Product Description: Blacksmith’s hearths are made of sheet metal for burning coal in order to facilitate heating of the metal to be forged or formed to different shapes by blacksmiths. The hearth also contains a hand blower to supply air to the burning coal. The simplest round shaped hearth is considered For Manufacturing in this project idea.
Market Potential: Among the 19.2 million people in the Amhara Region about five percent or 0.96 million are members of the blacksmith communities. This amounts to about 192,000 families. If we assume that there are at least two people in each family who practice the work of a blacksmith, the number of blacksmiths in the Region could be as high as 384,000. One blacksmith needs one hearth; and the potential demand for blacksmiths hearth could be 384,000. If we assume that at least 20 percent of the blacksmiths will buy the hearths initially, the demand for the hearth will be 76, 800. As other blacksmith see the advantage of using the hearth, the demand for this useful product will increase.
Source of Row material: Metal sheets are the main inputs and these will be secured from domestic scrap of metals.
Process and Technology: B.P. Sheets are cut to different sizes and shapes with the help of hand lever shear. The sheet for the hearth is bent circumferentially to convert the sheet into tabular form. Three lugs are riveted to the sides to of tabular ring and over the lugs; the bottom plate is fixed with bolts and nuts. The cast iron pipe fittings, the pipe stand and castings are assembled. The hand blower is also fitted. The hearth is then painted. Machinery required includes bench/drill, bench grinder, pipe bending machine, lever shear.
Estimated Investment: For a plant that will produce about 80 units of hearth per month, the estimated investment will be:
Building/ shade 100 m2 at Br 1500/m2 = 150,000
Machinery 80,000
Working Capital 40,000
270,000
Benefits: Increases productivity of blacksmith’s thereby increasing their income, saves charcoal and in turn reduces deforestation, saves time and effort of blacksmiths, hence increasing their time available for other function.
Locations: Each zonal capital