Sturdy steel-framed formwork systems supplied by Bahrain-based Paschal Concrete Forms Company are being used in the construction of the new headquarters for Taib Bank in the Diplomatic Area, which has just been topped out.

Main contractor GP Zachariades has used Paschal's climbing system for the construction of the shear core and shear walls to avoid scaffolding and to speed up the project, says a spokesman for Paschal Concrete Forms Company, the main Middle East branch for the German manufacturer of the system.

Construction of the 16-storey Taib Tower is scheduled for completion in December.

Paschal's formwork has helped ensure timely completion of a number of other commercial projects, hotels, residential and schools in the Middle East.

Some of the landmark projects which have utilised Paschal formwork include the Citibank headquarters, Alba (Aluminium Bahrain), the Sail Tower, Arab Bank and Dana Mall in Bahrain, Oman LNG and the American School in Oman, the Public Authority for Industry headquarters in Kuwait, several residential Buildings in Dubai, and an extension to Dammam hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Within a span of four years since its inception, Paschal Concrete Forms Company now counts among its customers some 100 successful construction companies in the GCC.

"Mohammed Jalal Contracting is building a five-storey building at Seef, Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al-Banna Contracting is erecting a transmission line chamber and Two Seas Construction is currently involved in a prestigious new project - and all are using Paschal systems because of their speed and ease of use," says Amir Delghandi, general manager.

For a nine-storey building project at Manama, Key Construction will use the Paschal system for columns and the lift shaft very soon.

According to Paschal Concrete Forms Company, Ahmed Mansoor Al A'Ali is using its formwork system extensively in various projects.

''A 6.5-m-high firewall at the Hidd Power and Water station project was completed at a "tremendous speed and with a perfect finish by the company using Paschal systems,'' says Delghandi. ''The same modular system has been used for the chamber and reservoir of a transmission line project.''

Bokhowa Construction has completed the structure of its technical school project three months ahead of schedule and is now using the same panels in different projects.

After completing a residential building at Seef, Dadabhai Construction has shifted its panels to its new residential building project at Juffair.

Project SA is using Paschal formwork system for its Al Seef Plaza project at Seef and for Alba health centre project.

After the completion of the Citibank headquarters with Paschal formwork, Cybarco Bahrain has used its panels in various substations and for the construction of the extension of the courts complex in the Diplomatic area as well as another project at Seef.

For the new port and industrial area project at Hidd, Almoayyed Contracting is using Paschal's polygonal system for the circular foundation and ring beam. The 6-m-high wall of the ground reservoir in this project will also be constructed using Paschal modular system.

Other current projects in Bahrain using the formwork include government housing projects at Gudaibiya and Al Khairiya, many hotels and commercial buildings by GP Zachariades, the Al Fanar luxury apartment at Umm Al Hassam, a technical school at Riffa, and the Najibi Investment building and hotels at Sanabis by Chapo.

Paschal has also supplied materials for two prestigious projects - the Ibra Hospital in Oman and the Kanoo School at Salmabad, Bahrain - which will be undertaken by Bahwan Engineering Company, Muscat, and Skyline Trading and Contracting, Bahrain, respectively.

The system's cost-effectiveness and environmentally friendliness make it popular among construction companies, says Delghandi.

He continues: ''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 their superstructural period 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."

Paschal Werk G Maier GmbH developed the modern panel system of formwork in the early 1970s.

Elaborating on this system, Delghandi says: ''Paschal panels are strong and durable, being manufactured of 6 mm-thick frames of sturdy steel, which 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 steel frames protect the edges of the plywood 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 a 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 - all that is required are smaller tie-rods which can be placed between the panel's frame, eliminating the need to drill the plywood.''

Paschal Concrete Forms Company also offers a top quality scaffolding system from Nisso International Corporation, a part of Nisso Industries Company, one of the leading suppliers of scaffolding to Japanese and other Asian markets.

Customers for the product are mainly shipbuilding and repair companies as well as civil construction companies erecting bridges, power stations and buildings and facilities for the oil industry.

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

''This patented Nisso scaffolding system is easy to assemble, absolutely safe and strong. It can be used as an access scaffold as well as for shoring up and support,'' explains Delghandi.

"This Nisso technology is now available to industrial and construction companies throughout the Middle East through Paschal Concrete Forms Company,'' he adds.