Precast Concrete Technology

 

Conventionally, buildings are constructed by getting raw materials like cement, steel, stone aggregates, sand, bricks etc on project site and converting these into building components like footings, columns, beams, slabs, walls.  This is termed as Cast-in situ construction.

In Precast Concrete Construction Technology, all these building components, usually referred to as elements (slabs, beams, columns, walls, etc) are produced in a factory with reinforced concrete, then transported to project site and installed in their respective places, thus becoming part of the whole structure.

Thus in precast technology, concrete is cast in a reusable mould or "form", which is then cured in a controlled environment, transported to the construction site and lifted & installed into place.

By producing precast concrete in a controlled environment (typically referred to as a precast plant), primarily, the precast concrete is of much superior end-quality. Utilizing a Precast Concrete system offers many potential advantages over site casting of concrete. The production process for Precast Concrete is performed on ground level, which helps with safety throughout a project. There is a greater control of the quality of materials and workmanship in a precast plant rather than on a construction site. The curing of concrete is also done with more precision.

Historically speaking, this is not a new technology at all. This technology is in use in the rest of the world since 50 odd years, and conceptually, started by Romans and the Greeks since ancient times. Even in India, cases of using methodology analogous to precast technology is seen in old temples (hemadpanthi). (PFA Picture attached). So, it is not a "New technology" per say. It is new in India. A simple example is, the redevelopment of Europe after it was razed to ground level after the World War II, or the sudden boom of Dubai and the rest of the middle-east, from 2001 to 2009, etc could not have been possible if it was not for Precast Technology. Its "durability" is already proven all over the world, over the years. In fact we in India are fortunate to get a product which has proven its durability and efficiency.

It is like a fine tuned technology for ready adoption.

Precast Technology can be a boon for the residential builders, Industrial plants and commercial space developers as, all cast-in-situ, laborious methods can be replaced (are being replaced) by precast technology, which can be used to design all kinds of shapes and structures needed for construction.

In 2010, Er. Ajit Bhate dared to set up a one of its kind, sophisticated Precast Concrete production factory in Pune, an enterprise named Precast India Infrastructures Pvt. Ltd ( PIIPL ).  Liebherr, a leading company from Europe, manufacturing the highest quality, sturdy and durable heavy construction machinery like Batching Plants, Transit Mixers, Tower Cranes, Mobile Cranes, and other wide range of machines, gave Mr. Bhate, the confidence to dare into this venture, by allowing him to cast elements of their state-of-the-art production facility in Chaufula, with Precast Concrete Technology.

PIIPL has since then, transpired into being the Pioneer in Precast Technology for Buildings. Testimony to this, recently,  Precast India Infrastructures Pvt Ltd has completed RCC works (production and installation at site) for IT buildings having column spans 8 to 9 meters, having area of 3 lakh sft in 3 months, 6 lakh sft in 6 months and so on.  We at PIIPL have produced and installed around 15 lakh sft since inception of the plant and production commencement in 15 months for structures like IT parks, Industrial units, parking sheds, landscaping items, boundary walls, etc & are currently constructing multilevel car parks, research and development units, etc.

Apart from speed, a very high quality is delivered, a prime feature of the technology. The finishes received from precast concrete are far superior than on-site concreting. It’s a myth that Precast concrete technology can only be used for high-cost projects, as the ROI on implementing precast technology for construction projects is much higher, since we get our finished product (here, the building) in much faster time, thus, enabling builders and Industrialists to start their operations on the building, like renting/ leasing/ handing over/production at a much earlier period, thus starting their revenue cycles earlier. The cost to benefit ratio is less than one, which means that there is more benefit for the amount of cost incurred.

Also, labour shortage is going to be the main problem everyone will face. So whoever has the vision of perceiving this problem today, can make the most of what this technology has to offer, like for example, Panchshil. They are, at present extremely satisfied with speed and the end-quality output, and hence repeat orders happily. For any Industrialist/ developer, Quality and Speed are the essence to their successful growth and enhancement.

Precast concrete technology has a bright future and is the need of the hour in the city like Pune.

Er. Ajit Bhate, a graduate of COEPune. He alongwith Er. Jaideep Raje, also a graduate of COEPune, have been in the Contracting profession since 1992.

This enterprise is known to use modern methods to deliver quality construction

Er. Ajit Bhate, has set up a world class Precast concrete element production factory in Pune, an enterprise named M/s Precast India Infrastructures Pvt. Ltd in the year 2010. A one stop shop for Building Industry offering RCC Pre cast products. To their credit, they have completed a 6 lakh sft building construction ( 8 floors, 2 towers ), in a record time span of 6 months.