Product Description: Twine and rope have so far been made from natural fibers. However, during the last 20 years there has been a shift from natural fibers to synthetic fibers for making twine and rope. Today, most twine and ropes are made from nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene and the like. Twine and rope made from synthetic fiber do not rot easily, are light and strong.
Market Potential: Twine and rope are used in agriculture, transport, construction and other economic sectors. Before the advent of synthetic fibers, twine and rope were made from natural fibers. In the country side, in addition to natural fiber, home processed leather made into strips was used as twine and rope. However, home made twine and rope are completely replaced by imported twine and rope. Every year thousands of tons of twine and rope are imported into the country. This import quantity will grow as the economy expands. Though there are no specific figures which indicate the demand for twine and rope, one can safely assume that there will be enough demand to make a twine and rope making factory a financially viable venture.
Sources of Raw materials: As sated above, the main raw material is plastic resin such us nylon, polyethylene and polypropylene. These plastic materials will be imported.
Process and Technology: To manufacture plastic monofilament, the plastic resins are extruded in the form of a filament by an extruder, and are stretched to the length 3 to 13 times; and the filaments having 200 to 6,000 denier are extruded and are wound round the monofilament bobbin. With these filaments as basic materials, fishing net, fishing string, rope, casting net, spoon net, brush, etc are manufactured. To manufacture ropes, 150 pieces of monofilament are cooled and solidified in the quenching bath and this material passes through a series of roller baths to achieve strength of 7 to 10 times. Each filament is wound round the winder bobbin. The bobbin is set on a 4-spindle stranded type creel stand, and a fixed number of monofilaments are twisted by 4-spindle stranded. There are other processes before the final product is made. Main machinery and equipment needed include extruder, a series of spindles, balling machine, and rope coiling machine, ring doubling frame, a group of high speed cylinders, bobbin stranded and closer.
Estimated Investment: For a plant which will produce 1,250 tons of monofilament and 1,125 tons of rope yarn, the estimated investment will be:-
§ Building/shade 2800m2 at Birr 1500/m2 = Birr 4,200,000
§ Machinery …………………………………… Birr 25,600,000
§ Working capital …………….………………. Birr 1,500,000
Total Birr 30,700,000
Benefits: Saves foreign exchange, brings in financial resources to the region, introduces new skills and technology.
Location: Combolcha, Debre Birhan