Leaf Cups and Plates

Product and Its Applications

Leaf cups and plates are traditionally made by hand in Indian villages. These are commonly used for serving food at marriages, religions and social functions. The laborious craft can now be converted into a machine operation to make these containers in elegant shapes and sizes. Such cups and plates are made out of plant leaves of beautia, arecanut sheath, banana etc. These have good dimensional stability and are inexpensive, hygienic and biodegradable.

2.0 Market Potential

There is a large scope for setting up cottage scale units in most parts of India. The cups and plates are in large demand by hawkers, fast food restaurants, star-hotels, mass feeding and for prasadam in religious institutions.

3.0 Basis and Presumptions

a) The unit will work for 300 days per annum on single shift basis.

b) The unit can achieve its full capacity utilization during the first month of operation.

c) The wages for skilled workers are taken as per prevailing rates in this type of industry.

d) Interest rate for total capital investment is calculated @ 12% per annum.

e) The entrepreneur is expected to raise 20-25% of the capital as margin money.

f) The unit would construct its own building.

g) Costs of machinery and equipment are based on average prices of machinery manufacturers.

4.0 Implementation Schedule

Project implementation will take a period of 8 months. Break-up of the activities and relative time for each activity is shown below:

5.0 Technical Aspects

5.1 Location

The plant would have 5 machines. It can be located in any village where leaves of banana, beautia, bauhinia and arecanut palm sheaths are available. It can also work without electricity.

5.2 Process of Manufacture

The leaf cup machine is a simple pedal operated machine, manually operated with minimum power consumption. It requires 300 watts of electric power. It can also work without power by kerosene oil blow lamp. The leaves are washed and dried to retain their pliability and kept in a polythene bag to avoid drying before use. The leaves are placed on the lower die platten, the pedal is pressed down and released after a few seconds. All the operation like folding, trimming, pressing into shape and drying are done in a single operation by pressing the pedal lever. The leaf cup, subjected to heating to 150 degree C for 10 seconds also gets sterilized.

6. 0 Pollution Control

There is no major pollution problem associated with this industry except for disposal of waste which should be managed appropriately.

7.0 Energy Conservation

No coal or LDO is being used. If kerosene oil blow lamp is used, care should be taken in regularly cleaning the nozzles and proper air mixture to minimize smoke.

8.0 Production Capacity

9.0 Financial Aspects

9.1 Fixed Capital

9.1. 2 Machinery and Equipment

9.1.3 Pre-operative Expenses

9.2 Recurring expenses per annum

9.2.1 Personnel

9.2.2 Raw Material including packaging materials

10.0 Financial Analysis

10.2 Sale Proceeds / Annual turnover

10.3 Net Profit per year

10.4 Net Profit Ratio

10.5 Rate of Return on Investment

10.7 Break even Point

1 1.0 Addresses of Machinery and Equipment Suppliers

Shree Murugan Industries,
Plot No. 68/W, Hootagalli
Industrial Area Belawadi Post
Mysore - 571186

AMI Eng. Station Road,
Opposite Veena Cinema
Patna - 800 001

Chandan Eng Works, Industrial Estate,
Kurji Patna - 800 010

Kalpataru Enterprises,
HIG, Sector E, Aliganj Scheme,
Lucknow - 226 020

Nalanda Agro Works, Nalanda Nagar,
Kurji Patna- 800 010

Anil & Co.
68, NGO's Colony, Rajendra Nagar,
Mysore - 570 007

Shah Eng. Co.,
C-18, Ajanta Commercial Centre, Ashram Road,
Ahmedabad - 380 004

12. Other Special Features

A careful selection of product mix is necessary based on the local market demand and availability of raw materials. The facilities can also be utilised to manufacture different sizes and shapes of cups and plates for fuller utilisation of capacity.

Contact for more information:

Information Manager
TIMEIS Project
E-mail: timeis@ficci.com