§1What this business is
A strain-gauge load cell senses the weight; the signal is amplified, converted to digital and shown on a display. ICs and other parts are assembled on PCBs, joined with the mechanical frame, housed in a case, then calibrated with standard weights. Three PMEGP reports cover this business, from a ₹2.85 lakh KVIC unit to a ₹24.49 lakh factory.
Capacity: KVIC: 800 machines a year (sales ₹16.00 lakh) or ₹35.00 lakh sales a year. Sample report: 2,400 scales up to 10 kg a year at ₹9,500 each, accuracy 0.02%, to IS 9281:1981.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
An electronics technician who can also calibrate and service scales.
Who it is not for
Someone unwilling to deal with Legal Metrology rules and inspections.
Advantages
- Every shop, mandi, factory and courier office needs scales
- Can start small with the KVIC model
- Repair and recalibration bring repeat income
- Electronic scales are replacing old balances
Drawbacks
- Legal Metrology approval is required before selling
- Load cells and displays are often imported
- Needs a sales and after-sales service network
- Price competition from established makers
Skills you need
- PCB assembly and load-cell fitting
- Calibration with standard weights
- Legal Metrology paperwork
- Dealer network and service
Why difficulty 3/5: Assembly is simple, but legal approval, calibration and service make it a regulated trade.
§3Market
Who buys
- Shops, kirana stores and mandis
- Factories and warehouses
- Courier and logistics offices
How it sells
- Scale dealers with service set-up
- Direct sales to industry
Good to know
- The KVIC profile says the product needs a well-established marketing and after-sales network, but demand is constant and growing.
- The sample report says demand will be enough if prices come down and good after-sales service is offered.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Standard weights for calibration (1 g–500 g set and 1 kg–100 kg set) | 2 sets | — |
| Multimeter, soldering iron, portable and hand drills, test bench and hand tools | 1 lot | ₹60,000 (all KVIC equipment together) |
| Bench drilling machine ½" | 1 | ₹25,000 |
| Digital multimeter (3½ digit) | 3 | ₹90,000 |
| Oscilloscope (0–20 MHz) | 1 | ₹1,00,000 |
| IC tester / EPROM programmer | 1 | ₹50,000 |
| Digital LCR meter | 1 | ₹75,000 |
| Load cell simulator (imported) | 1 | ₹2,00,000 |
| Portable grinder | 1 | ₹25,000 |
| Power supply (0–30 V, 2 A) | 2 | ₹20,000 |
| Standard brass weights | 1 lot | ₹50,000 |
| Analogue multimeter, UV eraser, variac (4 A) | 1 lot | ₹1,00,000 |
From: KVIC Project Profile — Electronic Weighing Machine (PMEGP) · PMEGP sample project report — Electronic Weighing Scale (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)
- Load cells (strain gauge, imported)₹5,000 each in the sample report
- Fluorescent displays and ICs (imported)₹1,500 each
- Metal cabinets, mechanical hardware, PCBs₹450, ₹600 and ₹450 per scale
- Capacitors, resistors, diodes, switches, transistors, transformer, rectifier, noise filter
- Wires, cables, connectors, consumables and packing₹500 per scale; ₹22.62 lakh of material for 200 scales
From: PMEGP sample project report — Electronic Weighing Scale (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)
Suppliers in Building Business Bazaar
Institute for Design of Electrical Measuring Instruments (IDEMI), Mumbai · Mumbai →Electronics Service & Training Centre (ESTC), Ramnagar · Ramnagar →MSME Technology Centre, Puducherry · Puducherry →MSME Technology Centre, Greater Noida · Greater Noida →MSME Technology Centre, Bengaluru · Bengaluru →Agronic Instrument (P) Ltd · Mumbai →Amar Radio Corpn · Bengaluru →Applied Electronics Ltd · Mumbai →Bergen Associates Pvt. Ltd · Chandigarh →Inde Associates · Bengaluru →Navanidhi Electronics(P)Ltd · Hyderabad →Noble Electronics · Delhi →
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam registration
- GST registration
- Legal Metrology model approval and manufacturer's licence for weighing instruments
- BIS certification if a Quality Control Order covers the product (check the BIS list)
§6Schemes & subsidies
- PMEGPCentralActive15–35% subsidy
- MudraCentralActiveLoan up to ₹20 lakh, no collateral
- CM YUVAUPActiveUp to ₹5 lakh, interest-free
- CGTMSECentralActiveNo collateral, up to ₹10 crore
PMEGP fits (all three reports were made for it); MUDRA covers loans up to ₹20 lakh; in UP, CM-YUVA covers the small KVIC model up to ₹5 lakh; CGTMSE for a collateral-free loan.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: KVIC (weighing machine) ₹2.85 lakh: equipment ₹0.60 lakh + working capital ₹2.25 lakh. KVIC (weighing scales) ₹6.79 lakh: rented shed ₹0.24 lakh, equipment ₹1.30 lakh, working capital ₹5.25 lakh. Sample report ₹24.49 lakh: plant & machinery and other fixed items ₹21.49 lakh + pre-operative ₹3.00 lakh.
Working capital: KVIC units keep ₹2.25–5.25 lakh working capital — load cells and electronics are stocked ahead of orders.
None of the three reports prints a year — check current machinery and load-cell prices.
§8Export potential
The project report gives no HS code — find the right 8-digit ITC(HS) code on the DGFT website before you export.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Penalties for selling unapproved or inaccurate scales
- Imported component price swings
- Warranty returns
- Strong branded competition
§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 electronic weighing scale assembly 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 Electronic Weighing Scale Assembly?
DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.
¶Sources
- KVIC Project Profile — Electronic Weighing Machine (PMEGP)
- PMEGP sample project report — Electronic Weighing Scale (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)
- KVIC Project Profile — Electronic Weighing Scales (PMEGP)
Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.