§1What this business is
Copper is deposited as fine powder on aluminium cathodes in glass-lined tanks of acid copper sulphate solution. The powder is scraped off, centrifuged, washed free of copper sulphate, dried at 60–100 °C and screened by size. Buyers make sintered parts — porous bearings, filters, gas diffusers, welding rods, bimetal strips and electrical parts.
Capacity: 250 kg a day, 75,000 kg a year at full capacity; 35% use in year 1 rising to 55%.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
A chemist or metallurgy graduate with contacts in the powder-metallurgy trade.
Who it is not for
Someone without chemical-handling know-how or large working capital.
Advantages
- The report puts Indian output near 7,000 t a year against demand of about 15,000 t
- Few small makers — a gap to fill
- Industrial buyers order in bulk and repeat
Drawbacks
- Very thin margin (gross 7.7–9.3% in the report)
- Acid handling and waste need careful control
- Huge raw-material bill — copper sulphate alone ₹312 L a year at full capacity
Skills you need
- Electrolysis control (current, acid strength, particle size)
- Lab testing of purity and particle size
- Industrial sales
Why difficulty 4/5: Chemical process, tight quality and very large raw-material spend.
§3Market
Who buys
- Makers of sintered parts: porous bearings, filters, gas diffusers
- Welding-rod makers
- Makers of electrical parts and bimetal strips
How it sells
- Direct supply to industrial buyers
- Metal-powder traders
Good to know
- The report puts Indian output at about 7,000 t a year against demand of about 15,000 t.
- The report also lists aircraft, spacecraft and gun parts among end uses.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Acid-resistant glass-lined vessels, 2.5 × 2.5 × 2.5 ft | 6 | ₹90,000 (₹15,000 each) |
| Centrifuge machine | 1 | ₹1,50,000 |
| Electrically heated oven with forced air circulation (60–100 °C) | 1 | ₹2,45,000 |
| Rotary cylindrical screening machine | 1 | ₹1,75,000 |
| M.S. water tank, storage bins and similar | 1 | ₹1,50,000 |
| Weighing machine (500 kg) and other tools | — | ₹2,00,000 |
| Quality testing laboratory equipment | — | ₹1,50,000 |
From: PMEGP sample project report — Copper Powder (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)
- Copper sulphate, 99% industrial grade200 t a year at ₹1,56,000 a tonne (full capacity)
- Aluminium sheet and lead sheet₹20 L a year
- Other consumables₹8 L a year
- Packing material
From: PMEGP sample project report — Copper Powder (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)
Suppliers in Building Business Bazaar
Batliboi and Co · Kolkata →DCM Chemical Works · Delhi →Rank and Company · Delhi →Bhuwaneswari Co · Secunderabad →Dharinsi Morarji Chemical Co. Ltd · Mumbai →Industrial Chemical Works · Vellore →R.N Shaw’s Sons · Delhi →
In our raw material database
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam registration
- GST
- State Pollution Control Board consent (the report lists an NOC)
- Hazardous waste authorisation from the SPCB if your process needs it
- Factory licence as per state rules
§6Schemes & subsidies
- PMEGPCentralActive15–35% subsidy
- MudraCentralActiveLoan up to ₹20 lakh, no collateral
- CGTMSECentralActiveNo collateral, up to ₹10 crore
PMEGP (the report is a PMEGP sample), MUDRA for loans up to ₹20 L and CGTMSE for collateral-free cover fit.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: Plant & machinery ₹11.60 L, furniture ₹1.40 L, working capital ₹5.56 L = ₹18.56 L.
Working capital: Working capital ₹5.56 L, of which bank finance ₹5.00 L. Raw material is the big cost — ₹119 L in year 1.
Year not printed on the report — check current machinery 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.
- You need an Import Export Code (IEC) from DGFT before the first shipment.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Copper price swings
- Acid spills and effluent rules
- Rejection if particle size is off
§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 copper powder (electrolytic) 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), 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 Copper Powder (Electrolytic)?
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.