After eight years of operation in Bahrain, Paschal – one of the leading formwork specialists in the region – says that its versatile solutions have successfully proven themselves on some of the challenging projects in the region.

One of the most prestigious ongoing developments is the Motridal (storage shelter) project at the new Alba jetty in Bahrain, where Paschal’s modular formwork with its climbing system are in operation. The complicated wall reaching a height of up to 18 m, with wall projections, as well as beams and columns are cast with the help of Paschal modular formwork and climbing system.
Another current project being implemented with the help of Paschal’s climbing system is the main core and shear walls of the Trust Insurance building in the Diplomatic Area in Bahrain.
“Using Paschal’s system, climbing brackets can be connected together to build up a unit. This unit can be lifted by crane and hung on the shoes that have been already fixed to the previously-cast concrete. To ensure the connection of the climbing system with the concrete structure, Paschal employs special anchors. While the anchor cones can be re-used, only the anchor plates remain in the concrete (consumable).
“The maximum space between the brackets is 2.5 m and they can carry the load of formwork, live load and push-pull props, which are usually used to align the formwork.
In addition, its modular formwork systems have been used for concreting all the water channel walls at the Amwaj Islands project. Also within this project, the systems are being put to use on the Mina 7 apartments and the Tala Island development.
Aside from the Amwaj Islands project, the company’s formwork solutions are currently being used at the Seef Mall extension, where the contractor has used Paschal’s modular systems for the beams, columns, lift shafts and shear walls.
Other projects in Bahrain under various stages of completion using Paschal systems include: the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) headquarters at Sanabis, a 28-villa project in Saar, the University for Women in Awali, Novotel hotel apartments and many other residential high-rise buildings at Seef, Sanabis and Juffair,” says Amir Delghandi, general manager of Paschal Concrete Forms, the Middle East office and stockiest for the German formwork manufacturer.
Elaborating on the benefits of the climbing system, he says: “The safe and simple new system was introduced as an alternative to slip formwork, for forming shear walls, shear-cores and lift shafts in high-rise buildings.”
One of the other highlights of Paschal products is the supporting jacks. Paschal provides an absolutely safe and economical solution for single-sided forming, he says. Supporting jacks can be connected quickly to the formwork panels and the unit with formwork can be easily carried to position with a crane. Even without a crane, the supporting jacks can be lifted by manpower and fix to the formwork,” Delghandi points out. This support system is being used in several projects in Dubai.
Established in 1964, by Josef Maier as G Maier Metallverarbeitung (metal processing), the company was founded on the premise that a systematic approach could make work on building sites much easier, more economical and safer.
The “standard formwork” was the first formwork to earn the name “system”. Workers on the building sites soon referred to it as the “patente Schalung” (patent formwork) which was then abbreviated to give the product and thus also the company name which remains valid up to the present day: Paschal.
“Since then, patent formwork and shoring systems have been continuously developed and permanently adjusted to meet the growing requirements in the building trade,” says Delghandi.
Paschal opened its Middle East branch in 1998 in Bahrain after several years of business relations with the Middle East. Paschal Bahrain has since made successful inroads throughout the region and has added about 250 successful construction companies from the GCC countries to its customer list.
Formwork supplied by Paschal has helped in ensuring timely completion of a number of civil projects in the Middle East and in addition to projects in Bahrain, several developments in the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Iran are currently using these modular systems.
Keeping pace with the growing demand for formwork in the UAE market, the company recently expanded its activities through opening another branch in Dubai, last October – Paschal Emirates.
“At its Dubai office, Paschal formwork experts offer their experience directly to contractors in the UAE and are also able to supply immediately from their stock in Dubai,” he says.
Being one of the leading formwork manufacturers in the world, Paschal’s cost-effective and environmentally-friendly formwork systems is gaining wider acceptance among companies in the region, he concludes.