What is a plastic formwork
Plastic formwork is an energy-saving and environmentally friendly product, which is a new generation product followingwood formwork,composite steel formwork, bamboo-wood laminated formwork, and all-steellarge formwork. It is actually a new type of construction formwork designed to replace traditional wooden formwork.
Plastic formwork and wooden formwork: similarities and differences
The material of plastic formwork isPVC. Firstly, PVC is waterproof, flame-retardant, and does not suffer from deformation or decay when exposed to water like wooden formwork. The only difference in usage between plastic and wooden formwork is that there is no need to apply a release agent. Due to the smooth and clean surface of the plastic formwork, it does not attract dust, and the wall does not require secondary plastering. Therefore, it eliminates two processes compared to wooden formwork. Nailing, sawing, planing, and drilling are the same as with wooden formwork, and specifications are identical. Moreover, it can be custom-produced according to client requirements and cut to any size. Another important point is that plastic formwork is fully recyclable, even the scraps can be reused.
Why is the usage rate of plastic formwork still low after several years of development?
1. Firstly, the country has only recently begun to emphasize green building. The promotion of plastic formwork has been weak in terms of policy, and there are no mandatory policies for using green and environmentally friendly building materials. However, during the two sessions of this year, Premier Li Keqiang pointed out in the government report that the country is actively promoting new urbanization construction, with many areas facing demolition and reconstruction, and the demand for construction materials is huge. Traditional building materials have significant issues such as high consumption, high energy use, and serious pollution, which can no longer meet market needs. Therefore, it is necessary to actively promote green buildings and building materials and vigorously develop the energy-saving and environmentally friendly industry, which is a favorable policy for environmentally friendly and energy-saving plastic formwork.
2. The quality is uneven and some products are poorly made. Although national standards were established in2013, the technology is still far from mature. Making high-quality plastic formwork can still incur high costs. If one cuts corners on raw materials, it could lead to issues like thermal expansion and contraction, brittleness in winter, and softness in summer, but visually, these differences may not be apparent. Currently, many very cheap plastic formwork products are appearing in the market. In my opinion, some prices are completely absurd, selling for lower than our production costs. Don’t tell me they have better formulas that lower costs significantly. As it stands, the formulas for plastic formwork are still a complex issue, and the cost difference between companies does not exceed2%. Even this is on the higher side. If the price is low, it can only mean one thing: they are cutting corners. If quality issues arise later, it is inevitable. Given the current technology, low prices absolutely mean low quality; there are no other possibilities.
3. The acceptance of carpenters and builders is low. Whenever a modified product is launched, some people will always hesitate and wait to see how other builders use it. The first to try something new is always a minority. If there are no strong policies in place, the builders using it will still be few. Moreover, carpenters earn money based on their work progress. They are used to using wooden formwork, and suddenly switching to another product will take some getting used to. Initially, they will definitely not adapt, and they may resist using it. Once, we had a serious issue on a construction site where a team of workers went on strike because they found plastic formwork unusable. The project team was also quite strong and directly replaced the carpenters, which ultimately resolved the problem.
Our product positioning: Only produce high-quality buildings with a standard number of floors.
Zhengzhou Lanbao Bay construction site usage situation
Why do so many companies choose to use Linyi plastic formwork?
1. We have partnered with hundreds of domestic and international clients, exporting to multiple countries and regions.
2. Our production scale and supply capacity exceed those of our competitors by3 times.
3. We can deliver to the customer's construction site in less than three days.
4. Custom production based on client requirements is available.
5. We help save10% more costs than our competitors.
Linyi plastic formwork quality advantages
1. We have been engaged in the plastic chemical industry for thirty years, holding multiple patents, and we have developed the third generation of improved plastic formwork, which has been on the market for two years.
2. Each batch of plastic formwork undergoes a series of tests including elastic modulus, Vicat temperature, impact strength, nail holding force, etc., and only after passing these tests is it shipped.
3. Strength: We have independently developed the formula for plastic formwork, which maintains the product's strength and toughness, reducing the damage rate during violent removal by workers. On average, our product can be reused3 to5 more times than competitors' products.
4. Temperature resistance: We use high-temperature-resistant plastic additives for modification, making plastic formwork exceed national temperature resistance standards by10 degrees.
5. High extrusion temperature results in a smoother surface and greater hardness of the plastic formwork.
How to save50% on costs with plastic formwork
A previous case was the ZhengzhouChina State Construction Seventh Engineering Division Guanhua International project. At the time of signing the contract, the budget was over3 million, based on the budget forwood formwork. After the floors were capped, only over1 million was used, achieving a budget saving of more than50%..
To save costs, the first point is that the product must meet standards. If the product does not meet standards, as long as it stays within budget, that’s enough; don’t expect to save costs, just stick to using wooden formwork.
The second point is construction management. Since plastic formwork is a new product, some carpenters have not used it before. Furthermore, compared to wooden formwork, plastic formwork may be heavier, which workers might not prefer. If they resist using it, they may express dissatisfaction with the product. We have encountered these issues, and these complaints sound very familiar; similar situations arose when wooden formwork was being promoted. The promotion of new products will inevitably have a transition period, but this is the trend of the times. If the construction site insists on its use, the workers will adapt.
Another major issue is waste, which is also related to construction management. Sometimes, some plastic formwork can still be used, but workers may prefer to use new boards, leading to significant waste. The management method utilized by China State Construction Seventh Engineering Division is exemplary; they allow two buildings to use plastic formwork simultaneously, and compare the waste levels. If there is a significant difference between the two, it indicates that one side is not doing well. This situation can be addressed directly with the labor force to find solutions. By comparing the two buildings, workers will be more careful during use, as they will be concerned about waste. Consequently, the cost savings achieved from the two buildings exceeded50%.
Many people ask me how many times plastic formwork can be recycled. This is a difficult question to answer because the number of cycles is directly related to the construction team. If used normally with wear and tear,30 uses are definitely fine, and50 uses can also occur, depending on how one uses it. However, if it is mishandled, I cannot guarantee anything. Therefore, the premise for achieving30 cycles is that the wear and tear must occur under normal use, not careless waste.
Therefore, to save more than50% on the budget, the first aspect is the product, followed by management.
