Engineering
Plastic vs Steel Formwork: The Real Cost of a 70-Pour Cycle
Steel formwork has a lower unit price and a higher cost of ownership. We break down what actually drives cost per square metre of finished wall.
The purchase order is the cheapest part of the conversation. What determines whether formwork is affordable is the cost per square metre of finished wall — and that number is driven by weight, cycle time, release quality and repair.
Weight becomes labour
A plastic panel at 14 kg/m² can be placed by two workers. Steel panels of equivalent area typically need crane assistance, which converts directly into crane hours on every cycle.
Cycle time becomes schedule
Panels that strip cleanly and re-stack quickly shorten each cycle. Over a 70-pour campaign, a half-day saved per cycle is a measurable schedule gain.
Repair becomes residual value
Plastic panels are replaced individually. A damaged panel does not condemn the set, which is why the effective service life extends well beyond the first campaign.
Request a comparison sheet for your project and we will model the cost per square metre using your own cycle numbers.
