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Tip #5 for Formwork Success - To Buy or Not to Buy
09/11/2015
The decision whether to buy or rent forming material should be based on the duration of the project, how it is being used, and the overall strategy of a construction company.
Typically, if a form system has to be rented for more than 8 to 10 months, purchasing the system might be more economical. However, along with the purchase of a system, there are additional costs such as maintenance and storage. Some formwork companies offer reconditioning services for customers who purchase their equipment. These services include professional reconditioning stations where every piece of used material is cleaned, repaired and replied if necessary.
The quality of the product also must be considered in the decision-making process. Steel-framed wall formwork with standard plywood facing will require more maintenance and repair throughout the life of the form than hot-dipped galvanized steel frames with specially manufactured plywood designed for longer life. For example, Doka’s Framax Xlife wall forms are plastic-coated plywood hot-caulked within a hot-dipped galvanized steel frame that greatly reduce maintenance and rework costs as the frame will never rust or need re-painting. When cared for properly, this type of form is reusable more than 300 times.
More #FormworkTips coming soon
Michael Schaeffer
Michael Schaeffer, Vice President for Doka North America, has been in the industry for over 22 years. A formwork professional, Mike’s career also includes engineering, front line sales, operations, branch management, and regional sales management. Today, Schaeffer’s responsibilities include full responsibility for Eastern North America.
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