What is a Plastic Formwork
Plastic formwork is an energy-saving and environmentally friendly product, which is a new generation product followingWooden Formwork, Composite Steel Formwork, Bamboo-Wood Glued Formwork, All SteelLarge Formwork, and is actually a new type of Construction Formwork designed to replace the traditional wooden formwork.
Plastic Formwork vs Wooden Formwork
The material of plastic formwork is PVC. The first point is that PVC material is waterproof and flame-retardant, and does not have the deformation and corrosion issues like wooden formwork when exposed to water. The only difference in usage compared to wooden formwork is that there is no need to apply release agent. Because the surface of plastic formwork is smooth and clean, and the walls do not require secondary plastering, it eliminates two processes compared to wooden formwork. Nailing, sawing, planing, and drilling are the same as with wooden formwork, and the specifications are also the same. Additionally, it can be produced to custom sizes according to client requirements and can be cut freely. Another important point is that plastic formwork is fully recyclable, even the scraps can be recycled.
Why has the usage rate of plastic formwork not increased significantly after years of development?
First, the country has only recently begun to emphasize green buildings, and the promotion of plastic formwork has been weak in terms of policy. There has been no mandatory policy for the use of green and environmentally friendly building materials. However, during the two sessions in 2016, Premier Li Keqiang pointed out in the government report that the country is actively promoting new urbanization construction, and many places are facing demolition and reconstruction, with a huge demand for building materials. Traditional building materials suffer from high consumption, high energy use, and significant pollution issues, which can no longer meet market needs. Therefore, it is necessary to actively promote green buildings and materials and vigorously develop energy-saving and environmentally friendly industries. This is a significant positive policy for environmentally friendly and energy-saving plastic formwork.
Second, the quality is uneven and many products are poorly made. Although national standards were issued in 2013, the technology is still far from mature. Producing high-quality plastic formwork still incurs high costs. If the materials are compromised, it can lead to issues such as thermal expansion and contraction, making the product brittle in winter and soft in summer, although there may not be significant visual differences. Currently, there are many cheap plastic formworks on the market, and some of the prices are absurdly low, even below our production costs. Don't tell me that their formulas are better, significantly lowering costs. As of now, the formulas for plastic formwork are still considered a challenge, with no more than 2% cost difference among enterprises, and even that is an overestimation. If the price is low, it can only mean one thing: cutting corners, leading to inevitable quality problems. Given the current technology, low prices definitely mean low quality; there is no other possibility.
Third, low acceptance among carpenters and builders. Whenever a new improved product is launched, some people will hesitate and watch to see the performance of other builders using it. The first ones to try are always a minority. If it weren’t for strong policies, the number of builders using it would still be small. Secondly, carpenters rely on work progress to earn money. They are accustomed to using wooden formwork, and suddenly switching to another product can be uncomfortable. For the first few days, they will definitely struggle to adapt, and they may resist using it. In one of our projects, workers from one class directly went on strike, stating that plastic formwork was not useful at all. At that time, the project team was quite assertive and directly replaced the carpenters, which resolved the issue.
Our product positioning: Only produce premium high-rise buildings with standard layers.
Usage Status of Zhengzhou Blue Treasure Bay Construction Site
Why do so many companies choose to use Linyi Plastic Formwork?
First, we have collaborated with hundreds of domestic and international clients, exporting to multiple countries and regions.
Second, our production scale and supply capacity are three times that of our peers.
Third, we deliver to the customer's construction site within three days.
Fourth, we can customize production according to customer requirements.
Fifth, we can save 10% more costs compared to our peers.
Linyi Plastic Formwork Quality Advantages
1. Engaged in the plastic chemical industry for thirty years, we hold multiple patents and have developed a third-generation improved plastic formwork that 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, and nail holding force, before being shipped.
3. Strength: Independently developed plastic formwork formulas, maintaining the product's strength and toughness, reducing the breakage rate during violent dismantling by workers. The average usage frequency is 3 to 5 times higher than that of peers.
4. Temperature resistance: Using high-temperature-resistant plastic additives for modification, making plastic formwork exceed national standards by 10 degrees.
5. With high extrusion temperatures, the surfaces of plastic formwork are flat and have greater hardness.
How Plastic Formwork Saves50% Costs
Previously, we did a case for ZhengzhouChina State Construction Seventh Engineering Division at the Guanhui International project. At the time of signing the contract, the budget was over 3 million, which was based on the budget for wooden formwork. After the floors were capped, only over 1 million was used, achieving a cost saving of over 50%.
To save costs, the first thing is that the product must be qualified. If the product does not meet standards, as long as it is within budget, it will be a gamble, so better to stick to using wooden formwork.
The second point is about construction management. Since plastic formwork is a new product, some carpenters have not used it before. Compared to wooden formwork, plastic formwork may be a bit heavier, and workers may resist using it. When they dislike it, they will express their dissatisfaction about the product. We have encountered these issues, and these comments sound familiar, as similar situations occurred during the promotion of wooden formwork in the past. The promotion of new products will inevitably have a transition period, but this is an inevitable trend; if the construction site insists on using it, they will have no issues.
Another major issue is waste, which is also related to construction management. Sometimes, some plastic formwork can still be used, but workers prefer to use new boards instead of old ones, leading to significant waste. However, China State Construction Seventh Engineering Division has a very good management method; they let two buildings use plastic formwork simultaneously and compare the waste. If there is a significant difference, it indicates that one side is not being managed properly. This situation can directly help identify labor issues and determine how to address them. With comparison, workers will be more cautious during usage, as they will be concerned about excessive waste. Thus, using both buildings led to a cost saving of over 50%.
Many people often ask me how many times plastic formwork can be recycled. This is a difficult question to answer because the number of cycles directly depends on the construction team's usage. If used normally, it can certainly be used over 30 times, and even 50 times is possible, depending on how you use it. However, if it is mishandled and thrown around, I cannot guarantee that. Therefore, the premise for recycling 30 times is that it is used normally, not recklessly wasted.
Therefore, to save more than 50% of the budget, the first requirement is the product, and the second is management.
