Bahrain-based Paschal Concrete Forms Company – the regional head office of German formwork specialist Paschal Werk G Maier – is looking at setting up its own engineering office in Qatar this year.

“We have been carrying out projects in Qatar since 2001 but these have been relatively small, involving villa developments and commercial buildings. However, we made a major breakthrough in the market last June and since then have secured a number of projects in Qatar,” says Amir Delghandi, general manager of Paschal Concrete Forms Company.
Given the boom in construction activity, Paschal is now considering establishing an office in Qatar either on its own or in joint venture with a local partner.
“Qatar offers immense potential for growth. This year, we will be intensifying our efforts in penetrating the Doha and Abu Dhabi markets,” he comments.
Among the landmark projects it is currently supplying is the 57-storey Qatar Silhouette Tower in West Bay, Doha. El Seif Contracting is the main contractor on the project, which includes two basement and two car-park levels. Work on the project, which started last September, has been progressing rapidly and the tower is already 16 storeys high. Paschal modular panels are being used in the construction of the walls, columns and shafts of the prestigious tower.
Another major project in Qatar that Paschal is involved in is the Scada water system for the NWCC building near Doha Airport, where it has supplied the formwork for the footings and columns of the project. A joint venture of Talvent Nass and Qatar Al Attiyah is the main contractor on the development.
Meanwhile, Paschal formwork is also being used by Al Madar Construction Company and Hassenesco for the construction of a number of commercial and residential building in the country.
Staffed with formwork experts and skilled engineers, the Paschal 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 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.
Since the Bahrain office was set up, the company has supplied to several landmark projects 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, all in Bahrain; Oman LNG in Sur and a power plant in Sohar, both in Oman; Public Authority for Industry headquarters and Technical College in Kuwait; Wadi Hanifa Project (Riyadh) and Riyadh Power Plant Tunnel in Saudi Arabia, among others.
Paschal formwork is currently being used on a number of projects in Bahrain including The Lagoon and several other residential complexes at Amwaj Island, Durrat Al Bahrain, RUF car assembly in Sakir, Sheikh Khalifa Sports City in Isa Town, apartment blocks in Isa Town and many other residential and commercial buildings at Juffair, Sanabis, Manama, Seef and Busaiteen.
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, Vision Tower, Bay Gate Office Tower in Business Bay; Jewel Tower in Dubai Medica City and the Golden Mile Project at Palm Jumeirah,” he concludes.