1 Product Description: Rotary thermoforming is a plastomers processing method used to produce hollow objects of a volume ranging from several cm3 to 20m3 with a wall thickness from 2 to 10 mm and more. A wide range of products for various applications is produced by this process. The most common products are various containers for chemicals (liquids and powders) and transportation vessels, for the chemical, textile, foods and other industries. Various objects used in agriculture can also be produced – transportation vessels, storage bins, tanks, etc. Other products include toys, light fittings, furniture and a variety of household objects. Rotary thermoforming has numerous advantages over other methods of polymers processing such as blow or injection moulding.
2 Market Potential: The use of plastic products for a variety of purposes has become so common in both rural and urban areas of the country. In any market place (rural or urban) one can observe the numerous types and large number of plastic containers and other related products made available for sale. In both rural and urban homes, there are many types of plastic containers being used for a variety of purposes. In addition to domestic use, plastic containers are used in manufacturing, agricultural and transportation activities. Plastics produced by rotary thermoforming are not only used as containers, but they are also used for furniture, toys, light fittings. Though the demand of these products is increasing in the Amhara Region, there is not a single plant in the Region which produces any of these products. The existing demand and its potential increase will absorb the production of a rotary thermoforming of plastomers plant.
3 Source of Raw material: The material most frequently used are polyethylene of all densities, cross linked and linear poly styrene, polyamide, polyvinylchloride and nylon. These are products of the chemical industry and they will be imported.
4 Process and Technology: mixing is needed when the finished product has to be colored. The plastomer powder and pigments are mixed in exact proportions in mixers of a standard type until the mixture becomes completely homogenous so that the finished product is colored evenly. The plastomer, which is in bags or containers, is put into vessels of a certain size, weighed and taken to the rotary transformer. After this process molding takes place which includes pouring, closing, putting, heating, cooling and taking. When the product has been taken out of the mould, it has to be finished by cutting, planning, drilling, milling, etc. The moulds are relatively simple made of steel sheets. The rotary thermo former consists of a power generator which rotates the mould, a gas burner for heating the mould and a control panel for operating the machine. Required machinery and equipment include gas tanks, mixers, rotary thermo formers, cooling ventilators, finishing equipment and tools, scales, moulds.
5 Estimated Investment: For a plant which can produce 100 tons per year (8hrs/day and 270 days per year), the estimated investment will be:-
Building/shade 400m2 at Birr 1500/m2 = Birr 600,000
Machinery ……………………………..………… = Birr 1,200,000
Working capital ……………………………….. = Birr 8,000,000
Total = Birr 2,600,000
6 Benefits: Similar to other projects.
7 Location: Combolcha.