PRINTING ink is a dispersion distributed as a thin film to make images on such media like paper, glass, boards, films, plastic foils, textiles, metal cans, etc. Each kind of medium requires a different type of ink formulation.The uses ofprinting inks are various and the demand for them has been boosted tremendously by the explosion experienced in such user-industries as publishing, textiles and packaging (metal can, flexo, gravure, cardboard, etc.). This demand continues to demonstrate an upward trend as the years pass by. Even the very newspaper you are reading now has printing inks as an essential input component in the course of its production.My recent survey in the course of preparing this write-up revealed that the existing producers of printing inks in the country can scarcely meet about 60% of the local demand. Consequently there has continued to be severe upward pressure on the price. Massive importation therefore continues in order meet this persisting demand-supply gap.This write-up therefore serves to expose the available unexploited profitable investment opportunity in this area and a clarion call for more factories to be established locally in 0order to try to meet and fill this gap. The alternative raw material inputs to the imported ones are already locally available in abundance.Using these alternative raw materials to manufacture the printing inks that will satisfy this demand-supply gap will reduce the production cost, increase the local content and profit and provide jobs for Nigerians who will be employed in the various industries that produce them.The Market:The market for printing inks is wide and varied and has continued to demonstrate an upward trend. Those who patronise the printing inks market include private and government printing presses, electronics manufacturers, publishers of newspapers, magazines and books, wholesale and retail distributors of printing materials and equipment, manufactures of textiles, plastic and metal containers, advertising agencies, makers of cardboards and other packaging materials, manufacturers of cement, animal feeds and other packaging bags, etc.The list is long. There is scarcely any product we use in life that has no form of printing or the other done on it and this utilises printing inks in the process. You are already bearing witness to the massive explosion in the printing sub-sector of the economy where billions of posters and handbills are being printed for the purpose of electioneering campaigns into the various elective posts.Distribution of printing inks could be done through appointed agents and company's own depots. Selling these off will not pose a problem once the quality of your products is good because of the high demand for inks. Massive importation has continued to supplement the meagre local production.Machinery And EquipmentTo produce good quality printing inks one needs such equipment and accessories as tipple roll mill, planetary mixer, mixer blades, weighing balances, grinding gauge, proofing kit, mulders guage, storage tanks, various electrical fittings etc. Some of the equipment will be imported while the others will be fabricated locally to reduce investment cost. Plant production capacities vary and the level compatible with the promoters' desire and financial ability will be chosen as the project can be promoted even on a small scale basis.Raw MaterialsThe type, quality, nature and quantity of raw materials required are dictated by the type of printing inks the promoter wishes to manufacture. Different types of ink need different formulations and qualities but generally the main inputs are resin, waxes, dehydrated limestone, solvents, coloured and mineral pigments, gums, water, preservatives etc. To package the finished products, one needs pre-printed plastic or metal cans, cellotapes, labels and cardboard boxes.The raw and packaging materials are 95% local in content, which makes establishing and running the project attractive. The remaining 5%, though imported, can be sourced locally from the numerous chemicals marketing companies around. Their addresses are available for the asking.Production ProcessesThe production processes of many of the kinds of printing inks are the same and involve briefly the sourcing of good quality raw materials, mixing various ingredients in the right proportion per production batch, grinding the mixture to form a paste with the required chemical and physical properties and the thinning of the paste already ground into finer dispersions with a solvent thinner in order to produce a ready mixed finished product. This is packed in metal or plastic containers and then packaged in cardboard boxes before being stored in the warehouse for sale.The project, being technologically intensive, needs to employ highly experienced and skilled relevant line staff in order to ensure good quality formulations and high standard of finished goods as any error can lead to rejection by the discerning consumers who will not be ready to compromise the high quality of their printed materials for their equally quality-conscious customers. Those investors who are seriously interested in knowing further what it takes generally to establish this project and indeed any other projects in terms of the details of sources and costs of equipment and other various assets, labour and acceptable management practices for optimum yield but who do not need or cannot afford the cost of a full bankable feasibility report can request for a copy of THE COMPREHENSIVE INDUSTRIAL PROFILE ON PRINTING INKS PRODUCTION.LocationThe printing inks project can be established anywhere in the country. My recent survey shows a near-absence of such plants in the Northern and Eastern parts of the country. This explains why the printers there have to travel to the Western states where the inks are currently produced and so have to contend with the high cost of transporting their purchases to their locations of business. There is therefore need for promoters in these non-producing parts of the country to establish this project in their areas and for those presently in the producing states to establish more in order cater for the needs of the printing, packaging and publishing companies around them and for export.Estimate Of Projects CostThe estimated total cost of establishing a medium-size printing inks factory is as shown below: N'000Rented buildings 600Machinery and equipment 1,500Utilities 850Motor vehicles750Pre-investment expenses 285Working capital600Office furniture and equipment 95Contingency47 0Total cost of the project5150The above figures are estimates. The more realistic and current prices for each category of the items above will be determined at the time the entrepreneur wants to go into business. These can only be obtained after doing a thorough and detailed market research, technical appraisal, locational and financial analyses etcVery impressive performance indicators like high returns on sales and capital employed and on investment, positive cash flows over time, short payback period etc recommend this project of prosperity to a serious discerning investor.ImplementationTo give effect to the above project, a company needs to be incorporated, comprehensive feasibility and viability report prepared, factory premises rented or constructed, plant and machinery purchased, installed, test-run and commissioned for commercial operation etc. The start-up raw materials have to be purchased while the relevant staff have to be recruited and where necessary trained on the technicalities involved in machinery and equipment handling and maintenance, technical formulation of the various types of printing inks and general administration in accordance with the vision and goal of the promoter(s) of the business.For further information and assistance, serious investors should please contact Mr. DON ABRAHAM on (0812-478-3187 ; 0803-725-1974 ; 0704-149-5314,E-mail:wealthcreationideas@yahoo.com
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