Skip to content
‹ Back to IndustriesEngineering & Construction

Revolution in Construction: Gates and Sons Introduce the Game-Changing Lock Fast Column Clamp System

In the ever-evolving world of construction, challenges abound. Builders strive for precision, speed, and efficiency, yet are often hindered by outdated methods and time-consuming processes. Among these is the critical task of column forming – a process which, until now, has been fraught with difficulties. However, a groundbreaking solution has emerged from an unexpected…

This story was produced through MarketScale. See how Engineering & Construction teams put it to work with Partner & Channel Enablement.

·
Share

Free workspace

Turn your Engineering & Construction expertise into content.

Record interviews, organize footage, and write with AI on a free trial of the MarketScale platform for qualifying companies. No demo required, no credit card.

Try it Free

In the ever-evolving world of construction, challenges abound. Builders strive for precision, speed, and efficiency, yet are often hindered by outdated methods and time-consuming processes. Among these is the critical task of column forming – a process which, until now, has been fraught with difficulties. However, a groundbreaking solution has emerged from an unexpected source: Gates and Sons, an industry leader in construction equipment.

Don Valdez, the seasoned retail sales manager at Gates and Sons, has unveiled a solution that is revolutionizing the construction industry: the Lock Fast Column Clamp System. This signature column forming system is more than just an innovation; it’s a game-changer set to alleviate many of the challenges the industry has struggled with for years.

The traditional method of column forming is a labor-intensive process. It requires a team of workers and a plethora of tools to assemble, set up, and relocate forms. The time consumed in setting and reworking forms translates into substantial labor costs and delayed project timelines. Enter the Lock Fast Column Clamp System: an answer to these age-old problems.

The Lock Fast system has several standout attributes that distinguish it from its traditional counterparts. First, its assembly process is both straightforward and fast. It requires only two people and minimal equipment, a revolutionary step that reduces both labor costs and assembly time.

Secondly, the system incorporates a ‘cycling’ feature that enables rapid setting, stripping, and relocation of forms. As Valdez eloquently explains, “Gates’s custom design department can provide accurate form design and clamps spacing details for any job,” thus ensuring a seamless and efficient building process.

This ease of assembly doesn’t sacrifice quality. Indeed, the Lock Fast system guarantees a clean finish, reducing the need for reworking, grinding, and form cleanup, further trimming down unnecessary expenses.

The Lock Fast Column Clamp System also stands out with its range of unique accessories. Its squaring corners ensure forms remain perfectly square, preventing twisting, while its lightweight, reusable plastic chamfer creates a watertight seal and a clean, chamfered edge. The system’s adjustable form brace can remain attached during the cycling and flying of forms, saving valuable time and effort. For safety measures, a redesigned pickup loop allows for safe form lifting and the scaffold adapter provides a safe working platform.

Available in a variety of sizes to cater to diverse projects, the Gates column forms are designed for full liquid head using common forming materials. This system brings a level of flexibility and adaptability that is unprecedented in the sector.

In an industry where time is money, the Lock Fast Column Clamp System is poised to redefine column forming operations, making them quicker, safer, and more efficient. Construction projects that would have once taken days can now be completed in a fraction of the time, with reduced labor costs and a cleaner finish.

This game-changing innovation from Gates and Sons underscores the potential of embracing modern solutions to traditional construction challenges. With the Lock Fast Column Clamp System, Gates and Sons have ushered in a new era in the construction industry, delivering not just a product, but a complete, customer-focused solution that truly makes a difference.

Video TranscriptExpand ↓

My name is Don Valdez. I'm the retail sales manager for Gates and Sons. This presentation is involving our lock fast column clamp system. The lock fast column clamp system is our signature column forming system. Some of the attributes of the lock fast column clamp system are easy assembly with two people and minimal equipment, cycling, reduces labor costs with rapid setting, stripping, and relocation of forms, and finish, a clean finish that reduces reworking, grinding, and form cleanup. Lock fast column clamps offer fast column formed cycling, assembled forms have no loose hardware, easy, open and close operators, column clamps lock securely, and pickup loop provides safe form lifting. Gates's custom design department can provide accurate form design and clamps spacing details for any job. Standard clamps are available in sizes ranging from eight inch to twenty four inch, twelve inch to thirty six inch, and twenty four inch to forty eight inch. Gates column forms are designed for full liquid head using common forming materials, such as two by six, and two by four lumber, and three quarter inch plywood form face. Lock fast column forms are easy to assemble. Step one, assemble panels. They're quick to build and easy to modify with two people two saw horses and minimal equipment. Step two, form column. Individual form panels are assembled into the column shape with saw horses and squaring templates. Step three, attach the clamp, wrap and fasten clamps onto form shape using basic tools no lifting machinery required. Lock fast column clamp accessories, squaring corners. Keep forms perfectly square and prevent twisting. Plastic chamfer, lightweight, reusable plastic chamfer creates a watertight seal and a clean chamfered edge. The adjustable form brace, lightweight adjustable form brace can remain attached during cycling and flying of forms. Pickup loop, use our redesigned pickup loop with squaring corners for safe form lifting and for safety tie off locations, scaffold adapter provide a safe working platform by attaching a two foot scaffold bracket to the form. Thanks for watching this presentation, and remember that you can contact us for all of your column forming needs.

Your experts belong here

Every story in MarketScale Engineering & Construction starts with a company putting its project engineers, superintendents, and estimators on the record. Buyers are already reading this topic. The only question is whose experts they find.

Owners shortlist firms they already trust, and your field leaders become the reason your name is on that list.

Book DemoSee how it works15 minutes, straight to a calendar.
B2B Weekly

The week in Engineering & Construction, and sixteen other industries, every Monday.

Ten stories, one-line takes, five minutes. Free.

Engineering & Construction: are you visible to AI?

Before they reach out, Engineering & Construction buyers ask AI engines which vendors to trust. Explore how your experts, customers, and partners can become useful content for buyers and AI search.

Free Trial

You just read one Engineering & Construction expert. Your company is full of them.

This article was produced through MarketScale. The same platform turns your project engineers, superintendents, and estimators into the articles, video, and social content Engineering & Construction buyers are searching for. Start a free trial and see it with your own people. For qualifying companies, no credit card, no demo required.

NPS +73 · 1,000+ creators · 38+ countries

What your free trial includes

Hands-on access to the MarketScale platform
Media requests to your crowd, remote recording, AI writing tools
No demo required. No credit card.
For qualifying companies. Company confirmation required.

More Engineering & Construction Insights

Tilt-Up Concrete Association brings its certification exam to Guadalajara Nov. 19

Tilt-Up Concrete Association brings its certification exam to Guadalajara Nov. 19

The listed venue is Atmósfera Corporativa, Av. Pablo Neruda 2631, Col. Providencia, Guadalajara.

  • 01The architecture talk and the certification exam are 15 hours apart at the same address, letting firms align designers and credential-seekers in one two-day schedule.

Nov 10, 2026

Veolia to treat a 3-million-person wastewater load at Arauco's Brazil pulp mill

Veolia to treat a 3-million-person wastewater load at Arauco's Brazil pulp mill

Veolia will design and implement the industrial effluent treatment plant for Arauco's US$4.6 billion Sucuriú pulp mill in Inocência, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The plant will be capable of treating 10,600 cubic meters of wastewater per hour. Veolia says the organic load is equivalent to that of a municipality of 3 million inhabitants. It will use its biofilm activated sludge process, which aims to maximize treatment capacity within a compact footprint, ahead of the mill's expected late 2027 start of operations.

  • 01The plant will treat 10,600 cubic meters an hour at a 3.5 million-tonnes-a-year mill, with wording that suggests a reference design for next-generation builds.
  • 02Veolia’s design targets a compact footprint and includes belt presses to dewater sludge, making sludge handling part of the treatment system.

Nov 9, 2026

Case's N Series small dozers keep the same engines and rebuild the cab

Case's N Series small dozers keep the same engines and rebuild the cab

Case says its updated small dozers keep the same engine, with changes centered on cab controls, a new display and operator customization.

  • 01With the engine unchanged, the M-to-N story is cab controls, operator profiles and improved sightlines.
  • 02With the 650N now on electric-over-hydraulic blade control, Case says its entire dozer lineup uses EH blade control.

Nov 9, 2026

Explore More Engineering & Construction Insights

Read more expert perspectives from across Engineering & Construction.

Browse Engineering & Construction Hub

For B2B teams

Your experts could be publishing here

Stories like this one run on content MarketScale captures from real practitioners. See how your team's expertise becomes coverage in Engineering & Construction and beyond.

Book a Demo

Or call us. No forms required. We pick up. 214-945-2512