international
construction
october 2014
FALSEWORKAND FORMWORK
28
Project pressures
Project pushing boundaries
Scottish trial proves a resounding success
A
new circular formwork system fromMeva tested in the UK by Leada Acrow has
been hailed a success, according to the company.
It centred on three digester tanks being built at Brownrigg Farm in Dumfries and
Galloway, UK, for its own use.
Two of the tanks are 7m highwith a 17m diameter while the third is 5m highwith a
20m radius. The project was designed and built by 3b construction.
Workwas completed in just 15 concrete pours using over 170m² of Radius panels from
the Leada Acrow fleet of Meva formwork systems.
Graeme Barr, of 3b Construction said, “The systemwas easy to use. Once everyone on
site got used to it, they found it a quick and easyway to form the curvedwalls.
“We are getting quite a reputation for this type of tankwork andwill look to use this
systemmore often. Although the finishwas not specified as architectural, the cast concrete
was of a very high quality and striking of formworkwas a simple process.”
providing onsite support and guidance, which in our experience
dramatically improves efficiency and safety onsite.”
Streamlining processes
One company that has been especially proactive in streamlining
its processes is Paschal, which has been working on how digital
technology can enhance its services.
Among itsmost successful products has been the development
of its planning and warehouse management computer software
Plan-light (PPL).
This allows contractors to create complete formworkplans that
canmonitor the entire process of installing formwork.
With the latest version of its Plan Pro AutoCAD design
software, the placement of individual formwork panels can
plans for an indoor ski park – which proved a particularly
demanding construction task.
Engineers on the project decided against using traditional
timber wedges and steel slope slab for the skiing facilities.
Instead, theyused a rapidshore tilt head,whichgave theprecise
support required for the commission.
For the building’s 12.4m tall inverted pyramidal piers, which
started at 2m x2m and then grew tomore than twice that level,
engineers designed a special corner arrangement, joined to the
standardprimary “superslim soldier” beam.
This solutionallowed thepiers tobeconstructedusing standard
RMDKwikformwall form equipment.
The company’s regional sales manager,Mohamed El Gammal,
believed the project had been a considerable success. He said,
“For a large scale project of this type it is all about safety, speed
and simplicity.
“Byworkingwith theBesixOrascom joint venture team at the
early stages of planning, we were able to identify and source the
right amount of equipment needed for theproject, in addition to
engineering safe and timesaving solutions.
“On any project of this scale, we also recognise the benefit of
Creating the Al Rajhi bank in Riyadh has been one Tms
formworks’ largest projects this year.
