Shuttering and formwork are the temporary moulds that hold wet concrete in shape while it cures. Whether you're a contractor casting hundreds of slabs or an individual building your first home — choosing the right material directly affects your concrete finish, cost and timeline.
1. MS Plates (Steel Shuttering)
Mild steel plates (IS 2062 grade) are the workhorse of Indian shuttering. They produce a smooth concrete finish, can be reused 80+ times and are available in standard or custom sizes.
- Best for: Columns, beams, retaining walls, slab edges
- Reuse cycles: 80–100+
- Available as: Rent & Buy from Tikkiwal — pan-India dispatch
2. Film-Faced Plywood
12mm phenolic film-faced plywood delivers a near mirror-finish on concrete. The WBP glue core resists moisture during curing — ideal for exposed concrete and home construction slabs.
- Best for: Slabs, exposed concrete walls, home construction
- Reuse cycles: 25–35 (with proper care)
- Tip: Always apply release agent before each pour
3. MS Channels / Chali (Waler System)
MS channels and chali are used as horizontal runners to distribute concrete pressure across shuttering panels. Essential for wall and column formwork above 3m height.
- Sizes: 100mm×50mm, 75mm×40mm; Chali in 6ft–10ft lengths
- Available as: Rent & Buy
4. Adjustable Steel Props (Prop Jacks)
Telescopic steel props (1.5m to 4m) with U-head and base provide primary vertical support for slab formwork. ISI-marked props carry 30 kN safe working load.
- Spacing: Typically 1.0–1.2m centres for 125mm slabs
- Safety: Never extend beyond 2/3 of thread — risk of buckling
- Available as: Rent & Buy
5. Cuplock Scaffolding as Slab Support
For heavy slabs and multi-span decks, Cuplock towers replace individual props — distributing load more uniformly and allowing greater height flexibility.
Which System Do I Need?
For a typical house slab: Prop Jacks + MS Plates or Plywood + Chali runners. For columns and walls: MS Plates + MS Channels. For large commercial slabs: Cuplock towers.
Not sure what you need? Call us on +91 98291 68830 — we'll calculate the exact material list for your project free of charge. Pan-India delivery in 72 hours.