Article written by Leo Okoro

Background
PRESIDENT J. F. Kennedy of the United States of America (USA) at Nigeria’s independence in 1960, referring to Nigeria, said “a new nation is born in Africa that has the resources and power to rise to our USA level in 15 to 20 years.” He added: “Let’s give them a unique birthday gift.”

That Nigeria is the giant of Africa cannot be overemphasized. The country is making all preparations towards becoming one of the top twenty economies of the world by the year 2020. Africa has always looked on Nigeria to establish an industrial base founded on establishment of micro, small and medium scale enterprises of which sand paper-manufacturing industry is one.

The springing up of such industries will go a long way in eradicating poverty, unemployment, hunger, youth restiveness, terrorism and other social vices. Even development, peace and progress will be engendered in the country.

Sandpaper is a strong paper coated with sharp sand or similar substances used for rubbing rough surfaces smooth. Standard sandpaper has measurement of about 30cm x 21cm. Sandpaper is of different forms, the smooth and rough sandpaper. The rough sandpaper is used to smooth very rough surfaces while the smooth sandpaper is used on mildly rough surface to make it smooth. Sandpaper is an imported product in Nigeria. Statistics show that almost 100 per cent of sandpaper used in Nigeria is imported, as there are no well-known local manufacturers of the product in Nigeria.

The project
The project is setting up a production plant to manufacture sandpaper. The plant will be capable of producing 405,000 sheets of sandpaper per annum at production rate of 1,500 sheets per day, employing 8 members of staff at the on set working for 270 days per annum. The raw materials needed for this project are sharp sand, broken bottles, sharp stone, paper and gum. These raw materials are easily sourced locally in Nigeria.

Machinery
The machines required are Samola sandpaper machine and the drying oven system. The Samola machine comprises of 10HP electric motor, 3HP roller electric motor, dual pulley, hammer pulley, dead rolls spreader, twin roller system, paper roller desk, and adhesive molder. The oven system is for drying of the product and it is powered by gas. The machines can be locally fabricated. Imported (foreign) machines are also available at higher prices.

Production process
The production process is very simple. The sharp sand, stone and broken bottles chips are mixed up in the right proportion and fed into the hammer mill. The hammer mill reduces them to the required sizes and screens the materials into granules. The paper is passed through a gum bath and the gritty granules are made to come into contact with the gum surface of the paper using the spreader. The dead rolls spreader spreads and presses the granules unto the gummed paper. The paper with the gum and the granules is passed to the oven system for drying. After drying, the sandpaper so produced is packaged ready for sale.

Uses/market
Virtually, all sandpapers used in Nigeria are imported from China, Taiwan and Europe as there are no well-known local productions. The lack of local production has created a wide supply-demand gap, as demand far outstrips supply, and the available products sold at high prices. There is large market for the product in Nigeria as the demand for the product is ever on the increase in industries like building construction, metal/steel, furniture/woodworks, electrical/mechanical, shoe industries, etc.

Profitability
The plant producing at annual installed capacity of 405,000 sheets of sandpaper of 30cm x 21cm per sheet, selling at an average prices of N150 per sheet is capable of generating a net turnover of N60.8 million per annum. A net profit of N5.5 million in the first year of operation is realistic with an anticipated annual growth rate of 15 per cent. The pay-back period is about three years.

Funding
Finance for this project can be through equity contribution of the promoters, commercial and micro-finance banks. Other specialized banks like the Bank of Industry (BOI) are handy to augment financing of this project.

Implementation
Implementing this project begins with conducting a detailed feasibility study and producing a report that ascertains the actual cost/benefit scenario of the project.

Recommendation
The writer strongly recommends this project to all interested investors as the industry is very virgin, attractive, feasible and quite lucrative. All prospective investors can contact the writer for a bankable feasibility report and further assistance.

Investment requirement

Preliminary expenses                          100,000
Factory site                                              400,000
Plant and machinery                        1,500,000
Motor vehicles                                    1,500,000
Furniture/fitting and equipment    300,000
Working capital                                      300,000
Contingency                                             100,000
Total                                                   4,200,000

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