central opening for the solar panel and holes for screws or clips.

2. Decorative cage

   • Narrow steel strips are stamped from coil material and then bent using forming tools.
   • On welding fixtures, operators position these curved strips around top and bottom rings and spot‑weld them into a rigid cage.

3. Pole and stake

   • Steel tubes are cut to length; one end is pressed or welded into a sharp stake, while the other is formed to mate with the lantern body.

4.2 Deburring and smoothing

All edges and weld seams are ground and deburred to:

• Protect workers during handling.
• Avoid sharp points that could damage packaging or the coating.
• Provide a good surface for the next stage: anti‑corrosion finishing.

4.3 Anti‑corrosion finishing

1. Pre‑treatment

   • Metal parts pass through degreasing and derusting stages, and where appropriate, phosphating to improve corrosion resistance and coating adhesion.

2. Powder coating

   • An outdoor‑grade brown powder is applied with controlled thickness.
   • The coating is oven‑cured to form a durable layer.

3. Inspection

   • Inspectors check for runs, pinholes, orange peel texture and colour differences.
   • Defective parts are reworked or rejected according to Glowyard’s quality standards.

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5. Glass Shade Manufacturing

The glass shade defines much of the visual experience.

1. Press forming and annealing

   • Molten glass is pressed into a mould that shapes both the outer form and the internal decorative pattern.
   • Controlled annealing relieves internal stress and helps prevent cracking.

2. Edge finishing and cleaning

   • The open edge is cut and ground to remove sharpness.
   • Shades are washed and inspected for cracks, bubbles and optical defects.

Qualified glass pieces are then ready to be combined with the metal cage and solar module.

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6. Building the Solar Module

The solar subsystem gives SM22529 its autonomy and energy efficiency.

• Electronics design
  Glowyard’s engineers select a compact control IC and layout for solar charging, light sensing and LED driving, based on our standard pathway‑light platform.

• SMT and testing
  PCBs pass through SMT lines, reflow soldering and automated optical inspection to catch solder defects.

• Module integration

  • A crystalline silicon solar panel is bonded into the top cap opening.
  • The PCB is fixed inside the cap; the LED leads are routed toward the centre of the glass shade.
  • A rechargeable battery cell is installed in the holder.

Each module is briefly tested: when the panel is covered, the LED should turn on; under light, it should switch off.

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7. Final Assembly and Quality Checks

On the fixture assembly line, SM22529 becomes a finished lamp.

1. Lamp head assembly

   • The glass shade is placed into the metal cage and locked in position.
   • The pre‑assembled solar cap is mounted on top, creating a sealed lantern.

2. Pole and stake assembly

   • The lantern is fixed to the metal pole; the lower end already has the integrated stake for ground insertion.

3. Functional and waterproof testing

   • Operators cover and uncover the solar panel to simulate night and day and confirm automatic on/off.
   • Sample units undergo splash or rain simulation to verify IP44‑class protection.

4. Mechanical checks

   • Simple insertion and bending tests confirm that the stake and pole can withstand typical installation forces without deformation.

These checks follow Glowyard’s TQM approach and multi‑stage IQC–IPQC–FQC–OQC system, which is described in more detail on our quality and manufacturing pages.

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8. Packaging, Sets and Logistics

SM22529 is often sold in multi‑packs so end users can line an entire path with one purchase.

• Set configuration
  Lights are grouped into boxed sets (for example, 6, 8 or 10 pieces), depending on customer requirements and retail channel.

• Protective packaging
  Custom trays or dividers keep the iron parts from scratching the glass or solar panel during transport.
  Carton designs are validated with drop and stacking tests.

• Labelling and documentation
  Each set includes a short instruction sheet and appropriate safety/usage labels.
  Cartons carry barcodes and batch information to support traceability and after‑sales service.

• Global shipping
  Finished goods are shipped through major South China ports and airports using established sea‑freight and air‑freight partners.

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Working with Glowyard on Pathway Light Projects

SM22529 is just one example in Glowyard’s pathway portfolio, but its manufacturing journey shows how we combine:

• Metal fabrication, welding and anti‑corrosion finishing.
• Glass optics and decorative design.
• Solar, LED and battery engineering.
• Structured assembly and testing for outdoor reliability.

If you are planning your own metal iron solar path light series—whether you want a customised version of SM22529 or an original design—you can:

• Learn about our broader outdoor lighting manufacturing capabilities on the manufacturing overview page.

• Dive deeper into how we handle stamping, welding and finishing on the metal lights manufacturing process page.

• Read the objective guide “How a Professional Chinese Factory Manufactures Solar Garden Lights” for a wider industry‑level perspective.

• Or simply contact Glowyard to discuss requirements, MOQs and timelines for your next pathway‑light project.