Product Description: Melamine table wares such as cups, saucers, dishes and other similar items are household utensils used for eating and drinking. Compared to porcelain and ceramic table wares, melamine table wares are lighter in weight; and they are also durable, they can be made with the combination of different colors and very artistic designs. They are made from materials which are basically plastic. Due to their lightness, they are popular in hotels, restaurants, parties and marriage ceremonies.
Rationale: Basically two major groups of table wares are used in our country. One group includes the type of table ware used by rural people. These table wares are made by local people from local materials such as clay, specific type of grasses and wood. The other group is used by people who live in the urban centers. Table wares in this group include those made from metals, melamine, ceramics, porcelain and plastics. The use of this group of tableware’s is generally based on level of income of each urban family. Usually plastic tableware are used by low income urban families, melamine table wares by middle income families and ceramic and porcelain table wares are used by high income families. In 2006, number of urban families in Ethiopia is estimated to be 1.8 million. If we assume that the middle income families constitute about 40 percent of the total urban families, the number of these families is about 720,000. These are the potential consumers of melamine tableware. The share of the Amhara Region is about 187,200 families. It is for the market at the national and regional level that the production of melamine tableware should focus on.
Market Potential: As indicated above the potential consumers of melamine tableware’s at t he national level are 720,000 families and at the regional level 187,200 families. Suppose that each family (with five members) buys at least 10 pieces of tablewares of different types, total purchase at the national and regional level will be 7,200,000 and 1,870,000 pieces respectively. This is the potential market for melamine tablewares both at the national and regional level. So far the demand for melamine tablewares are met by imports and to some extent by domestic production. Average annual domestic production is about 460,000 which is much below potential demand as indicated above. Gap between potential demand and domestic production shows the existence of captive market for melamine tableware's in the country. With further urbanization and possible income increase, the demand for these products will increase.
Source of Raw material: main raw materials include melamine moulding powder, foils and packing materials, the first three will be imported.
Process and Technology: Three stages are involved in the production process of melamine. These are charging the mould, closing the mould and curing. To charge the mould, perform, pillets and powder or a combination of these is fed to the mould cavity in predetermined quantity. The printed melamine soaued paper is also kept in the required position. The mould is then closed by lowering the “male” part in the “female” part quickly and accurately. In the curing process, heat as well as pressure is applied for a certain time to the mould to mould the resin into desired shape. The product is then kept under pressure for some more time and allowed to cool. Finally the product is trimmed and polished before being packed. Main machinery includes hydraulic press, butting machine, grinding machine, heating plates, weighing machine, air compressor and some accessories.
Estimated Investment: For a plant that will produce about 100,000 sets of cups and saucers per year, the estimated investment will be as follows.
• Building & civil works … = Birr 550,000
• Machinery …………….. = Birr 750,000
• Working capital ……… = Birr 300,000
Total ….. = Birr 1,600,000
Benefits: Saves foreign exchange and regional financial resources, promotes self-sufficiency in basic industrial products, improves the life styles of certain segments of the populations, introduces new skills and technology.
Location: Bahir Dar, Comblocha or any