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| Concrete formwork manufacturers at bauma 2007  The worldwide offers for concrete formwork are undergoing continual changes. Not only technical innovations play a role in this. Safety requirements, new ideas from architecture and other concrete compositions, such as self-compacting concrete, are also decisive. External rationalization pressures at construction sites also require new strategies, which speed up construction and consequently cut costs. bauma 2007, which will take place in Munich from 23 to 29 April, will present a comprehensive cross-section of offers for formwork and accessories of all well-known manufacturers.Sale of standardized formwork to construction companies has not been the main business of the big manufacturers for a long time. Complete building site equipment is rented today; why not formwork too? Only 30 percent of formwork material is from construction companies' own stock in the meantime; 70 percent is rented for specific projects. Similar to the construction machine sector, investment, maintenance and upkeep expenses as well as administration and disposal costs play a decisive role in customers' decisions. Even for special, project-specific formwork, the system formwork share is often only rented. Complete tunnel sheeting from rentable system parts is also common. Schedules can only be maintained for building shell measures with precise formwork planning, efficient formwork systems, with large format formwork components or formwork tables. Manufacturers provide special software packages for planning, which enable complete compatibility with construction site measurement and payment programs via commonly used interfaces. For formwork itself, system solutions are above all primary for handling formwork components during their erection as well as for rational dismantling. Logical system grids enable optimum use of the components and consequently reduce stock and rental costs. Doing without wage-intensive anchor spots for shaping the individual wall formwork components is another important point. All manufacturers offer flexible systems for floor formwork, which range from simple support-floor formwork all the way to precast floor panels with integrated table platform. The topic of "climbing systems" will be an important issue at the next bauma. In the USA, where an increasing number of skyscrapers in concrete construction method are being "climbed" parallel to tradition steel-skeleton construction, formwork systems to be moved by cranes or even self-climbing formwork systems are highly regarded. But complete formwork and work platforms with their high safety standards also determine construction site processes. Regardless of whether gigantic bridge construction projects in China, the never-ending race for the highest skyscraper or conventional offices building with pre-climbed supply shafts, fast climbing systems belong to the future. "Concrete surfaces are the mirror image of formwork" was once written in a German industry standard. This is an insight, which is still valid, and which also provides formwork manufacturers with considerable leeway in their developments. Self-compacting concrete makes dreams of architects come true, which were not possible to the slightest extent a few years ago. The fact that the surfaces of the often thin building elements require special attention is undisputed. All manufacturers try to meet these increased requirements with optimized formwork panels. The discussion about pure wood panels, panels with a wood core and plastic coating as well as pure plastic panels will ensure lots of things to talk about and new products at bauma 2007. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Construction News :: home page |