Gulf Construction Online - Aluma looks towards expanding presence

Scaffolding & Formwork

Aluma’s systems are being used on some of the major projects in the region.

Aluma looks towards expanding presence

Within a year of setting up its regional office in Dubai, formwork specialist Aluma has bagged landmark projects as it pursues its goal of becoming a major player in the market.

01 December 2005

Dubai-based formwork specialist Aluma Systems Middle East, which is celebrating its first anniversary this month, is already planning ahead to expand its product range and increase its market penetration in the region.

Just in time to mark a successful first year, Aluma has recently been awarded contracts to supply Alumalite flying table-forms and wall-forms to the Discovery Gardens project, by main contractors Larsen & Toubro Limited and Dodsal. The company has also bagged a contract to supply table forms to A A Turki, for the Hugayet Tower project in Saudi Arabia, as well as other contracts outside the UAE, which will commence during 2006.
“We are very happy to have won these major contracts. This is very significant for us as we are constantly aspiring to work with major players,” says Bob O’Riordan, regional sales director. “Our mission is not only to supply the very best, most cost-effective formwork system available, but to also provide professional back-up support that is synonymous with the genuine worldwide Aluma Systems brand.”
He continues: “During the past year, the company has forged strong working relationships with many of the big contractors in the region and we are planning to continue offering our cost-reducing, time-saving systems to many more clients.”
Although Aluma has been supplying its patented aluminium formwork systems in the region for over 10 years, it set up a fully operational base in Dubai a year ago. Before setting up in Dubai, Aluma was supplying its Middle East customers with equipment that was imported from North America.
“Now the entire Aluma product range is designed and manufactured in the UAE to the strictest Aluma Systems quality assurance standards,” he says.
“We are looking forward to 2006 with great enthusiasm. The coming year will see us bring in multiple expansions to our operational capacity, new products into our catalogue, and new services to offer our clients,” he adds.
The company is planning to introduce its new aluminium quick-strike decking system (Aluma Dek), access and scaffolding products, as well as making further additions to its edge protection system (Aluma Shield).
Next year, Aluma will also be offering a slipform system through its partner Slipform International.
“Perhaps most importantly, we will be fully entering the formwork rental market at the beginning of 2006. We will offer products such as the Alumalite table form on a rental basis, which will allow an even greater number of contractors to have access to the quickest construction tools available, as well as provide them an opportunity to greatly reduce their labour costs,” O’Riordan says.
With its revolutionary Alumalite table form, the company is able to offer the contractor a method of construction that cannot be matched for speed by any other product on the market, he claims.
The table forms can be built to form areas as large as 180 sq m each. All components of the tables, including legs (posts), jacks, joists, ledgers, hinges, guardrail posts and safety barriers, are moved as one combined unit, in one crane lift. The time taken to strip, fly, and re-fix the tables from floor to floor is approximately 20 minutes per table, generally requiring about 10 labourers: six labourers are required to lower and move a typical unit, and four are required to receive and position the unit on the floor above.
“Imagine a tower with a typical floor formwork area of approximately 1,500 sq m. We would design a form layout for the slab using approximately 10 to 12 individual tables. All tables could be struck, flown, and re-erected within five to six hours, using a very small labour force, which is a huge advantage for the contractor,” O’Riordan points out. The tables are also easily configured to form any edge, and down-stand beams.
While ensuring the company’s growth in the region well into the future, Aluma continues to focus on its priority – the customer.
“Within our scope of planned growth, we still maintain our customer values. There have been occasions when we had to turn the business down, as we did not want to make a compromise on the level of service we offer to our existing clients. Providing our clients with continued back-up support of the highest quality is one of our core values,” he concludes.