It took him two years to discover that the commercial pads used cellulose fibers derived from pine bark wood pulp.[1] The fibres helped the pads absorb while retaining shape.[2] Imported machines that made the pads cost ₹35 million (US$510,000).[3] He devised a low-cost machine that could be operated with minimal training.[13] He sourced the processed pine wood pulp from a supplier in Mumbai, and the machines would grind, de-fibrate, press and sterilize the pads under ultraviolet light[14] before packaging them for sale.