ULMA’s ONADEK set to revolutionize Deck Formwork systems
ONADEK is made of high strength galvanized steel rectangular sections which make the system long-lasting with a low replacement rate. The lightweight modular system’s assembly and dis-assembly is systematic and intuitive, minimizing the possibility of error. Early striking of the main structure is made possible with the ONADEK drop-head system, allowing the equipment to be recovered after three to four days so that it can be used at the next level. “Less equipment needed, lower delivery and storage costs, lower labour costs, and less damage with lower maintenance costs, are factors that make ONADEK a leader in cost-effective slab formwork systems.
Formwork is a mould for concrete, which also has a static or a hydraulic climbing option like in building lift cores. “We use hydraulic climbing for the safety screen around perimeter of high-rise buildings” says Ray. As regards the demand for formwork and scaffolding after RERA came into force, and with developers under pressure to deliver projects on time, Ray informs that modern formwork systems like ONADEK are bound to deliver faster cycle periods and will be in demand from builders. “The credibility of any developer matters a lot these days, so they will try to complete their projects with quality, safety and within the time frame. Embracing technologies like modern system formwork for construction will help to achieve their goal”
We are getting enquiries from construction companies, developers, and builders, many of whom have been purchasing from us since the last eight years and also from new contractors and developers across all categories throughout the country.
“No doubt that the architecture and structural designs are becoming more complex, and customers are looking for more advanced, yet economical solutions. However, we still try to produce standard components and induce or increase their modularity, since the perimetral architecture of buildings in India is more complex than any other foreign countries. We can manage this with our standard products, though some customization maybe required for a particular project. We have done two projects like this in Mumbai where we have used around 80% of our standard components and done 20% customization. When we offer any solution to a customer, we make it applicable and fully compatible to the current and future project requirements with our ULMA formwork systems,” informs Ray.
At ULMA’s R&D center in Spain, the company makes continuous modifications and adjustments in its products to meet the specific construction techniques and methodologies adopted by various countries, or which are specific to them. “We always aim to develop more sustainable products to reduce carbon footprints as far as possible. We are keen to follow customer suggestions, and if they are applicable on a mass scale, we work on them to come up with more flexible solutions. We invest a lot in quality control and design formwork system for projects in India including all components as developed at Spain and used all over the world.
“Many infrastructure companies are inquiring about our technologically advanced formwork systems, for their projects - mostly about the shoring systems. In India, price has always been a challenge, but our focus is more on quality and safety of our system. We have also been renting out systems since the last three years, which help customers ease out their cash flow as they do not have to invest heavily in our products at one go,” he adds.
Expressing confidence in Budget 23-24, he says, “In the last four or five years, the impetus given to the infrastructure industry been tremendous, something which we have never seen in the last two and half decades. Earlier, infrastructure spending was never allowed the substantial quotient, so the project cost was very constricted. But now, apart from escrow account funding, incentives are being given for early completion and there are penalties for delayed completion. That is why customers are looking for technologically advanced systems that work faster and with more speed and safety for their construction activities.
He adds, “Safety is a huge concern; and there has to be mandated safety due diligence for jobs that require working at heights or which are quite challenging. Certified formwork system has in built safety features and we have been supplying those to a lot of projects in which safety is inbuilt into the cost, whether specifically determined by the customer or not...”
ULMA is actively marketing its solutions across all levels of customers, and is promoting its systems by highlighting their benefits. Users can minimize construction time, reduce labour costs, and use the systems cost-effectively. “The construction industry of India is highly inter-connected these days. Hence, we get a lot of requests through word-of-mouth references and business networking. If a customer is happy with our system and pricing, he will surely refer ULMA to others.”
Our teams are directly working across India as we don't have a dealer network. Our current focus is on Eastern and Northern regions which are still using more of the conventional formwork systems for all type of projects whereas the Southern and Western regions have already adopted modern system and technology to a fair extent.
NBM&CW April 2023
