1. Product Description:- A sheet glass is a rigid, brittle, transparent material which is produced by fusing mainly silica sand, lime and soda ash. It can be produced in a wide range of sizes with a thickness of 2 to 12 mm. Sheet glass is used in the building industry for making windows and doors as well as for furniture, show cases, mirrors, green houses, etc.
2. Market Potential:- The major users of sheet glass are the building and furniture industries. The total demand for the country is currently met through imports as there is no plant that produces sheet glass. The demand for sheet glass mainly depends on the expansion of the building industry. And this industry is experiencing its robust expansion since modern building construction started in the country. One can observe this expansion in every major urban center of the country; and this is despite the high costs of construction materials. The building industry is believed to grow at the rate of six percent per year. The demand for sheet glass is assumed to grow at the same rate. Accordingly, the current demand for sheet glass is estimated to be 2.734 million m2. In 2012, projected demand will reach about 3.63 million m2. If the main raw material silica sand is available in the region, the demand for sheet glass can justify the establishment of a sheet glass making factory.
3. Source of Raw materials:- The main raw materials for making sheet glass are sand (64%) lime stone (7%), soda ash (14%), dolomite (14%) and some other minor inputs. Sand, lime stone and dolomite can be found in the region. Soda ash can be brought from Oromyia Region.
4. Process and Technology: Major ingredients are proportionally fed to a batch mixer. The small ingredients are dosed on the belt conveyor which feed the ingredients to the batch mixer. The mixed batch from the storage bin is fed to the furnace via a belt conveyor with the batch distributor so that it can be distributed uniformly in the furnace. There the mixed ingredients melt and the molten glass is homogenized as it slowly flows through the regaining vessel, and then its viscosity gradually drops. This molten glass is drawn vertically from the furnace through a so-called “dibiteuse” by means of a drawing machine. The glass is continuously drawn upward in ribbon form and its surface is chilled by adjacent water coils. Then it passes through the annealing chamber. After cooling down completely the glass is cut to required sizes and packed in an appropriate way. The major machinery and equipment required include sand crushing and refining unit, storage and mix preparation machines, melting furnace facilities, cooling system, finishing line, compressor station and other auxiliary equipment.
5. Estimated Investment: For a plant which can produce about 15000 tons or 1.755 million m2 of glass sheet per year, the estimated investment will be:-
Building/shade 2000m2 at Br1500/m2 = Birr 3,000,000
Machinery & Equipment…………………. = Birr 153,000,000
Working capital …………………………….= Birr 2,000,000
Total = Birr 158,000,000
6. Benefits: Saves foreign exchange, generates income to the region, promotes self-sufficiency, introduces new skills and technology and utilizes domestic natural resources.
7. Location: Any urban center near where sand is to be obtained.