MAKING ADHENSIVE PLYWOOD
Introduction This project idea is for production and marketing of adhesive
plywood. Plywood is a
common building material that is used to line roofs or as wall or floor
paneling. It is also used in furniture manufacturing and it is made by gluing
together an odd number of thin layers of wood. These layers are arranged so
that the direction of the grain of each layer is at a right angle to the
adjacent layer. The outer layers are called faces and backs, while the inner
layer called the core. Plywood can be made from hardwood or softwood and this determines
its use. Soft plywood can be made from Douglas-fir or
southern pine, while hardwood can be made from oak, birch, cherry, walnut and
other woods. Interior plywood uses moisture-resistant glue while exterior glue
uses water-proof glue. The production capacity is 300 pieces per day and
estimated revenue is approximated at US$ 200 per year.
Production
process
Choose
a log that is straight, round and ideally without knots or decay. Remove the
bark from the log and cut logs to the desired length, steam-heat to soften the
surface. Make the veneer. This can be done by slicing, sawing or cutting. Use
sawing for fine finished woods, use slicing for wall panel faces or furniture
and for other uses rotary cut. To slice, move the log in a flinch, against a
hefty, immobile knife. To rotary cut, place in a lathe and revolve against an
immobile knife that extends its length. Dry, trim and match the
plies or layers. Apply a thin layer of glue to each ply. Lay-up the layers. The
grain in each layer should be opposite to the adjacent ply. Squeeze together
the plies using a giant hydraulic press, applying heat and pressure. Finish by
drying, trimming and sanding.
Market
Analysis
The
demand for Adhhensive Ply wood is very high especially in Carpentry and
Construction industry. The key players in this industry include; Nile ply,
Budongo Saw Mills, among others.
Capital
Investment Requirements (US$)
Capital investment item |
Units |
Qty |
Unit cost |
Amount |
Steam Jacketed kettle |
No. |
1 |
1,800 |
1,800 |
Condenser |
No. |
1 |
3,894 |
3,894 |
Receiving Tank (30 HP) |
No. |
1 |
21,500 |
21,500 |
Vacuum pump |
No. |
1 |
2,500 |
2,500 |
Boiler |
No. |
1 |
1,000.00 |
1,000 |
Total cost on machinery |
30,694 |
Production and Operating costs (US$)
Cost |
Units |
Unit |
Qty |
Pdn |
Pdn cost/ |
Pdn |
Soft |
mtrs |
3 |
500 |
1,250 |
32,500 |
390,000 |
Glue |
ltrs |
6 |
70 |
420 |
10,920 |
131,040 |
Ply |
mtrs |
7.5 |
500 |
3,750 |
97,500 |
1,170,000 |
Sub-total |
1,070 |
5,420 |
140,920 |
1,691,040 |
||
General costs(overheads) |
||||||
Utilities(water and power) |
150 |
1,800 |
||||
Labour |
750 |
9,000 |
||||
Rent |
250 |
3,000 |
||||
Miscellaneous costs |
1,000 |
12,000 |
||||
Distribution costs |
520 |
6,240 |
||||
Deprectiation(Asset write off)Expenses) |
639 |
7,674 |
||||
Sub -total |
3,309 |
39,714 |
||||
Total Operating Costs |
144,229 |
1,730,754 |
Project product costs and price structures in US $
Item |
Qty |
Qty/yr |
Unit |
Pdncost |
Unit |
Total |
Plywo |
300 |
93,600 |
18.5 |
1,730,754 |
20 |
1,872,000 |
Profitability Analysis (US$)
Profitability Item |
Per |
Per |
Per Year |
Revenue |
6,000 |
156,000 |
1,872,000 |
Less production and operating Costs |
5,547 |
144,229 |
1,730,754 |
Profit |
453 |
11,771 |
141,247 |
Source of Supply of Rawmaterials and Equipments
Equipments and Rawmaterials can be obtained from the local market.
Incentives
Government
through National Forestry Authority has embarked on Conservation of Forests and
planting of various species of trees.