Tunnel Form Construction is undisputedly the quickest, most labour efficient and cost effective method of building on any single residential project of over 100 units. Yet the system is equally used by developers who build fewer units but repeat the project on other sites and also as formwork for the rental markets due to its durability with some sets still in operation over 20 years that have built thousand of units across many projects. 

A recognized modern method of construction and industrialized building system, Tunnel Form Construction has built millions of earthquake resistant, high quality homes, apartments, villas, schools, prisons, condominiums, hotels, student accommodations and even luxury 1000m2 villas worldwide from the 1950's through to today.  

This specialized construction method allows developers to construct villas, apartments, social accommodation, hotels and dormitories at an impossible to match rate of completion. This system is designed for your specific project requirements in conjunction with your architect to allow upto 500m2 of concrete wall and slab to be cast daily.  Low labor costs, much quicker completion times, earthquake safety, perfectly smooth concrete walls, thermal mass properties of concrete and ease of finishing for follower up trades are initial benefits. The formwork can be modified to new project layouts and long lifespans of 500 to 1000 reuses are additional benefits in terms of cost savings.

Dema Formworks manufacture 3 types of tunnel formwork system

• Dema Classic Tunnel Form System (DCTFS) 

the system has been in use for nearly 60 years and is still the preferred choice of most astute smaller developers due to its ease of use, lightness requiring a lower capacity crane, intrinsic strength and interchangeability from manufacturer to manufacturer. Systems is wheeled with a vertical adjusting and support prop for slab alignment that is checked and adjusted at each daily concrete casting. The kicker is 100mm and the plating on the formwork is 3mm, but 4mm can be specified as an option.

• Dema Classic Plus Tunnel Form System (DCTFS+) 

Unique to Dema Formworks and designed after extensive consultation and  workshops with end users, foremen,  tunnel formwork operatives, developers and contractors. The simple useability of the original DCTF system with only  a small increase in weight. The DCTF+ has the quick release and positioning diagonal prop for speedier adjustment and alignment, with alignment checks only required every 6-8 concrete castings. Still uses the wheel system for speed and assurity of placement and removal. The small increase in weight is due to the requirement of a third horizontal beam to stop torsion and flexion at the top of the vertical panels caused by the quick release diagonal prop and is a must in any such system. This system allows the formwork to be positioned and removed upto 1 hour quicker each day and with less manual labour required, therefore suiting projects with over 350m2 of floor plan to be concreted daily or projects with complicated or multiple tunnel pieces. The system is fully interchangeable with current classic systems manufactured by other developers and is ideal for smaller  projects or mass housing projects. System comes in a choice of 3mm or 4mm plating. The kicker is 100mm.

 

• Dema Advanced Tunnel Form System (DATFS)

designed for large scale international projects. This is a true advanced or 'railed' system. Advanced systems are designed with diagonal adjusting props for speed and a roller or rail system for placement and removal without leaving marks in the slab often cast two days earlier. Advanced systems are strong by design and heavy requiring higher crane capacities. Advanced systems are often specified for mass housing projects. Our advanced system has extrawide rollers to spread the load and provide stability with encased bearings and slab grips on the roller underside to secure positioning and to minimize risk of the formwork falling off the rail. The kicker is 120mm, the system is bespoke and not adaptable or interchangeable with other systems. Our advanced system comes with 4mm plating as standard but 3mm can be specified as required.