§1What this business is
Copper is melted with tin (up to 10–12%) and a little phosphorus (up to 0.3%) in an oil-fired crucible furnace, cast into blanks and turned to size on a lathe. Phosphorus raises hardness, strength and corrosion resistance and gives low friction, so the bushes suit engineering, marine and automobile uses.
Capacity: 25 tonnes of bushes a year (₹76.06 L of production value at full capacity).
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
A foundryman or machinist with buyers among pump, motor and machine makers.
Who it is not for
Someone without metal-casting experience.
Advantages
- Bushes are used across engineering, marine and automobile industries
- A small furnace and one lathe are enough to start
- Replacement demand is steady
- Scrap bronze can be remelted
Drawbacks
- Copper and tin prices swing
- Foundry fumes need pollution control
- Thin margin — surplus about 9% of sales
- Hardness and porosity must be checked on every lot
Skills you need
- Non-ferrous melting and casting
- Lathe machining to size
- Alloy control (10–12% tin, up to 0.3% phosphorus)
- Industrial sales
Why difficulty 3/5: Foundry skill and costly metal stock; margins depend on metal prices.
§3Market
Who buys
- Pump, motor and machine makers
- Automobile and marine repair
- Engineering workshops
How it sells
- Direct supply to manufacturers
- Bearing and hardware dealers
Good to know
- KVIC notes wide use in engineering, marine and automobile industries where anti-friction properties and strength are needed.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Oil-fired tilting furnace, 100 kg, graphite crucible, 2 HP blower and burner | 1 | — |
| Furnace-oil tank with pipeline and immersion heater | 1 | — |
| Precision lathe, 4 ft | 1 | — |
| Bench grinder, 1 HP | 1 | — |
| Weighing machine, 100 kg | 1 | — |
| Tools, accessories and office equipment | — | — |
| Equipment including installation and electrification at 10% (total) | — | ₹2,92,000 |
From: KVIC Project Profile — Phosphor Bronze Bushes (PMEGP)
- Coppermain metal; raw material ₹65.52 lakh a year at full capacity
- Tinup to 10–12% of the alloy
- Phosphorus (added as phosphor-copper)up to 0.3% of the alloy
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam
- GST
- State Pollution Control Board consent (foundry)
- Factory licence if workers and power cross Factories Act limits
§6Schemes & subsidies
- PMEGPCentralActive15–35% subsidy
- MudraCentralActiveLoan up to ₹20 lakh, no collateral
- CGTMSECentralActiveNo collateral, up to ₹10 crore
PMEGP (KVIC profile); MUDRA up to ₹20 L covers the ₹15.67 L cost; CGTMSE for collateral-free credit.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: KVIC profile: equipment ₹2.92 L (oil-fired tilting furnace, 100 kg, with graphite crucible, 2 HP blower and burner; furnace-oil tank with immersion heater; 4 ft precision lathe; bench grinder; 100 kg weighing machine; tools; office equipment; installation 10%) + working capital ₹12.75 L = ₹15.67 L. Land own.
Working capital: ₹12.75 L — copper and tin are costly (raw material ₹65.52 L a year).
Year not printed on the KVIC profile — check current machinery prices.
§8Export potential
Confirm the HS code in the DGFT ITC(HS) lookup before you export
Export council / board: EEPC India
- 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
- Metal price swings
- Furnace accidents
- Rejected castings
- Working capital locked in metal stock
§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 phosphor bronze bush 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, 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 Phosphor Bronze Bush 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.