Discussing the opportunities availed with bauma CONEXPO 2023, Vikas Mittal, MD & CEO, of Nova Formwork, explains that when we look at the massive growth in the construction and construction materials industry, such events offer a wider understanding towards the innovations and evolving market trends.

Mutual interaction with highly experienced exhibitors, global players, and visitors can help enhance trade and communication more intelligently and digitally. I’m sure every construction material company awaits this exhibit to benefit from India’s evolving construction and infrastructure Industry.

What is NOVA’s contribution to adding sustainability and project reliability?

The fundamental principle is for businesses to perform tasks and provide services that are effectively and efficiently produced and promote sustainability in society. Factors such as financial analysis, risk analysis, communication, network determination, operational planning, training, human resource development, capacity building, environmental analysis, and community analysis all help determine the sustainability of projects. The government has formulated policies to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) to mitigate the effects of climate change and build sustainable cities and communities. Bodies like the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP), and net-zero Commitment are responsible for regulating and bringing about sustainability and project reliability.

Economic, environmental, and economic factors can determine the sustainability of the formwork, waste generation, energy and resource consumption, structural operation, reusable formwork, material efficiency, and a healthy indoor environment. NOVA is a pioneer in modular, reusable, and environmentally friendly shuttering systems. It gives more than 100 repetitions and is cost-effective. It is easy to install and strip and does not require skilled labour. Nova Formwork Panels are lightweight, resulting in higher labour productivity. This plastic shuttering system makes construction faster and saves time. We design innovative and sustainable Plastic Modular Formwork System solutions to turn any construction project into a goodwill milestone for our clients, resulting in a greener future with 100 percent recyclable and over 100 times reusable formwork.

How do sustainable scaffolding and formwork designs add quality to construction projects?

The sustainability story is the evolution in construction techniques and materials acquisition that can reduce waste, energy, and various inefficiencies at building sites; this is the prime focus of every responsible industry. Off-site fabrication, enhanced on-site maintenance, lean techniques, landfill avoidance, and green material acquisition are all transforming how buildings are built today. Buildings’ variable environmental conditions are already visible in their design. The formwork design has adapted to the changing conditions of the building design and the need of the hour and complies with government norms.

Plastic formwork offers better longevity, is durable and sustainable, and can be easily repaired without affecting performance should it get scratched or perforated. Plastic formworks provide a uniform and smooth surface finish for the structure. These materials are highly reusable and easy to fix and remove.

The finish quality of the concrete is superior to that of traditional shuttering, and plastering is not required, saving money, time, and labour. Cracks and breakage in the fresh concrete finish are minimalistic, so strength and durability stay intact while using plastic formwork.

What are your thoughts on digitising construction operations and digital procurement platforms for projects and scaffolding/formwork?

And the construction industry, like the healthcare, automotive, and merchandising industries, benefits from digitalisation. According to an IDC survey, the pandemic pushed over 72 percent of construction companies to change priorities in their processes, business models, and ecosystems. Construction companies quickly realised the need for updating, and digital transformation meant utilising digital technologies for more efficient operations. Digitalisation has upgraded the system from pre-construction, including significant efficiency gains in bid team performance by boosting their expertise and judgement through digital collaboration technology.

Digitalisation and extensive use of technology has brought a significant advantage to the industry by increasing productivity and resulting in a sizable cost reduction. Real-time collaboration, data gathering, and timely changes make projects more successful. Digital tools and precise data analysis can help avoid financial risks and manage the back office. Increased operational costs and global uncertainties are driving construction companies to adopt and accelerate digitisation.

How are we addressing project safety and management requirements with the enormous increase in infrastructure projects?

Infrastructure projects have become more complex and larger in scale due to the advances in technology and operations. The successful delivery of infrastructure projects is challenging due to uncertain events that generate threats to project activities. Most infrastructure projects are being overrun in terms of either time or quantity, thus compromising the quality of construction. The uncertainty associated with human performance in the construction of such projects is an inevitable source of risk during the operation phase, and stringent rules and regulations must be followed to ensure their safety.

Infrastructure investment involves complex risk analysis, risk allocation, and risk mitigation. It is important to examine and identify project-specific potential hazards that can cause cost overruns and delays in infrastructure projects. Also, project uncertainty is high due to the complexity of managing construction risks. The steel formwork is very heavy and unsafe to handle, especially compared to the plastic formwork, which is light in weight and easy to handle and move from one site to the next, reducing the risk for the workers. Risk management is a scientific approach to identifying, anticipating, and minimising the possible adverse impacts on projects. We at NOVA are well-versed in these norms and risks and honestly abide by them to the fullest.

For more details visit: https://novaformworks.com/