PASCHAL Concrete Forms, the regional hub of German formwork specialist Paschal-Werk G Maier, is highly optimistic about prospects in the UAE, particularly in Dubai, having seen concrete signs of an uptrend in the market since October last year.

“Dubai is moving forward with projects. We have seen an increase in demand for our services, particularly in terms of technical support, from our clients in Dubai,” says Amir Delghandi, general director of the Bahrain-based Paschal Concrete Forms.

He indicates many projects have restarted and its contractor clients, who are currently utilising their existing stock of Paschal formwork, are turning to the formwork specialist to provide technical site support and shop drawings – a service it offers free of charge to its clients.

“Right now, we are witnessing an increase in demand for our rental stock but by the end of the year I am expecting to see a surge in orders for our formwork systems as our clients fully utilise their existing stock,” he adds.

Delghandi has reason to be optimistic as Paschal formwork is poised to show its merits on the Al Fattan Crystal Towers, the formwork company’s largest current project in the emirate.

Work has just started on the substructure of the two mixed-use towers, which are strategically positioned in the Dubai Marina District, close to the site of the proposed Bluewaters Island project. The Al Fattan Crystal Towers, being developed by Al Fattan Properties, is being constructed by Al Nekhreh Contracting Company (ANC). The project will boast a hotel, to be managed by the Rixos Hotels chain, a multi-purpose hall, meeting room, spa, retail outlets and department store. The towers sit on common basement levels and a four-level podium. Tower A has 35 floors whereas Tower B is 39 storeys high. Paschal formwork will be used in the construction of the raft foundation, three basement levels, columns, shear walls, and lift pits. About 2,000 sq m of formwork will initially be used by ANC on the development.

ANC is also using Paschal formwork for the construction of two towers for Damac in the Burj Khalifa district. These include the Burjside View, boasting a ground floor, five podium levels and 45 upper levels, which is now in the substructure phase; and the Burjside Terrace, comprising a ground level, five podium levels and a 37-storey tower, work on which is currently at the second podium level.

Abu Dhabi International Airport expansion ... Paschal’s formwork was used for the pile caps and foundation.

Meanwhile, following its success on the mega Mumzar substation project for Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa), Paschal formwork is currently being used on two 132/33 kVA substations – one in Mushrif being built by Siemens and the other at The Pearl Jumeirah by ABB. Lootah Building and Contracting is the civil works contractor and is using the formwork for the superstructure of these substations. Work on the Dh17.15-million ($4.67 million) Mushrif project started in July 2012 and is expected to finish in September, while the substation project in Pearl Jumeirah, worth Dh14.75 million ($4 million), was started in September 2012 and will be completed in this September.

Another noteworthy project is the Terminal Building Package (T3 Q10) of Dubai Port World’s Jebel Ali Port, being implemented by Gulf Technical Contracting. Here, Paschal’s modular formwork, which has been leased by the contractor, is being used for the retaining walls, three core walls, columns and other vertical structures of this low-rise structure.

Other ongoing projects in Dubai include a six-storey commercial and residential project for Al Tayer Real Estate in Al Qusais Two. TransEmirates Contracting is the contractor on the project – which is currently in the substructure phase – and is using Paschal formwork for the vertical elements of the project including the lift shafts and the columns.

A Metito wastewater treatment plant in Kizad ... nearing completion.

Among other developments, Paschal-Werk G Maier’s regional office in Bahrain is working alongside its Dubai and Abu Dhabi operations to meet the requirements of a massive Ministry of Housing project involving the construction of some 5,000 villas in Al Ain. The contractor on the project is National Projects and Contracting.

Also in Abu Dhabi, following the completion of the pile caps at Abu Dhabi International Airport’s prestigious Midfield Terminal complex, some 2,000 sq m of Paschal formwork is being used for the base slabs on the pile caps, the raft foundation and the lift pits and other elements.

Among other developments in Abu Dhabi, Paschal formwork is being used for Package Two of Phase Three of the Abu Dhabi Educational Council (Adec) Future School Programme in Baniyas, which is in the finishing stages. Seidco Construction Company is the contractor on the Dh115-million ($31.309 million) project, which is due of completion in June.

Other Paschal projects include a military training school in Shahama, Abu Dhabi, and a wastewater treatment plant for Metito, which is in the completion stage, at Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad).

Paschal-Werk G Maier, founded in 1964, is represented in more than 60 countries where it provides comprehensive services in the field of concrete building, from development to production of rugged, heavy-duty shuttering and reinforcement solutions including global marketing and dependable customer service.

Paschal’s product range comprises systems for modern wall and ceiling formwork, special shuttering, climbing system, single-side walls, wall formwork, and trapezoidal formwork systems for any type of circular structures especially tanks for sewage treatment plant (STP) projects.

Since the inception of its regional office in Bahrain in January 1998, Paschal has emerged as a leading supplier of modern formwork solutions to the region’s contractors. The first delivery of Paschal formwork to Bahrain goes back to 1983. Over the period, Paschal served several other prestigious projects in Bahrain and neighbouring countries. Due to the growing demand for formwork in the region, in 1998 the company decided to open its regional head office in Bahrain. Paschal opened its office in Dubai in 2004 and its Abu Dhabi branch in 2009.