Case Study: Aluminum Frame Formwork Cut Labor Costs by 13.5% on a University Apartment Project

01. The Challenge

A university apartment building project (Dongguan, China) required fast, high-quality construction across 20+ repetitive floors. Using traditional timber formwork, the team faced:

• Long floor cycles — timber required extensive on-site fabrication

• High labor costs — skilled carpenters needed for cutting and assembly

• Quality inconsistency — timber deformation led to uneven concrete surfaces

With 80 workers on-site simultaneously, they needed a system that could accelerate the schedule while reducing labor dependency .

02. The Solution: Aluminum Frame Formwork

The team switched to a 150 aluminum framework plywood system, combining aluminum frames with replaceable plywood faces .

Key advantages on site:

• Lighter than steel — faster handling, less crane dependency

• Pre-engineered panels — eliminated on-site cutting and fabrication

• Smooth concrete finish — achieved blank concrete façade standard, eliminating plastering 

03. Measured Results

Source: Construction log data, Dongguan University Apartment Project 

Outcome: Each floor completed in 7 days vs. 13 days with timber. The system delivered consistent quality across all repetitive floors with significant labor savings.

04. Why Aluminum Frame for Your High-Rise?

For multi-story residential and apartment projects:

• 30–40% lighter than solid aluminum — easier handling 

• Replaceable plywood face — frame lasts 150+ uses

• Blank concrete finish — no plastering required

Ready to cut labor costs on your next high-rise?

[Contact us for a free layout design and quote]