South Africa
Formwork: An Overview

South Africa has
emerged as a major economic powerhouse in the African continent over the past
few decades with rapidly growing infrastructure and construction sector.
Formwork plays a vital role in construction projects across the nation.



Definition and Types of Formwork



Formwork refers to the process of creating molds or surfaces to hold wet
concrete in place until it hardens and gains strength to become structural in
nature. There are different types of formwork used in construction depending on
the project requirements - timber, steel, aluminium, plastic and other
synthetic materials.



Timber formwork has been traditionally uses South
Africa Formwork. However, steel and aluminium formwork systems are
gaining popularity due to their high reusability, strength and reduced construction
time. Steel forms offer durability to withstand multiple project usage while
aluminum forms are lightweight and require less labour. Synthetic formwork
systems provide waterproof properties which are suitable for marine and
hydraulic structures.



Growth of Infrastructure and Real Estate
Sector



South Africa has embarked on an ambitious plan to ramp up infrastructure
development across transportation, energy, water resources and social sectors
over the next decade. Mega projects such as road, rail and port expansion,
renewable energy plants, dams and townships are in full swing propelling growth
of the construction industry.



The rising middle class population along with commercial and residential real
estate boom in major cities like Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban has boosted
demand for all types of buildings. New malls, office spaces, housing units and
townships are continuously adding to the country’s landscape contributing to
sustained formwork requirements.



According to industry reports, over 50 billion rands will be invested by both
public and private sectors in construction of roads, bridges, power plants and
buildings by 2025. This emerging trend presents huge scope for formwork
manufacturers and service providers to tap into long term business
opportunities.

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