Bahrain-based Paschal Concrete Forms Company this month marks nine years of success as the regional head office of German formwork specialist Paschal Werk G Maier, as it continues to expand its presence in the market with its innovative formwork solutions.

With the growing trend for high-rise construction in Bahrain, there is an increase in demand for slab formwork in the construction markets of the region, says Amir Delghandi, general manager of Paschal Concrete Forms Company. “To meet this demand, Paschal offers the Paschal Deck system which is based on wooden I-beams, an economical and modern system which enables contractors to cast one slab every week.”
Some of the leading companies in Bahrain such as Key Construction, Almoayyed Contracting and Al Arrayed Contracting have been using this system over the past year and have achieved excellent results, he adds.
Paschal formwork is currently being used on a number of projects in Bahrain including The Lagoon and several other residential complexes at Amwaj Island. Another prestigious project in its current order book includes the Durrat Al Bahrain, where Bokhowa Construction, GP Zachariades and Kooheji Contractors have also decided to use Paschal modular formwork. Other projects include RUF car assembly in Sakir (where Almoayyed Contracting is the main contractor), Sheikh Khalifa Sports City in Isa Town (Mohammed Jalal), apartment blocks in Isa Town (Luqman Construction and TCC) and many other residential and commercial buildings at Juffair, Sanabis, Manama, Seef and Busaiteen.
Staffed with formwork experts and skilled engineers, the regional office has been supplying its products across the region to a number of civil projects and other developments in Bahrain, the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Iraq.
“Paschal’s cost effective and environmentally-friendly formwork systems have become popular among companies who are aware of its advantages,” says Delghandi. “Paschal modular formwork systems are based on various panel sizes. The panels are strong and durable being manufactured using 6 mm-thick frames of very special steel that does not corrode. The surface of the panels is covered by high-quality birch plywood (density 780 kg/ cu m) with a phenolic coating of 220 gm/sq m. The edges of the plywood are protected by steel frame and the gap between them is filled with a special sealant. Hence, the panel’s plywood can be re-used up to 250 times and the steel frame will remain for more than 20 years.”
“Due to easy erection and dismantling, with or without the use of a crane, contractors can save up to 30 per cent of their superstructure cost through savings on labour, material and time. Being modular, the formwork system offers contractors versatility, flexibility and durability, among other benefits,” he adds.
Established in the Black Forest region of Germany in 1964, Paschal is currently one of the major suppliers of formworks in the world. The company first entered the Middle East in the early ‘70s with the supply of formwork for a dam project in Saudi Arabia and later expanded its portfolio to include other civil projects in Kuwait and Bahrain, supported with products delivered directly from the main office in Germany.
The first delivery of Paschal Formwork to Bahrain goes back to 1983 after which Paschal Germany served several other prestigious projects in Bahrain and neighbouring countries. Due to a surge in construction activities and demand for modern formwork in the region, Paschal Germany established a regional office in Bahrain in 1998, where it has a high-capacity plant and huge warehouse to ensure timely delivery of formwork across the region.
Since the Bahrain office was set up, the company has supplied to several landmark projects in the country including the Citibank headquarters, Seef Residence, Alba expansion projects, Sail Tower, Taib bank, Arab Bank, Dana Mall, Sitra Mall, Seef Mall, Trust Insurance building, VIP Tower of Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain International Airport control tower and Phases I, II and III of the Hidd power plant, among others.
The company has also made successful inroads into the UAE market since the opening of its branch office – Paschal Emirates – in 2004. “The office has been providing excellent services to the emirates and is currently supplying formwork to more than 25 developments in Dubai, including the Citadel Tower at Business Bay and the Golden Mile Project at Palm Jumeirah,” he concludes.