The Hindu Business Line : Maytas, Nagarjuna Construction team up with German firm Paschal

Ms Barabara R. Vetter, sole owner of Paschal-Werk G. Maier GmbH, and Mr Udo Vetter, from Germany briefing reporters on their collaboration with Indian companies for setting up a modular shuttering system unit in Visakhapatnam on Monday.

Our Bureau

Visakhapatnam, March 24

Paschal-Werk G. Maier GmbH, a German company, Maytas, and Nagarjuna Construction Company Ltd together are setting up a formwork (modular shuttering systems) factory at a cost of Rs 100 crore at Bayyavaram village near Anakapalle in Visakhapatnam district.

After the foundation-stone laying ceremony on Monday, Mr Udo J. Vetter, head of the advisory board of Paschal, said at a press meet here that the factory would be ready by October-November, and initially, it would produce 5 lakh sq. ft of formwork per annum.

He said it would produce formwork systems for all vertical and horizontal concrete construction. Special applications such as climbing and single-sided formwork would also be produced.

Mr Vetter said this kind of formwork would help construction industry and the infrastructure sector in the country. It would make for quality construction work and “as India is now in the fast track better construction technologies are needed. We will provide that.”

New technology

Mr Sudheer Mareddi from Maytas Infra Ltd said a separate company, Paschal Formwork (India) Pvt Ltd, had been formed to set up the factory, with the German company holding 70 per cent stake and Maytas and NCCL 15 per cent apiece.

“This is a new, modern technology we are introducing. We are confident of its success, but first we are trying to familiarise the public and the builders with it. We have customised solutions for construction industry,” he said.

Training centres

Mr V. Radhakrishna of NCCL said there were plans to set up depots and training centres to train people in the use of Paschal technology and formwork. The factory in Vizag district would be supported by another one in Hyderabad, Paschal Technology (India) Pvt Ltd, to assist it in matters relating to technology, design, marketing and sales.

He said the technology would also offer a solution to the problem of corrosion faced in the coastal belt.

Though the material would not be totally corrosion-proof, it would have much greater corrosion resistance than the material ordinarily used in India. “This technology will give a great fillip to our construction industry and expedite our infrastructure-building,” he added.

Ms Barbara R. Vetter, sole owner of Paschal-Werk G. Maier GmbH, also spoke.