The safest formwork solutions for high-rise projects

With urban renewal high on the agenda and space increasingly scarce, there is no escaping high-rise buildings. But building them poses major challenges for property developers, contractors and engineers. Doka is the expert here, with over 150 years of knowledge and experience, at home and abroad, in all aspects of formwork for high-rise buildings.

"The safety and construction requirements of high-rise projects demand everything from engineering, equipment and construction methods. This trinity must always be optimized in consultation with the client," explains Hennie Roebroeks, Managing Director of Doka. "In order to carry out the formwork work quickly and safely, precise planning and thorough preparation are prerequisites. The desired construction method in combination with safety, cycle time, pour phasing, reinforcement and equipment are successively addressed in this phase. Doka has all the knowledge and expertise for this. When it comes to large and complex high-rise projects, in addition to our engineers we can also call on our Competence Centers at headquarters, which work for specific segments around the world. Thanks to many reference projects, we have a wealth of knowledge and experience, which form the basis during the initial design phase and in discussions with the customer."

Rotterdam's skyline gains an icon

One eye-catching and very unique project that started in July 2021 is high-rise project De Post in Rotterdam. "This involves the redevelopment of the former post office on Coolsingel," Roebroeks proudly explains. The national monument, vacant for many years, will be given a new purpose and transformed into a 5-star hotel. At the rear of the existing Post Office will be a 155-meter-high residential tower.

"We are going to realize The Post together with the developer and construction consortium and this will involve some very special techniques. These include automatic climbing systems, the SCP platform systems in combination with safety screens, floor systems and supports. Again, each project requires a specific approach and formwork system that must be adapted to the local situation." Complex about this project according to Roebroeks is the enclosed location. "We are building as it were on a postage stamp. That requires a meticulous logistical operation to get all the material to site safely and on time. The project is also located on one of Rotterdam's busiest roads. Since there is no space available for storage, we have to pre-assemble materials at our yard. Then all materials are delivered just-in-time."

During construction, account must be taken of the fact that construction will take place at different heights through four seasons. The concrete mixture has to be continuously adjusted accordingly, Roebroeks said. "Monitoring the compressive strength development of the concrete using Concremote is therefore an essential part of this project. Precisely because of this, the stripping can be done at exactly the right time and responsibly. All in all, this is a project that presents many challenges, but in which, at the same time, the strength of Doka is clearly evident."

This year Doka will again be at Munich's leading trade fair Bauma, where the company will be showcasing all its new formwork systems and technical innovations. Doka will also be presenting its new "scaffolding construction branch". Several impressive new scaffolding options will be on display at Bauma, along with novelties in the formwork portfolio and numerous innovations in digitalization and sustainability.

Future

In addition to the nitrogen issue, Doka was particularly troubled last year by the consequences of the war between Russia and Ukraine. The company had to contend with the limited availability of raw materials and materials and the associated price increases. "As a result, some projects suddenly no longer fit within the financial budget and have been put on-hold, for example, pending how the nitrogen discussion will develop," Roebroeks said.

When discussing Doka's vision for the future, Roebroeks has a clear dot on the horizon: "Doka's strategic intention for the future is to become a full service provider for the entire construction industry. Originally Doka is a supplier of formwork systems while its sister company Concrefy in Venlo (since 2016) focuses much more on concrete technology support, such as 3D concrete printing. Doka also acquires a majority stake in scaffolding company AT-PAC. With this, Doka is now the one-stop-shop for formwork, supports and scaffolding."