PRODUCT DESCRIPTION AND APPLICATION
Transmission of power in various industries is carried out by using conventional belting materials, which comprise mainly rubber, and canvas materials, which are not durable and sturdy, and therefore collapse at frequent intervals. Leather nylon sandwiched industrial belting is, hence, a much better product introduced after long years of research.
This belt has proved its versatility and hard wears qualities and is rapidly replacing conventional type rubber and canvas belting. Most machinery in the textile, jute, cement, sugar, paper and various other heavy and medium industries use this belting for efficient transmission of mechanical power.
MARKET STUDY
The average quantity imported during the initial three years i.e. 1998-2000 was about 841 kg. This has increased to 1068 kg and 2285 kg during the period 2001-2003 and 2004-2006, respectively. In order to estimate the current demand the imported quantity during year 2006 is taken as a base. Taking annual growth of 10% current (2008), demand is estimated at 2871 kg.
RAW MATERIALS
The direct raw materials required for the manufacture of laminated leather beltings are chrome tanned leather, nylon film and adhesives. Chrome tanned leather can be acquired from the existing tanneries in the Country while the other raw materials will be imported.
Packaging is the most important auxiliary material needed that is available in the local market.
TECHNOLOGY
Portions of chrome-tanned leather, free from cuts are used for the fabrication of laminated leather beltings.
First, dried splits of chrome tanned leather are cut into straps at right angle in a round-strap cutting machine. A long roll is made by joining leather pieces of equal sizes with suitable adhesive cement applied to the end after splicing. The joint portion is kept under pressure in a cold press to ensure proper bonding.
The ready leather roll is fed into the splitting machine to cut appropriate sizes suitable for uniform sandwiching. The flesh side is buffed and a polymer resin is applied. The final operation is insertion of nylon flesh in between two leather rolls under hot hydraulic press. Both leather and nylon film are kept under heat and pressure for a certain period of time in order to produce a long roll of leather nylon sandwiched belting.
The final roll after lamination is mounted on a winding frame for a few days and thereafter ends of the roll are trimmed by using a circular knife and subsequently buffed on a buffing machine in order to clear unwanted material and gloss if produced during the process of lamination. The process does not have any adverse impact on environment.
INVESTEMENT
The present demand for the proposed product is estimated at 2.8 tonnes per annum. The demand is expected to reach at 7.4 tonnes by the year 2018.
The total investment requirement is estimated at about Birr 7.19 million, out of which Birr 3.5 million is required for plant and machinery. The plant will create employment opportunities for 27 persons.