The goal of every business is to grow. In construction, when working towards achieving this goal, it brings a range of different challenges. Over time as projects get even bigger and your timelines start to overlap, the demand on your equipment understandably increases. Your formwork stock that used to serve you well on smaller jobs no longer stretches far enough for you. This is when the inevitable appears, the need to expand your fleet. However, how you go about this expansion plays a crucial role to your bottom line and your capability to take on new work.

For most people ownership feels like security and this means contractors instinctively look to buy everything outright. No doubt there can be satisfaction in building up a yard full of equipment. But tying up the capital required to purchase large volumes of formwork must be a calculated decision chosen wisely. The storage and maintenance of panels for growing companies can eat into margins that their growth was supposed to improve.

There is a smart mix of owned and rental equipment that can be achieved. Rental services, such as Gael Form’s, enable you to scale up for specific projects without the long term stock commitment. You instantly have access to fully certified and inspected, premium formwork panels for the entire duration of your work. There is no burden of repair costs and your formwork is actually in use and not sitting idle between jobs. Renting formwork systems is also very applicable to construction teams trying to navigate fluctuating workloads or entering new markets, as the flexibility allows for this. However, when you do invest in owning your own formwork stock, compatibility should be at the top of your checklist. There are numerous examples of contractors ending up with multiple panels from multiple suppliers that do not fit together. Different dimensions, different fixing systems or accessories that only fit one brand, a one way ticket to logistical headaches. What does it result in? Wasted inventory and wasted money, two major issues no matter what size of an organisation you are but especially if you are scaling in size. Gael Form’s universally compatible formwork solves this when buying a system. Designed for integration with existing equipment from other major brands, allowing you to expand not just strategically but also with a sense of freedom.

It is also worth nothing as you grow your formwork fleet that thinking about the long term is equally as important. You must accept that over time your panels will take a beating after prolonged use, but rather than just writing off worn out systems, utilising refurbishment services that the likes of us here at Gael Form offer can be economically critical. After a thorough process that includes high-pressure cleaning, repairs to plywood and steel frames, and topped with fresh coatings, the working lifecycle of your fleet has been extended significantly. It is a no-brainer when you consider the cost of this service compared to purchasing new replacements.

Gael Form’s FrameLite, DMP and TPS formwork systems are engineered for this compatibility mentioned above, and therefore engineered for teams looking to scale up their fleet. Through our ISO 9001 certified facility, we can offer both sales and rentals of systems for your growing needs. With the right approach and the right supplier, growth becomes a series of smart decisions rather than expensive gambles. To learn more about how you can build up your fleet, get in touch: info@gaelform.com