§1What this business is
Soda-lime silica glass is melted in a tank furnace and formed into thin bulb shells on a press-and-blow machine. Lamp makers fit the filament, stem and metal base. Shells are also made for industrial and automobile lamps.
Capacity: 550 shells a day; 55% in year 1; 10-hour shift.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
An existing glass-forming unit that has a confirmed buyer among lamp makers.
Who it is not for
A newcomer counting on general bulb demand — the report's market section is about glassware, not today's lamp market.
Advantages
- Only two main machines (₹8.50 L)
- Shells also sell for decorative, automobile and industrial lamps
- Glass skills available in clusters like Firozabad
- Small team
Drawbacks
- LED lamps have largely replaced incandescent bulbs — check real demand before investing
- Thin glass breaks easily
- Furnace fuel is costly
- Thin margins in early years
Skills you need
- Glass melting and forming
- Thickness and size control
- Annealing
- Selling to lamp makers
Why difficulty 4/5: Demand risk from LED lighting plus furnace skills.
§3Market
Who buys
- Lamp and bulb makers
- Automobile lamp makers
- Decorative lighting makers
How it sells
- Direct supply to lamp assembly units
- Glass traders
Good to know
- The report says shells are made for consumer, industrial and automobile lamps.
- It does not discuss the shift to LED lighting; check current orders before investing.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Tank furnace | 1 | ₹5,25,000 |
| Press-and-blow machine | 1 | ₹3,25,000 |
From: PMEGP sample project report — Glass Bulb Shell DPR (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)
- Soda-lime silica glasssoda ash 33%, silica sand 66%, chemicals 1%, melted at about 1,450°C
- Lead glass (soft glass)about 24% lead
From: PMEGP sample project report — Glass Bulb Shell DPR (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)
In our raw material database
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam registration
- GST registration
- State Pollution Control Board consent (furnace)
- Factory licence
§6Schemes & subsidies
- PMEGPCentralActive15–35% subsidy
- MudraCentralActiveLoan up to ₹20 lakh, no collateral
- CGTMSECentralActiveNo collateral, up to ₹10 crore
PMEGP fits; MUDRA and CGTMSE for credit.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: Samadhan report: plant & machinery ₹8.50 L, furniture ₹1.50 L, working capital ₹4.42 L = ₹14.42 L. Land own or rented.
Working capital: Working capital ₹4.42 L (bank ₹3.98 L); 15 days' stock and 15 days' credit.
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: CAPEXIL
- HS codes are from the WCO HS 2022 list; 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
- Falling demand for incandescent bulbs
- Breakage and rejection
- Fuel price rises
- Dependence on a few buyers
§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 glass bulb shell making 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 Glass Bulb Shell Making?
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.