Discussing the trends in the scaffolding and formworks designs and choice of metal, experts across the industry briefly share their views on how modern and modular designs are taking over the conventional construction pattern with more reliability.

Design trends in scaffolding and formworks
With the rapid growth in construction and infrastructure projects in India, the scaffolding and formwork industry is witnessing significant demand. The use of scaffolding and formwork of plastic, aluminium and steel is gaining prominence at project sites. We will now shed some light on the advanced technologies and other prominent developments happening in this sector.

According to Vikas Mittal, CEO of NOVA Formworks Limited, “Increasing advancements are influencing some ground-breaking developments in scaffolding and formworks.” End-users look for formwork solutions that are affordable, light, reusable, safe, easy to use, de-shutter, robust, and adaptable as structures are becoming taller. Modern Modular Formwork systems are designed with features that enable all of the above while also lowering construction labour costs in monolithic building projects.

Finishing the supporting system, which includes scaffolding and formwork, for multi-story buildings within the allotted period appears complicated due to the typical procedure of casting the columns first, followed by pouring the beams and slabs, says Siddharth J. Shah, Technical Director of Cosmos Construction Machinery & Equipment Pvt. Ltd.

Paschal’s Modular System is a unique product that can be used in any industry. However, our system has a proven track record of being well used in all sectors of buildings, industrial, power, defence, and infrastructure projects such as Shear walls, lift walls, Track Hoppers, roads, water supply, irrigation, intake well, hydropower, thermal power, nuclear power, etc. and already executed structures such as piers, box culverts, VUP/RUP & VOP, Clarifloculator, etc. Because of the rigidity and flexibility of our product, it can be handled by a crane as a large unit (approximately 25 sq. m.) in a single shot, says Manikandan Mahalingam, General Director, Paschal Formwork (India) Pvt. Ltd.

Modern infrastructure development necessitates the use of faster, safer, and more innovative technologies, explains Dhaval Suthar, Marketing Manager, PERI (India) Private Limited. “We see numerous opportunities in this sector for the formwork and scaffolding industries,” he adds.

Selecting the suitable scaffold systems
According to Vikas, the choice of formwork materials is critical to the project’s success. Some of the factors that have a significant impact on the selection of formwork materials are accessibility to work, quality; surface finish; formwork storage; capital cost, safety, structural layout, lifetime, environmental exposure, labour cost, and so on. Vikas further stresses that choosing appropriate formwork material is key to obtaining an accelerated construction process and increasing productivity.

On the other hand, Siddharth observes that “new-age design necessitates the replacement of traditional construction methods with faster work technology.” Lightweight aluminium material can be used by unskilled labour to produce user-friendly pre-designed and customised products, making it cost-effective for skyscrapers while ensuring quality and safety with an 8-day slab cycle, which smoothens the cash flow process.

The Paschal Modular System is more adaptable, and the combination of panels allows for more efficient construction without the need for additional customisation. Our simple and one-of-a-kind connection technology, dubbed “KEY BOLT” accessories, enables formwork assembly and disassembly in construction projects to be completed quickly and accurately. Paschal’s products are environmentally friendly. Mahalingam further emphasises that “plywood can be reused 300 times, and steel frames can be reused for 20 years.”

Technology and innovation are in this segment.
According to Vikas, the success of these projects is heavily reliant on how efficiently they are built because complicated geometries and ever-higher skyscrapers control the modern building system. When compared to conventional formwork, they are frequently faster and easier to construct. Furthermore, because of the ability to rent, modular formwork systems save contractors money by lowering the costs associated with traditional acquisitions. This avoids recouping purchase costs by recycling or selling the materials after the operation is completed.

Dhaval emphasises that due to the frequent fluctuations of aluminium alloy, people are adopting the same technology using plastic and plywood products to achieve the same finish. “I believe the people and industry are picking them up quickly and are active in adopting them because the project completion and handover were completed on time, with the formwork system being the critical factor,” Dhaval adds.

Challenges in the scaffolding and formwork business
Traditional formwork systems, according to Vikas, may be difficult to use as they have fewer repetitions, a poor surface finish, and are generally more expensive. After dealing with external factors such as weather delays, RDOs, and other trades, there isn’t much time left to think about interior issues such as wood warping. “Concrete will blow out or break out if it is not properly braced,” Vikas explains.

Mahalingam claims that despite a sharp increase in the price of raw materials, the demand for formworks is increasing post-COVID. “This is primarily as a result of the projects’ delayed construction due to COVID.” Contractors sought a quicker formwork solution to get past this obstacle and save time. The Paschal Formwork system is one of their best options because it produces high-quality concrete finishes, requires less labour, and completes the project quickly.

Future demand drivers for scaffolding and formwork products and solutions
“Formworks will become increasingly important in the construction industry in the future. Much of it has not yet been found,” expresses Vikas. Our forms are 100 per cent recyclable and more than 100 times reusable because we want to build a more environmentally friendly future.

From the materials perspective, Siddharth adds, “The primary causality is the large fluctuations in the raw material prices of aluminium alloy, which cause an extension in the production cycle by keeping raw material stock and increasing capital investment

Dhaval concludes the discussion by saying, “System formworks are designed for specified concrete pressure to ensure no failure during the concreting process. They provide numerous advantages over conventional formwork. It is built with built-in safety features and has fewer individual components to reduce labour efforts and improve overall efficiency.

Given current trends and technological advancements in scaffolding and formworks, we anticipate an increase in the use of sustainable formworks, and reliable yet cost-effective products for a variety of projects. This will open up new markets for plastic formwork and aluminium scaffolding for improved design durability on job sites.

Vikas Mittal, CEO, NOVA Formworks Limited
Choosing the right formwork material is critical for accelerated construction and increased productivity.

Siddharth J. Shah, Technical Director, Cosmos Construction Machinery & Equipment Pvt. Ltd.
The pre-engineered design helps us achieve dimensional accuracy and a smooth concrete surface finish.

Manikandan Mahalingam, General Director, Paschal Formwork (India) Pvt. Ltd.
The Paschal Formwork system is one of their best options because it produces high-quality concrete finishes.

Dhaval Suthar, Marketing Manager, PERI (India) Private Limited.
We see numerous opportunities in this sector for the formwork and scaffolding industries in India.