1. Product Description: In metal fabrication and mechanical engineering industries, welding is a very indispensable operation. In welding process the localized coalescence of material is achieved through the application of heat and pressure. Mainly three types of welding:- arc welding, resistance welding and gas welding are common. Are welding achieves coalescence of metals through intense heat of electric arc which establishes between the base metal and an electrode. The electrode is consumed by melting and becomes part of the weld, acting as a filler metal. This is a project idea to produce the welding electrode which is essential for arc welding.
2. Rationale: Welding takes place in garages, factories, construction sites, metal fabrication workshops, in technical training centers, etc. And for all these welding activates, thousands of tons of electrode are imported to the country every year. Though welding operations is known to increase as the economy grows, no attempt has been made, so far, to produce sufficient quantities of electrodes in the country. This is an activity which has been neglected and which an investor in the Amhara Region can take the initiative to produce electrode not only for the Region’s market but for the market of the country as a whole. Even with current level of economic development, a country with 75 million people can have a viable welding electrode making plant. Can the Amhara Region be the first to establish this plant?
3. Market Potential: The present level of consumption of electrode in the country is more than the capacity of a medium size electrode making plant.
Disaggregated Data on Electrodes Import
Source: Ethiopian Customs Authority
Type A: Coated electrodes of base metal, for electric arc-welding
Type B: Carbon electrodes for furnaces
Type C: Carbon electrodes (excl. For furnaces)
4. Source of Raw Material: The main raw materials for welding electrodes are- wire, potassium/ sodium silicates, rutile, beneficiated illuminate quartz, china clay, ferromanganese, cellulose, and titanium dioxide, etc. Most of these materials will be imported; some such as sodium or potassium silicates, china clay, quartz—can be found in the country.
5. Production Process & Technology: The main production processes are:- mixing all the raw materials to be used for coating, pressing into briquettes feeding the meter wire and the flux briquettes into an extrusion press. The core wire unites with the coating compound by a nozzle system within the press; and the coated electrode is electrically dried before packing. Main machineries include dry and wet mixers, briquetting press, extrusion press, pumping unit, automatic wire feeder, conveyers and brushing equipment, drying oven---
6. Estimated Investment:
Building area 600m2 X Birr 600/m2 = Birr 360,000
Plant Machinery = Birr 107,820
467,820
7. Benefits to the Region’s Economy: Flow of financial resources to the Region, saving of foreign to the country, transfer of technology, development of new skills.
8. Location: Combolcha