§1What this business is
Chrysotile asbestos fibre and ordinary Portland cement (about 1:9) are mixed into a slurry and built up on a rotating mandrel under vacuum on a pipe-moulding machine. Pipes are 4 metres long and 80 mm to 300 mm across; they set for 24 hours and then cure in water tanks. Buyers named in the profile are government departments and the domestic market for water, drainage and irrigation lines. Asbestos dust is a serious health hazard, so dust control is part of the plant.
Capacity: 3,000 tonnes of pipes and fittings a year (single shift, 300 days), valued at ₹3.37 crore.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
An experienced building-materials manufacturer with capital, a factory site and the discipline to run strict dust control.
Who it is not for
A first-time founder or anyone who cannot invest in worker safety and pollution control.
Advantages
- Government water-supply and irrigation departments are regular buyers
- Simple, proven process: slurry, mandrel, curing tank
- One product line with steady specifications (IS 1592)
- Large sales value per tonne of output
Drawbacks
- Asbestos is a known cancer risk; workers need dust control and masks at every step
- Chrysotile fibre is mostly imported, so supply and price depend on imports
- Very high investment for a small-scale unit
- Many buyers now prefer PVC, HDPE or ductile iron pipes
Skills you need
- Slurry mixing and pipe moulding
- Curing and pressure testing to IS standards
- Dust control and worker health monitoring
- Government tender work
Why difficulty 5/5: Large capital, imported fibre and serious health and pollution duties.
§3Market
Who buys
- Government water-supply and public health departments
- Irrigation departments
- Building contractors
- Pipe dealers
How it sells
- Government tenders
- Supply to contractors
- Dealers in building materials
Good to know
- The profile says the pipes are used for rainwater drainage and irrigation, and demand rises with building activity.
- Working pressure classes and tests follow the BIS standard printed in the profile.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Pipe-making machine with mandrels (80 mm, 4 m) and 30 HP motor | 1 | ₹43,12,000 |
| Vacuum pump with 30 HP motor | 1 | ₹2,30,000 |
| Mixer with 10 HP motor | 2 | ₹1,72,000 |
| Curing tanks | 10 | ₹1,50,000 |
| Pipe moulds | 22 | ₹18,92,000 |
| Cost of fittings | 1 lot | ₹2,30,000 |
| Installation and electrification | 1 lot | ₹3,45,000 |
From: DC-MSME project profile — Asbestos Pressure Pipes and Fittings (2003)
- Ordinary Portland cement230 tonnes a month in the profile
- Chrysotile (long-fibre) asbestos25 tonnes a month; the profile says it is mostly imported, generally from Brazil
- Lubricantssmall monthly quantity
From: DC-MSME project profile — Asbestos Pressure Pipes and Fittings (2003)
Suppliers in Building Business Bazaar
T.S. Enterprises · Jaipur →Andhra Pradesh Mining Corporation · Hyderabad →Dutta Brog. and Co · Kolkata →Easthfield Product · Mumbai →Ganesh Engineering Company · Beawar →Idento (P) Ltd · Mumbai →Jaipur Asbestos · Jaipur →Joshi Scientific Corporation · Mumbai →Sneh International · Delhi →
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam
- GST
- Factory licence
- State Pollution Control Board consent to establish and operate
- BIS certification for AC pressure pipes
- Compliance with asbestos handling rules under factory law
§6Schemes & subsidies
- CGTMSECentralActiveNo collateral, up to ₹10 crore
- Stand-Up IndiaCentralClosed₹10 lakh – ₹1 crore loan
The project is above the PMEGP limit of ₹50 lakh. CGTMSE can guarantee a loan without collateral; Stand-Up India lends ₹10 lakh to ₹1 crore to SC/ST and women founders.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: DC-MSME profile: land and building ₹15.00 L + machinery and equipment ₹78.73 L (pipe machine with mandrels ₹43.12 L, 22 moulds ₹18.92 L) + working capital for 3 months ₹63.30 L = ₹157.03 L.
Working capital: ₹63.30 L for 3 months; raw material alone is ₹19.52 L a month (cement and imported asbestos fibre).
Prices from 2003 — machinery, land and raw-material costs will be much higher now.
§8Export potential
Confirm the HS code in the DGFT ITC(HS) lookup before you export
- Many countries ban or restrict asbestos products, so export markets are limited.
- Confirm the 8-digit ITC(HS) line with DGFT or your customs broker before shipping.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Health claims and tighter rules on asbestos
- Import dependence for fibre
- Shift of buyers to plastic pipes
- Slow payments from government buyers
- Asbestos fibre is a known cause of lung disease and cancer; many countries have banned it — strict dust control, worker health checks and pollution-board rules apply, and demand is shifting to PVC/HDPE pipes
§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 asbestos cement pressure pipes and fittings unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
- Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Udyam, GST), 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 Asbestos Cement Pressure Pipes and Fittings?
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.