Five China formwork makers to watch in 2026

Chinese manufacturers remain a major source of concrete formwork for global builders as reusable and lightweight systems gain demand. This roundup profiles five suppliers, led by Rizhao Fenghua Scaffoldings, and highlights why buyers are still turning to China for steel, aluminum, and timber-based solutions.

Why it matters: - Concrete formwork is a core input for residential, commercial, and infrastructure construction because it shapes and supports fresh concrete until it hardens. - China remains a major sourcing hub for global contractors seeking steel, aluminum, and timber formwork systems. - Buyers are increasingly focused on reusable and lightweight systems as aluminum formwork demand rises.

What happened: - The article profiles five China-based concrete formwork manufacturers for 2026, led by Rizhao Fenghua Scaffoldings Co., Ltd. (RFH). - RFH is based in Rizhao, Shandong Province, and was established in 1953. - The company operates an 80,000-square-meter facility, employs about 260 people, and has a 20-engineer R&D team. - RFH says it exports to 126 countries and regions, with key markets in Europe, the United States, Australia, and South America. - The four other companies named are Jiangsu Lianggong Construction Formwork Co., Ltd., Linyi Jingfang Engineering Materials Co., Ltd., Tianjin Zhiyi Metal Products Co., Ltd., and Langfang Dadi Wood Industry Co., Ltd.

The details: - The global concrete formwork market was valued at USD 8.9 billion in 2024, according to Verified Market Research. - Asia-Pacific held 54.7% of the market in 2025, based on data from Fortune Business Insights. - In 2024, steel formwork represented 44% of installed units worldwide, timber formwork accounted for 37%, and aluminum formwork made up 19%, according to Cognitive Market Research. - Intel Market Research projects aluminum formwork systems will reach USD 2.48 billion by 2032, growing at a 9.9% CAGR. - The same source says aluminum systems can support floor cycles as fast as 4 to 5 days in high-rise projects. - RFH’s product range includes concrete formwork, formwork systems, scaffolding systems, scaffolding couplers, and accessories. - RFH produces five scaffolding series: Ringlock, Cuplock, Kwikstage, HK, and Frame. - RFH also offers ten types of formwork, including aluminum alloy formwork, steel heavy-duty formwork, light-duty formwork, multi-formwork, column formwork, and adjustable shoring props. - RFH operates more than 10 production workshops covering cold bending, punching, welding, steel casting, electrostatic spraying, and forging. - RFH’s equipment includes four cold bending forming machines, twelve welding robots, six automatic welding assembly lines, one formwork profile forming assembly line, and five semi-automatic forging assembly lines. - RFH says the workshop is automated or semi-automated, and current sales exceed 1,200 containers. - RFH’s heavy-duty FW00A formwork is designed for wall, column, and corner use. - FW00A uses RFH Steel S420 and allows concrete pressure up to 80 kN/m². - FW00A panel heights range from 0.6 m to 3.3 m, and widths range from 0.3 m to 2.4 m. - FW00A uses 18 mm European birch plywood or plastic composite sheet for the back cover. - RFH’s light-duty FW00B formwork uses S420 steel, a 121x20x1.8 mm profile, and 15 mm film-faced birch plywood. - FW00B withstands up to 60 kN/m² of concrete pressure and can form walls, columns, corners, and shafts with standard panels. - FW00C is a concrete wall formwork that comes with PP board or birch plywood facing. - FW00C uses S420 steel with a 91.6x20x2 mm profile and hot-dip galvanized surface treatment. - FW00C standard sizes include 1,200 mm, 1,500 mm, 2,700 mm, and 3,000 mm heights, with widths from 300 mm to 900 mm. - FW00D is an aluminum concrete formwork system built from 6005-T6 aluminum alloy frames and 11 mm Baltic birch plywood panels bonded with phenol-formaldehyde resin. - RFH says FW00D is intended for residential, commercial, infrastructure, and high-rise projects, including airport piers and high-rise towers. - RFH says a 180x180 cm panel covers 3.24 m² and can be handled manually without a crane. - Assembly and stripping times for FW00D are estimated at 0.20 to 0.40 h/m². - Jiangsu Lianggong is positioned around construction formwork and is commonly associated with the steel formwork segment. - Linyi Jingfang operates in engineering materials and sits in the broader supply chain for formwork accessories and material inputs. - Tianjin Zhiyi’s metal-products scope commonly includes steel panels, clamps, tie rods, and related hardware used in formwork systems. - Langfang Dadi operates in the wood industry and is relevant to timber and plywood-based formwork. - China’s steel products exports, including structural components for formwork, reached 110.7 million tons in 2024, according to China Customs. - The combined scaffolding and formwork market was valued at USD 56.41 billion in 2024, based on Coherent Market Insights. - The top five global formwork manufacturers, including PERI and Doka, hold about 44% of global market share, according to Cognitive Market Research. - EN 12812 and ASTM C1074 are among the standards shaping technical acceptance for export projects.

Between the lines: - RFH stands out in this list because it publishes concrete pressure ratings, material grades, and panel dimensions, which makes supplier comparison easier for engineers and procurement teams. - The other four companies reflect different entry points into the supply chain, from formwork-focused production to hardware, materials, and timber inputs. - China’s export scale and manufacturing capacity help explain why overseas buyers keep sourcing formwork systems there, even as global leaders retain a large share of the market. - Buyers still need to verify catalogs, test reports, certificates, and material traceability before qualifying a supplier for international projects.

What's next: - Demand for reusable and lightweight formwork systems is expected to keep rising as aluminum formwork expands through 2032. - Chinese suppliers are likely to remain important in international procurement because they can offer complete systems, accessories, and export experience. - Contractors should expect procurement decisions to hinge on documentation quality, standards compliance, and compatibility with existing site equipment.

The bottom line: - China offers a wide range of concrete formwork sourcing options, and RFH is positioned as the most technically detailed supplier in this five-company roundup.