1. Product Description: H.D.P.E woven sacks are suitable for packing/holding grains, coffee, sugar, fertilizer, potatoes, carrots, onions, sand etc.
2. Rationale: Note long ago the main material used for packing/holding grain in the Amhara Region was a sack made from goat skins. To-day sacks made from natural and synthetic fibers produced at home and imported are used for packing/holding grains, fertilizers, sugar, coffee, etc. However all the sack need of the Amhara Region is met either from the sack factories in Addis Ababa or from imports. Sacks are critical items for transporting grains from farms to homes, from homes to market places and from market places to stores and warehouses and some time even to foreign markets. The Amhara Region, being a predominantly agricultural region needs sacks in greater quantity next to the Oromiya Region. Given the importance of this product to the farming economy of the Region, it is logical to propose the establishment of a woven sacks producing plant in the Region.
3. Market Potential: In the 2001/2002 harvest season, production of all types of crops was estimated to be 39.2 million quintals. To transport this volume from farms to homes could have required a minimum of 15.7 million pieces of sacks. If we assume that, at least 20 percent of the annual production is taken to markets to be sold, this will require about 3.13 million pieces of sacks. In addition sacks are also needed for holding sugar, coffee, salt, fertilizer, flour, and other industrial products. All this clearly indicates the possibility of establishing a viable H.D.P.E. woven sacks making plant in the Amhara Region.
4. Source of Raw Material: H.D.P.E High density P.E. form which the woven sacks are to be made will be imported.
5. Process & Technology: H.D.P.E is fed to the hopper. The cylinder temperature is kept 150-240/1600C. The blown film from the die is taken up by a take –up roll which is 2-2.5 meters high from the die. This original film is slit by means of industrial blades in to width of about 9mm to 12mm. These slit tapes are stretched by 1 to 7/9 times at around 1000C in hot air tunnel or water. The stretched tapes are wound in winding unit with torque motors. Now warp beaming, weft spooling, weaving on looms in desired mesh and design is done to produce the fabric. If it desired lamination or coating, flex graphic printing and cutting is carried out to give the final product. Main plant and machinery required include one complete plant for the manufacture of H.D.P.E slit tape, looms for weaving of the fabric, pirn winders with eight with eight spindles each, direct beaming machine, bay making and stitching machine, printing machine and accessories like bobbins, pirns, beams, etc.
6. Estimated Investment: For a plant that will produce 126,000 bags or sacks per month, the estimated investment will be:
§ Building 300m2 at Birr 1500/m2 =Birr 450,000
§ Plant and Machinery =Birr 500,000
§ Working Capital =Birr 300,000
Total Birr 1,250,000
7. Benefits: saves financial resources of the Region, supports the farming sector by facilitating convenient storage and transport, introduces new skills and technology, enhances self sufficiency,---------.
8. Location: Bahir Dar, Combolcha.