Gulf Construction Online - Paschal’s new system ‘a big hit’

Scaffolding & Formwork

Single-sided forming system with supporting jacks from Paschal.

Paschal’s new system ‘a big hit’

01 December 2005

Leading formwork manufacturer Paschal says that its simple climbing system has proven to be a big hit with construction companies for its ease of use and also for the system's versatility.

“The safe and simple new system was introduced as an alternative to slip formwork, for forming shear walls, shear-cores, lift-shafts in high-rise buildings,” says Amir Delghandi, general manager of Paschal Concrete Forms, the Middle East office and stockiest for the German formwork manufacturer.
“Using Paschal’s system, climbing brackets can be connected together to build up a unit. This unit can be lifted by crane and hung on the shoes which have been already fixed to the previously cast concrete. To ensure the connection of the climbing system with the concrete structure Paschal employs special anchors. While the anchor cones can be re-used, only the anchor plates remain in the concrete (consumable).
“The maximum space between the brackets is 2.5 m and they can carry the load of formwork, live load and push-pull props, which are usually used to align the formwork." The system has already been used at the Citibank headquarters at Seef, Taib Bank at Manama, office tower of Trust Insurance at Diplomatic area, airport tower, among several others in Bahrain and is now gaining popularity in the Dubai market.
Speaking on the growth of the construction market, and its implication on the demand for formwork in the region, he says: "The huge investments in the property sector in the region, growing population, tourists and the consequent increase in the number of cars has magnified the problem of lack of sufficient car parks in commercial and residential areas.
“To tackle the problem there is growing awareness of the need to build basements in all new multi-storey residential or office buildings. These basements are built with retaining walls against bored or sheet piling. For the construction of such retaining walls, where concrete pressure and lifting force have to be discharged reliably into the ground, single-sided forming is required.
“Paschal provides an absolutely safe and economical solution for single-sided forming. Supporting jacks can be connected quickly to the formwork panels and the unit with formwork can be easily carried to position with a crane. Even without crane, the supporting jacks can be lifted by manpower and fix to the formwork,” Delghandi points out.
He continues: “The system is very cost effective and the perfect technical solution for such structures. It is or has been successfully used in the following projects in Dubai: Al Thuraya Tower at Dubai Media City, residential buildings at Al Qusais, Karama, Port Saeed and Naif, Union Co-operative Market at Abu Hail, Emirates Group Security headquarters at Airport Terminal 2, MAG residential tower in Jumeirah Lakes, a shopping complex at Al Quoz and a 4B+G+33 floor in Jumeirah Lakes.
Established in 1964, by Josef Maier as G Maier Metallverarbeitung (metal processing), the company was founded on the premise that a systematic approach could make work on building sites much easier, more economical and safer.
The “standard formwork” was the first formwork to earn the name “system”. Workers on the building sites soon referred to it as the “patente Schalung” (patent formwork) which was then abbreviated to give the product and thus also the company name which remains valid up to the present day: Paschal.
“Since then, patent formwork and shoring systems have been continuously developed and permanently adjusted to meet the growing requirements in the building trade,” says
Delghandi.
Paschal opened its Middle East branch in 1998 in Bahrain after several years of business relations with the Middle East. Paschal Bahrain has since made successful inroads throughout the region and has added about 250 successful construction companies from the GCC countries to its customer list.
Formwork supplied by Paschal has helped in ensuring timely completion of a number of civil projects in the Middle East and several developments in Bahrain, UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Iran are currently using these modular systems.
Keeping pace with the growing demand for formwork in the UAE market, the company recently expanded its activities through opening another branch in Dubai, last October – Paschal Emirates.
“At its Dubai office, Paschal formwork experts offer their experience directly to contractors in the UAE and are also able to supply immediately from their stock in Dubai,” says Delghandi.
Being one of the leading formwork manufacturers in the world, Paschal’s cost-effective and environmentally-friendly formwork systems is gaining wider acceptance among companies in the region, he concludes.