The current growth rate of Lamp Component Industry outpaces the growth of the Lamp Industry, achieving self-sufficiency
Glass Shells: In the initial stages lead alkali silicate glass was the only glass used for the body of lamp as well as the stem. This was replaced by lead glass, but the cost being prohibitive, soda lime glass shells were developed in due course, which are technically advantageous and relatively economical.
The country has latest technology Ribbon Glass Shell plants as well as Glass Tube drawing plants meeting indigenous demand as well as exporting.
Leadglass Tubing and Rods: In the year 1966, the manufacture of Lead Glass tubing and rods was commenced in India on a regular basis. In the early stages, 30 % lead glass was produced having a specific gravity of 3.05 but this composition was later modified to 20 % lead content with a specific gravity of 2.8.
The existing growth/capacity takes care of the requirement of the Lamp Industry comfortably.
Tungsten Filament / Wires: The Tungsten wire and filament Industry is highly capital intensive.
Tungsten rods and wires at about I mm diameter required as input material for drawing finished tungsten wires, are not manufactured locally and are being totally imported. However, there is adequate indigenous capacity to draw these input wires for making filaments for full range of electric lamps and tubelights.
The manufacturing capacity in the country has been substantially augmented meeting the current demand adequately and infact exports of filaments and cathodes are showing strong growth trend.
Molybdenum Wires: Molybdenum wire has two applications in Electric Lamp Industry. It is used as mandrel wire for manufacture of tungsten filaments and is also used as support wire for the Tungsten Filaments inside the lamps. The major raw material for manufacture of this item is imported while wire-drawing facilities available are adequate for self sufficiency.
Lamp Caps: Lamp Caps are attached to Glass Bulb by means of a cement compound with thermosetting resin and inert inorganic filler. There are different varieties of caps produced depending upon the type of us age need for easy replacement and other environment factors, for electric bulbs, tubelights and compact fluorescent lamps.
Starting in 1963, in the initial stages, the Lamp Cap was produced only out of Brass but it was substituted to a large extent by Aluminum resulting in considerable savings in the unit cost. At present, there are several units producing this component for local market and exports.
Lead-in-Wire: Lead-in-wires manufacturing was started in the organised sector in the year 1971. At present, there are several units producing Lead-in-wires and the production facilities have been created in the Small Scale Sector also as the investment involved is minimum.
Component Wires: The Component Wires consist of mainly Dumet, Monel, Nickel Plated Steel and Copper, Nickel, Copper and Nickel plated Silicon, Bronze. These wires are drawn to specific requirement of customers from the rod stage for use in the manufacture of Lead- in-wires.
At present, the import is restricted to certain raw materials required for the manufacture of Dumet wires and Monel only and for the rest the country is self sufficient.
