§1What this business is
LLDPE granules are mixed with black masterbatch, extruded and pulverised to 30–40 mesh powder. A measured charge goes into a mould that is heated by LPG or diesel burners and rotated on two axes until the melt coats the inside and forms a hollow tank. The mould is cooled and opened, and the tank finished by hand. Tanks are made to IS 12701 and sold for homes, flats, factories, hostels, hospitals, schools and building sites.
Capacity: 9,000 tanks a year of 500 to 5,000 litres, single shift (both profiles); 2021 sales ₹5.10 Cr.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
A plastics or building-material trader with dealer networks within a few hundred kilometres.
Who it is not for
Someone with limited capital — the project needs ₹1–2 Cr, mostly working capital.
Advantages
- Plastic tanks are replacing steel, concrete and stone tanks, as both reports note
- Housing growth keeps demand rising
- Same plant can mould other hollow items (bins, loft tanks, double-walled items)
Drawbacks
- Heavy working capital — polymer is most of the cost
- Bulky product — freight eats margin beyond a local radius
- Thin margin in 2021 (7.9%) against strong brands
Skills you need
- Rotomoulding cycle and wall-thickness control
- Powder preparation and colour mixing
- Dealer network and freight planning
Why difficulty 4/5: Large working capital, freight-heavy product and branded competition.
§3Market
Who buys
- Households and builders
- Factories, hostels, hospitals, schools and cinema halls
- Construction sites and government housing schemes
How it sells
- Hardware, sanitary and building-material dealers
- Direct supply to builders and institutions
Good to know
- The 2021 profile prices tanks at about ₹4 per litre of capacity; the 2003 profile at about ₹3.
- Lids are bought from outside, as the 2003 profile notes.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Four-arm rotational moulding plant, oven 3600 × 2800, 40 HP | 1 | ₹44,50,000 |
| Pulverising machine | 1 | ₹10,00,000 |
| Extruder | 1 | ₹6,00,000 |
| Moulds of various sizes | 20 | ₹12,00,000 |
| DG set, 40 KVA | 1 | ₹1,85,000 |
| Grinding machine with motor | 1 | ₹1,25,000 |
| Hoist chain pulley with stand | 1 | ₹60,000 |
| Plastic welding machine | 1 | ₹45,000 |
| Spray compressor | 1 | ₹30,000 |
| Weighing machine | 1 | ₹22,500 |
| Foundation of rotational moulding machine | 1 | ₹1,25,000 |
From: MSME-DI Jaipur project profile — Roto-moulded Plastic Water Storage Tanks (2021)
- Roto-grade LLDPE37.4 tonnes a month at ₹82 a kg (2021 profile)
- Black masterbatchmixed with granules for UV protection and colour
- Diesel or LPG for burners1,000 litres of diesel a month at ₹90 (2021)
From: MSME-DI Jaipur project profile — Roto-moulded Plastic Water Storage Tanks (2021) · DC-MSME project profile — Roto-Moulded Plastic Water Storage Tanks (2003)
Suppliers in Building Business Bazaar
CIPET Institute of Petrochemicals Technology (IPT) - Ahmedabad · Ahmedabad →CIPET Institute of Petrochemicals Technology (IPT) - Bhubaneswar · Bhubaneswar →CIPET Institute of Petrochemicals Technology (IPT) - Bihta · Bihta →CIPET Institute of Petrochemicals Technology (IPT) - Chennai · Chennai →CIPET Institute of Petrochemicals Technology (IPT) - Kochi · Kochi →CIPET Institute of Petrochemicals Technology (IPT) - Lucknow · Lucknow →CIPET Institute of Petrochemicals Technology (IPT) - Raipur · Raipur →CIPET Institute of Petrochemicals Technology (IPT) - Jaipur · Jaipur →CIPET Institute of Petrochemicals Technology (IPT) - Murthal · Murthal →CIPET Centre for Skilling and Technical Support (CSTS) - Amritsar · Amritsar →CIPET Centre for Skilling and Technical Support (CSTS) - Agartala · Agartala →CIPET Centre for Skilling and Technical Support (CSTS) - Ayodhya · Ayodhya →
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam registration
- GST registration
- State Pollution Control Board consent to establish and operate, where the state requires it
- BIS certification to IS 12701 — check with BIS whether a Quality Control Order now applies
- Registration under the Plastic Waste Management Rules (EPR), where it applies
- Factory licence if your worker count crosses the Factories Act limit
§6Schemes & subsidies
- CGTMSECentralActiveNo collateral, up to ₹10 crore
- Stand-Up IndiaCentralClosed₹10 lakh – ₹1 crore loan
The ₹1.10–1.99 Cr project is above PMEGP's ₹50 L limit; CGTMSE covers collateral-free loans and Stand-Up India covers SC/ST and women founders.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: DC-MSME 2003: fixed capital ₹45.70 L (machinery and moulds ₹45.50 L + pre-operative) + working capital for 3 months ₹64.05 L = ₹1.10 Cr. MSME-DI Jaipur 2021: plant and machinery ₹88.33 L (four-arm rotomoulding plant ₹44.50 L, 20 moulds ₹12.00 L) + working capital for 3 months ₹1.10 Cr = ₹1.99 Cr. Land rented in both.
Working capital: 2021: working capital for 3 months ₹1.10 Cr; LLDPE 37.4 tonnes a month at ₹82 a kg (₹30.67 L).
DC-MSME profile from 2003; MSME-DI Jaipur profile from January 2021 — use the 2021 figures as the nearer guide.
§8Export potential
Confirm the HS code in the DGFT ITC(HS) lookup before you export
Export council / board: PLEXCONCIL (The Plastics Export Promotion Council)
- Confirm the 8-digit ITC(HS) line with DGFT or your customs broker before shipping.
- You need an Import Export Code (IEC) from DGFT before the first shipment.
§9Risks — where people fail
- LLDPE price swings
- Thin-wall or bubble defects causing leaks
- Price war with branded tanks
§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 roto-moulded plastic water storage tanks 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 Roto-Moulded Plastic Water Storage Tanks?
DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.
¶Sources
- DC-MSME project profile — Roto-Moulded Plastic Water Storage Tanks (2003)
- MSME-DI Jaipur project profile — Roto-moulded Plastic Water Storage Tanks (2021)
Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.