Modular Casting Table for an easy first step into Precast on the Philippines

Project information

Location:
Philippines

Customer product:
Solid Elements

Project description

RATEC has been established as a provider of formwork components for precast production in the Philippines for over 15 years, having provided mould solutions and magnetic shuttering systems for major construction players like DATEM Inc., Makati Development Corp (MDC CONQRETE Inc) and Megawide Corp.

The interests in precast concrete construction and related technologies are high and continue to grow. However, the realization is often challenged by framework conditions like infrastructure, the need for precast design know-how, and high investment cost in large-scale precast production plants.

To overcome those challenges, RATEC, together with RATEC Asia, has developed a solution that enables customers to start producing precast elements on-site making the first step into prefabrication, bypassing most of the limiting conditions.

The result of the development is a modular casting table system, consisting of several modular segments, each with a size of 2 x 4 meters. They can be assembled according to the required dimensions easily via bolts and nuts, simplified from the conventional way where welding and grinding of surface is required. The modular dimension increased the mobility and transportability of the tables from project to project, and even eases storage space during lull time while waiting for new projects to commence.

This casting solution has been supplied to two customers in the Philippines in 2019. Both have been in the construction business for years but have not produced precast concrete elements so far.  The aim for both was to become more independent of suppliers and making the decision to start producing their own precast concrete components at the project construction site. Producing at the construction site also reduces transportation and logistics costs and efforts, significantly making the solution a simple yet cost-effective one. The opportunity to have the same set of equipment to be installed in a permanent location in the future also interested them greatly.

The table was mainly developed to be able to offer an adequate basis to use the RATEC formwork solutions and to be able to supply all formwork/casting equipment from a single source. The modular table scores with the high quality of the steel surface. Our advanced production facilities, e.g. precision laser for steel cutting, and high-quality workmanship, ensured that the joining edges are nearly invisible. With this solution, the customer is able to equip themselves with high-“Made in Germany”-quality equipment with a much lower investment cost, bringing much higher value to their projects.

RATEC was able to provide a lean start-up solution to make the first step into the production of precast concrete elements through our one-stop comprehensive service by our experienced Asia Team. These include feasibility studies, planning and engineering support services to convert existing conventional building structures to precast, production and execution support and supplying of relevant equipment.

Although the development of shuttering tables is not the main business, it is an interesting additional option for those who wish to get a low-cost entry-level solution and everything from a single source.