Formwork supplied by Bahrain-based Paschal Concrete Forms Company has helped in ensuring timely completion of a number of schools, hotels, residential and commercial projects in Bahrain, says a spokesman for the firm.

The company, the main Middle East branch and stockist for Paschal Germany, launched activities in Bahrain in 1998 and has since made successful inroads throughout the region. Since its inception, it has added about 100 successful construction companies from the GCC countries to its customer list.

Paschal can boast of many landmark projects such as the Citibank, Taib Bank and Arab Bank headquarters, Alba (Aluminium Bahrain) expansion and Dana Mall in Bahrain, Oman LNG and the American School in Oman, Public Authority for Industry headquarters in Kuwait, and extension of Dammam Hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Its formwork has also been used for a residential building in Dubai, UAE.

Work is in full swing on other projects in Bahrain which are using Paschal formwork. These include the Government House project at Budaiya and Al Khairiya building in the Diplomatic Area being constructed by GP Zachariades and Al-Fanar School at East Riffa being built by Chapo.

Paschal is now supplying its formwork to two prestigious projects: the Ibra hospital project in Oman and Kanoo School at Salmabad, Bahrain, which will be built by Bahwan Engineering Company, Muscat and Skyline Trading & Contracting of Bahrain, respectively.

Paschal's cost-effective and environmentally-friendly formwork system is popular among construction companies who are well aware of the advantages of using this modern formwork system, says Amir Delghandi, general manager.

''Due to the high competition in the construction market - especially in recent years - many contractors have tried to find ways to cut costs by reducing the superstructural period of construction with less manpower and material wastage. They seek a formwork which is delivered to them ready for erection, thus allowing them to erect it and pour the concrete on the same day! Paschal systems offer such a solution,'' says Delghandi.

Paschal Werk G Maier GmbH developed the modern panel system of formwork in the early 1970s. Elaborating on this system, he says: ''Paschal panels are strong and durable - being manufactured of 6-mm-thick frames of sturdy steel - and offer high protection against corrosion. The surface of the panels is covered with high-quality Finnish birch plywood with a special phenolic resin coating of 220 gm/sq m. The edges of the plywood are protected by steel frames and the gap between them is filled with a special sealant.

''Therefore, the panel's plywood can be re-used up to 250 times and the steel frame will remain good for more than 20 years.

''Compared to the wooden girder system or soldier system formwork, the panel system provides many advantages such as savings in time and labour and no wastage of wood. In addition, the modular panels are unique and offer contractors versatility, flexibility and durability.

''The product is suitable for any concrete structure. It is simple to use, giving fast erection time even when using unskilled labour, and does not require a crane. The panels also require less storage space and are easy to transport.

''Due to the rigid structure of the panels, they do not require any soldiers or double 'U' channel support on the rear, so the system requires smaller tie-rods which can be placed between the panel's frame, eliminating the need to drill the plywood.''

After successfully serving the construction industry in the Middle East with its German formwork system, Paschal is now offering an excellent scaffolding system from Nisso International Corporation of Japan, says Delghandi.

Nisso International Corporation is a part of Nisso Industries Company, one of the leading companies which supplies scaffolding to the Japanese and Asian markets.

Its main customers are shipbuilding and repairing companies, as well as civil construction companies which build bridges, power stations, buildings and facilities for the oil industry.

In 1986, the firm developed a revolutionary scaffolding system called the Nisso 3S Octagon series (ring type).

''This patented Nisso scaffolding system is easy to assemble, absolutely safe and strong. It can be used as access scaffold as well as shoring and support,'' he explains. ''This Nisso technology is now available to the industry and construction companies through Paschal Concrete Forms Company in Bahrain and the Middle East.''