Paschal Concrete Forms Company is proud of the role it has played in speeding up work and enhancing the aesthetics of Citibank's Headquarters Building in Seef.

"Our formwork system was effectively used for the columns and core walls in this project by main contractor Cybarco to complete the structure in time," says Amir Delghandi, general manager.

He elaborates: "Modular panels with a climbing system have been used for 80 linear m of core wall in 4-m heights for each casting. The curved portion of this wall was formed with Paschal's flexible polygonal system. The two 26-m-high columns forming the imposing portico to the building - which extends up to the sixth floor level - were also formed with Paschal's climbing system."

Paschal, a leading and highly specialised manufacturer of concrete formwork systems, was founded in 1964 in Steinach, Germany. The company, which is active worldwide, places great importance on research and development.

Paschal Concrete Forms Company, Bahrain, a branch of Paschal Werk Germany, started operations in 1998 and continues to make inroads into the Bahrain market. A total of 75 contractors in Bahrain are currently using its cost-effective, time-saving and environmental-friendly formwork systems, says Delghandi. Presently, more than 40,000 sq m of Paschal formwork are being used in the country, he adds.

Delghandi attributes this success to the outstanding quality of the system and the fact that it speeds up construction tremendously while offering a very important benefit - environmental-friendliness. In addition, the systems offer cost savings up to 50 per cent. For example in terms of durability and reuse, one sq m of Paschal formwork is equivalent to 100 sq m of ordinary plywood and 1 cu m of timber, he says.

Delghandi elaborates: "Plywood utilised in Paschal panels can be reused up to 250 times. The panels are strong and durable, being manufactured of 6-mm-thick frames of special sturdy flat steel and faced with high-quality Finnish birch plywood with a special phenolic resin coating of 220 g/sq m. Even after 250 uses, only the plywood has to be replaced while the steel frame will last virtually forever."

Many contractors are currently using Paschal formwork on various projects in Bahrain.

GP Zachariades (GPZ), one of the leading contractors, has started structural work on the 15-storey Taib Bank tower in the Diplomatic area using Paschal's climbing system for the shearcore and shearwall. Paschal system is used for its private developments at Riffa and Hoora, a government project in Gudaibiya and a residential building at Juffair.

"Work on a technical secondary school project at Muharraq with four workshop blocks and one academic block is progressing at tremendous speed. The contractor, Bokhowa Construction, decided to use Paschal formwork systems because of its durability and environmental-friendliness,'' says Delghandi. "By using this formwork system for footings, beams, columns and reinforced concrete pylons, Bokhowa has reduced the use of timber and plywood to a great extent."

He continues: "Kooheji Contracting Company has completed the 10-storey Rabiya Tower at Hoora using Paschal systems. The contractor, who has 10 years of experience with these systems, could complete each floor - which has 46 columns and 1,200 sq m of slab area - in 12 days. For this project, Kooheji used a slab formwork system for the 30-cm-thick rib slabs and a modular formwork system for columns, staircase and lift shaft. The same panels have now been relocated for use on its latest project, the new Blue Horizon tower at Juffair."

Dadabhai Construction is using the Paschal system for a residential development project at Seef. The company is reusing the panels that it had utilised for the pile caps, for the construction of columns and beams, he says.

"Ahmed Mansoor Al A'Ali (AMA) is benefiting from the flexibility of Paschal's modular system in various projects including the Al Dana Beach resort, Hamad Town reservoir and Ma'ameer culvert. The same system is also being used by the contractor for a housing project at Salmabad," Delghandi adds.

AA Nass Contracting Company and Chapo Bahrain are also using Paschal formwork for their various projects in Bahrain.

Having established itself in the Bahrain market, Paschal has spread its wings to the region, especially to the other GCC countries. Successful inroads have been made in Qatar, UAE, Oman and Kuwait where the firm's formwork has been contributed to the speedy construction for various projects.

"Al Bab Al Kuwaiti Construction Company has started mobilisation work on the KD6.3 million Public Authority for Industrial Building project at Al Serrah, Kuwait. The firm will use Paschal's formwork system for the reinforced concrete wall, columns and liftshafts of this eight-storey building which has three basement levels.

"Time-saving, material saving and labour saving are the major benefits offered by the Paschal system and are the reasons why the contractors are using the system. Apart from these advantages, contractors are realising the 'environmental-friendliness' of the system through the reduced usage of plywood and timber,'' he concludes.