Gulf Construction Online - Doka well placed to serve rail boom

Manufacturers & Procurement

Doka formwork supporting Qatar light rail project.

Doka well placed to serve rail boom

01 November 2014

Doka said it can take on the challenges of the many railway projects planned in the region, given its wide experience in delivering formwork expertise and high-performing systems for rail programmes across the world.

Its wide-ranging product portfolio adapted to regional requirements contribute to smooth construction processes and ensure flexible systems that meet project demands, it said.

Among the projects that the European formwork specialist is currently involved in is the light rail in Qatar, where safety and economy are the focal points. In addition to high-performing shoring systems, various safety features such as different working platforms, protective scaffolding and access systems are being used in the construction of the first rail urban transport in Qatar.

Thanks to the durability of its framed formwork Framax Xlife, in combination with the platform system Xsafe plus, the system was being reused more than 300 times to build several stations. Rapid material delivery times and ready-to-use service parts ensure that the contractor will remain on schedule until construction is completed in 2018, said a spokesman for Doka.

Infrastructure projects particularly those in the area of public transportation require far-reaching and sustainable renovation of the existing infrastructure to be embedded into current traffic solutions.

With customised services and high-performing products, Doka covers the entire spectrum of up-to-date formwork solutions for tunnel, bridge, station and road construction, he said.

“Doka customers benefit from years of formwork engineering experience gained while working on various infrastructure projects, such as railway tunnels, station buildings or underground traffic hubs around the world.”

Elaborating on its extensive product range, the spokesman said: “The load-bearing tower system SL-1 is universally suitable for demands presented by tunnels built in accordance with mining practice, the cut-and-cover method and especially for underground railway stations and long caverns.

“Regardless of form and load, the modular configuration of SL-1 ensures speedy and economic construction progress. In combination with the flexible large-area formwork Top 50, this quickly assembled system realises any form.

“With its new tunnel formwork DokaCC, Doka developed an innovative solution especially for the cut-and-cover method. DokaCC allows for quick, efficient and safe construction of various traffic tunnels, in particular in the initial approach and gathering area of the underground railway.”

When it comes to building station and operational structures, Doka offers a wide range of slab and wall formwork for a variety of applications and project requirements. Its supporting construction frames and Top 50 deliver powerful and yet flexible results with underground structures as well as above-ground stations and operational buildings. Using the integrated heavy-duty wheels, these supporting construction frames are transported quickly from one pouring section to the next in spite of their height and weight. The framed formwork Framax Xlife is suitable for high walls to accelerate construction processes.

Flexible standard systems such as Staxo 100, Staxo 40 and Doka slab formwork offer interesting system expansions for any shoring tower design. The heavy-duty supporting system is easily adapted to different construction sites. “The new panel floor formwork Dokadek 30 is ideal for building large-scale slabs in station areas quickly and above all easily and economically, while the convenient concrete maturity meter Conremote easily and accurately indicates the optimal time for formwork stripping,” he added.

Customers can also rely on Doka’s well-conceived logistics support as the company has invested in an extensive network of distribution and logistics sites, with more than 160 sales and logistics facilities in more than 70 countries, he added.

“The result is a company that is able to respond quickly to regional particularities and demands for material on short notice. In conjunction with the option of system renting, the range offered by Doka provides economical and reliable solutions,” he said.

In addition, customers can benefit from its pre-assembly and ready-to-use service support, which help save time, space and manpower.