§1What this business is
Two stainless steel vessels are deep-drawn, trimmed, curled, punched and polished; the top one holds raw water and ceramic candles, the lower one collects filtered water and has a tap. Candles, taps and knobs are bought in and packed with the filter. Sizes run from 12 to 30 litres. Buyers are utensil and household-goods shops in towns and villages.
Capacity: 54,000 filters a year (4,500 a month), valued at ₹216 L at an average ₹400 each; one 8-hour shift at 75% efficiency.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
A sheet-metal or utensil maker who wants to add a product for small-town and rural buyers.
Who it is not for
Someone targeting city buyers who now prefer electric purifiers.
Advantages
- Gravity filters need no electricity
- Useful where piped water carries mud or iron
- Stainless steel looks good and lasts
- Simple press-shop process
Drawbacks
- Electric RO and UV purifiers now take much of the urban market
- Stainless steel takes most of the cost
- Needs large working capital
- No ISI standard, so buyers judge by brand and finish
Skills you need
- Deep drawing and press work
- Polishing and finishing
- Sourcing ceramic candles and taps
- Dealer network in small towns
Why difficulty 3/5: The press work is simple, but the market has shifted to electric purifiers.
§3Market
Who buys
- Households in towns and villages
- Utensil and household-goods shops
How it sells
- Dealers in small towns
- Wholesale utensil markets
Good to know
- The 2003 profile says most filters then came from Kolkata or Delhi makers and the market was spreading to suburbs and villages.
- It points to oil and iron in water in the North-East as a reason for demand.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Deep drawing double-action cam-type power press with 7.5 HP motor | 2 | ₹2,40,000 (₹1,20,000 each) |
| Beading machine with accessories | 1 | ₹8,000 |
| Stamping machine | 1 | ₹5,000 |
| Lathe, 2 HP | 1 | ₹30,000 |
| Electrically heated box-type furnace, 20 kW | 1 | ₹60,000 |
| Circle cutting machine, 1 HP | 1 | ₹10,000 |
| Polishing machine, 2 HP | 4 | ₹40,000 (₹10,000 each) |
| Beam scale | 1 | ₹5,000 |
| Arc welding set | 1 | ₹8,000 |
| Double-ended bench grinder | 1 | ₹10,000 |
| Drilling machine, 1 inch | 1 | ₹8,000 |
| Punching machine | 1 | ₹15,000 |
| Hand tools | 1 lot | ₹5,000 |
| Precision and measuring instruments | 1 lot | ₹10,000 |
| Dies and fixtures | 1 lot | ₹10,000 |
| Office equipment | 1 lot | ₹30,000 |
| Erection, installation and electrification (10%) | — | ₹49,400 |
From: KVIC Project Profile — Stainless Steel Portable Water Filter (PMEGP) (2003)
- Stainless steel circles, 24/26 gauge10 MT a month at ₹1,10,000 per MT incl. 2% wastage = ₹11 L a month
- Ceramic candles, lid knobs, rubber base rings and metal taps4,500 sets a month = ₹3.65 L
- Lusser mops, buffs, emery paper, polishing compound, lubricants₹5,000 a month
From: KVIC Project Profile — Stainless Steel Portable Water Filter (PMEGP) (2003)
Suppliers in Building Business Bazaar
Auto Test · Delhi →G. P. Iron and Metal Industries · Batala →Hindustan Metal and Engineering Works · Rewari →Howrah Sheet Metal and Engg. Works · Howrah →M.G. Electricals · Faridabad →Midnapore Engineering Works · Howrah →Prem Metal Products Ltd · Ghaziabad →Radha Enterprises · Ghaziabad →Rajendra Electric Works · Delhi →Rama Industries · Rewari →Sham Ravinder and Co · Delhi →Simplicity Engineers · Delhi →
In our raw material database
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam
- GST
- Trade licence
- BIS certification if a Quality Control Order covers your filter type — check before launch
§6Schemes & subsidies
- PMEGPCentralActive15–35% subsidy
- CGTMSECentralActiveNo collateral, up to ₹10 crore
- Stand-Up IndiaCentralClosed₹10 lakh – ₹1 crore loan
PMEGP (the profile is in its library), CGTMSE for a collateral-free loan, Stand-Up India for SC/ST or women founders.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: KVIC/PMEGP profile (prepared by SISI Tezpur, 2003): fixed capital ₹5,48,400 (machinery and equipment ₹5,43,400 incl. erection; pre-operative ₹5,000) + working capital for 3 months ₹47,12,850 = total capital investment ₹52,61,250. Building rented at ₹8,000 a month. The PMEGP catalogue lists this profile at ₹10.44 L, but the profile's own total is ₹52.61 L.
Working capital: Working capital for 3 months is ₹47.13 L because stainless steel circles (₹11 L a month) dominate the monthly cost of ₹15.71 L.
Prices from 2003 — machinery and material costs will be much higher now.
§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.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Steel price rise
- Competition from RO/UV purifiers
- Old cost data (2003)
- Large stock of finished filters
§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 stainless steel water filter unit 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 Stainless Steel Water Filter Unit?
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.