FRP as it is popularly kwown is a material from which many articles can be made. The list of articles ranges from autorickshaw hoods, jeep bodies, water-scooters and water-sports equipment, potable cabins, garbage cans, presentation articles, bath tubs, basins, bathroom doors, etc. The material is very light yet immensely strong, non-corrosive, rust-free, fire proof and multicoloured. It can cut and repaired easily.

These advantages give FRP articles a very definite edge over conventional materials. Marketing of the products is therefore that much easier. The area required to set up production is unbelievably small: as little as 80 sq ft (10ft x 8ft). Utilities required are domestic electric supply and awater connection. No intricate machinery is required although you will need moulds. Thus the fixed cost is within the constraints even of space starved Mumbai. The cost of the mould is just three times the cost of the product whereas a typical mould for a conventional plastic product could cost as much as 3000 times the product. As a result of the low development cost an entrepreneur can accept an order of just five pieces unlike a plastic item manufacturer who may often find an order for less than 1 lakh pieces economically unviable.

The process involves the following raw materials which are easibly available in cities like Mumbai, Pune and Nashik. Fibreglass mats, polyster resins, a hardener or catalyst chemically knwon as cobalt octate, a gelcoat, pigment paste, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and wax are all that you require. Each of these materials is available in different grades and the choice of the grade will depend on the actual product to be manufactured. For instance, for delicate artistic designs,surface mat is used. The process itself is ridiculously simple. The mould is polishd with wax. Two coats of polyvinyl alcohol are given.

The correct mixture of gel coat and activator is applied to the inside of the mould with a brush. While the gelcoat is drying the mat is cut as per the size and thickness of the mould and transferred to the mould. The appropriate mixture of resin, activator and the colour pigments is carefully applied to the mat with a brush. After the mixture dries, which shouldn't take more than 20 minutes, the piece can be released from the mould. The piece is then polished and is ready for sale.

To calculate the cost of raw material the following table is useful 1) Mat (300 GSM) = 1 sq metre = 300 gms (450 GSM) = 1 sq metre = 450 gms (600 GSM) = 1 sq metre = 600 gms Surface mat cost is Rs 40/metre. 2)1 kg gelcoat is sufficient for 4 sq metre of mat. Gelcoat costs Rs 100/kg 3)1 kg resin = 500 gms of mat. Cost Rs 80-120/kg 4) Colour pigment = 10% of resin by weight. Rs 180-350/kg 5)Catalyst: 2% of resin/gelcoat. Rs 150/kg 6)

Activator: 2% of resin/gelcoat. Rs 200/kg 7) Wax/PVA/brush etc will be 2 % of the total raw material cost. To summarise, this project is an excellent opportunityfor all entrepreneurs who are looking for a low investment, easy to solve and easy-to-manufacture product which can be manufactured even in your residential premises.

Interested persons seeking further information can approach Mahahrastra Council for Entrepreneurship Development, Mumbai. Tel 4160514, 4123832A two-week programme on FRP will be conducted between May 5 to 18 at Santa Cruz/Borivli. There will be special batches for women and ex-servicemen. An all-inclusive fee of Rs 2,000, will be charged. The training programmes describes in detail the various applications of FRP in various industries like chemicals, automobiles, marine and binding industries. It emphasises the commercial aspects and gives hands-on trianing of manufacturing FRP articles.

(The author is project officer with the MCED)