Today modern modular formwork systems are being designed with features that facilitate, accelerated and economical construction workflows in monolithic construction projects. “Aluminium formwork is better suited to structures with a repetitive design, typically residential structures where it can be reused many times over through the construction cycle,” said Shreeniwas Kelkar, Product Manager, Doka India Pvt Ltd.

Decisive factors
Kelkar lists the major factors a buyer should consider before making a decision of buying scaffolding and formwork as follows:
The structural designer’s choice
Formwork design greatly impacts cost, especially stay in place coffor formwork which is made up of steel profiles that cuts the need for structural steel. To some extent, the structural designer can also impact the cost of aluminium formwork systems needed for a building and in the process, make the individual units (residences/offices) more appealing to buyers by reducing the number of load bearing walls and introducing non load bearing walls that are amenable to alternations.

Labour effectiveness
The effectiveness of labour highly depends on the supervision skills and the quality of daily planning. Overall, system formwork always saves labour cost over conventional formwork.

Number formwork reuses; the contractor’s choice
What sort of surface finish does the contractor expect from the formwork? How effectively is the formwork intended to be used? Is it expected to lower cycle times? What quality of plywood is used in the formwork? Will the formwork be maintained well?

The architectural choice
What shape will be final structure take? Complex building shapes need extra consideration (care, detailing, etc.).

Planning and operation
Apart from pricing, productivity and durability, there are several other factors drive the procurement decision making. Commenting on this aspect, Kelkar said, “Emphasis has to been placed on formwork as a major part of the cost of a concrete structure that at times we have to put effort into planning and constructing the form work systems.”

The concrete forming plan and selection of form handling equipment can have serious consequences for other trades and operations, including both subcontractors and the general contractor. Formwork planning typically concentrates on speed of erection and removal which reduces cost through form reuse and minimisation of manpower requirements. Fast formwork erection and recycling tends to accelerate completion of the structure, thus allowing more time for follow-up operations such as mechanical and electrical installations and architectural finishes. Therefore, according to Kelkar, all features of a proposed formwork system and their effect on other aspects of the work must be carefully analysed and cost comparisons must be made of the various options.

Rent or buy?
Initial investment, number of re-usage of formwork and  project pipeline of contractor or developer are some the factors a buyer should consider while determining whether to rent or buy scaffolding and formwork, informed Kelkar.

Why Doka?
“Building on the experience amassed from 500-plus successful automatic climbing projects all over the world, the Doka formwork specialists develop made-to-measure complete solutions for each high-rise build and every set of requirements,” claimed Kelkar while talking on why a buyer should go for scaffolding and formwork offered by his company.

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All features of a proposed formwork system and their effect on other aspects of the work must be carefully analysed and cost comparisons must be made of the various options.

-Shreeniwas Kelkar, Product Manager, Doka India Pvt. Ltd.