1. Product Definition: These educational materials include set-squares small rulers, compasses. All are made from plastics. The educational materials known among students as “mathematical instruments” are mostly used in geometry and trigonometry classes. They are used to measure angles, length and to construct different geometric figures. Through not made from plastic, a protractor goes with these educational instruments.
2. Market Potential: In 2004/2005 total student population in the country was about 12.3 million of whom about 12.2 million were students below university level. With this size of student population, one could expect the presence of a factory which produces these educational materials or instruments. But there is no such a factory. In the Amhara Region alone there were 3.0 million elementary and secondary school students in 2004/2005. if we assume that at lest 50 percent of these students use the sets of plastic mathematical instruments, a one time demand for these instruments will be about 1.5 million sets. This demand will increase as more students use the instruments and as the student population increases. There is sufficient demand for plastic mathematical instruments both at the national and regional level.
3. Source of Raw Material: the main input will be P.C.V plastics and this will be imported.
4. Process and Technology: The most important production process in to prepare moulds and to use injection moulding machine in which the “raw” plastic is injected into the mould for forming the required shape and dimensions. Again the main machinery is an injection moulding machines which will be supported by other machines for doing related production activities.
5. Estimated Investment: For a plan whose production capacity will be 2.5 million units per year, the estimated investment will be:
Fixed capital 3,000,000
Working capital 500,000
3,500,000
6. Benefits: Promotes self-sufficiency, saves foreign exchange, improves the quality of education
7. Location: Combolcha, Bahir Dar