§1What this business is
Aluminium and tin-plated steel sheets and coils are cut and slit, rolled and welded into can bodies, flanged and seamed. Ends are made separately. Cans are printed, lacquered, baked and tested for leaks and strength before packing. Product lines in the profile cover food storage, ghee, spice and herbal powder cans, paint and chemical cans and cosmetic cans, with embossing and custom designs. Scrap is baled and sold to recyclers.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
A sheet-metal or packaging professional with capital and food, paint or FMCG buyers lined up.
Who it is not for
A first-time founder without engineering staff.
Advantages
- Metal cans are recyclable and shield contents from light and air
- Food, ghee, spice, paint and cosmetic makers all need cans
- Pharma, food and FMCG units in Haridwar and Rudrapur are nearby buyers
- Scrap sheet has resale value
Drawbacks
- ₹95 L project — above PMEGP and MUDRA limits
- Leak-free welding and seaming need skilled operators
- Large can makers win on price for standard sizes
- Metal prices move with world markets
Skills you need
- Sheet cutting, welding and seaming
- Printing and lacquer curing
- Leak and strength testing
- Selling to food, paint and FMCG packers
Why difficulty 4/5: Precision sheet-metal work, food-contact rules and price competition from large can makers.
§3Market
Who buys
- Food, ghee, dairy and ready-to-eat makers
- Spice and herbal powder packers
- Paint, lubricant and chemical companies
- Cosmetic and ointment makers
How it sells
- Direct supply contracts with packers
- Industrial clusters in Haridwar and Rudrapur
- Advance orders from buyers to fund working capital
Good to know
- The profile also mentions beverage cans; high-speed beverage can lines are far larger than this unit, so start with food and general-line cans.
- Future lines named: easy-open ends, aerosol cans and reusable steel containers.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Can body making machine (welding and flanging) | — | — |
| Sheet cutting and slitting machine | — | — |
| Printing and lacquering line | 1 | — |
| Curing / baking oven | 1 | — |
| Leak testing and QC equipment | 2 sets | — |
| Scrap baling machine | 1 | — |
| Material handling equipment (cranes, pallets) | 4 sets | — |
| Machinery & equipment in total | — | ₹40,00,000 |
From: Uttarakhand DUY project profile — Sustainable Can Manufacturing Unit
- Aluminium sheets and coilsfrom suppliers in Haridwar, Rudrapur and Delhi NCR; scrap aluminium can be recycled
- Tin-plated steel sheets
- Lacquer coatings and printing inks
- Sealing compounds
From: Uttarakhand DUY project profile — Sustainable Can Manufacturing Unit
In our raw material database
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam registration
- GST registration
- State Pollution Control Board consent to establish and operate (printing, lacquering, baking)
- Factory licence
- Food-grade lacquer and test reports so your food buyers meet FSSAI packaging rules
§6Schemes & subsidies
- CGTMSECentralActiveNo collateral, up to ₹10 crore
- Stand-Up IndiaCentralClosed₹10 lakh – ₹1 crore loan
At ₹95 L the project is above PMEGP and MUDRA limits; CGTMSE for a collateral-free loan; Stand-Up India for SC/ST and women founders. The profile counts on 15% capital subsidy from the Uttarakhand MSME Policy.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: Land & building ₹25 L + machinery & equipment ₹40 L + raw material & initial inventory ₹8 L + power & utilities ₹3 L + training ₹2 L + first-year salaries ₹10 L + marketing ₹3 L + contingencies ₹4 L = ₹95 L.
Working capital: Raw material and initial inventory ₹8 L; cash-credit limits for the rest. Finance: 25% promoter, 60% term loan from a bank or SIDBI, 15% capital subsidy (Uttarakhand MSME Policy and credit-linked capital subsidy).
Year not printed on the profile — check current machinery and metal prices.
§8Export potential
Confirm the HS code in the DGFT ITC(HS) lookup before you export
Export council / board: EEPC India
- Confirm the 8-digit ITC(HS) line with DGFT or your customs broker before shipping.
- You need an Import Export Code (IEC) from DGFT before the first shipment.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Leaking cans and product recalls at the buyer
- Aluminium and tinplate price swings
- Dependence on a few large buyers
- Food-contact lacquer compliance
§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan
A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.
- Days 1–30: Visit a working metal cans (aluminium and tinplate) unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
- Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Udyam registration, GST registration), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
- Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.
§11Who to connect with
Associations, clusters and training institutes — the directory is being built. Connect
§12Watch
There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.
Want to start Metal Cans (Aluminium and Tinplate)?
DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.
¶Sources
Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.