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Engineering - Earthquake Technology |
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Wellington is recognised as a world leader in earthquake protection technology. Bringing the country's expertise together assures that earthquake technology developed in Wellington is used around the world. The Earthquake Engineering Technology Business cluster is just one example of world-leading Wellington companies working together to compete globally to gain million-dollar contracts. The cluster - including Beca Group, Robinson Seismic Ltd, Dunning Thornton Consultants, and Holmes Consulting Group - receives ongoing support from Grow Wellington and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise in promoting their innovative solutions to the world. Robinson Seismic LtdRobinson Seismic Ltd have made several advances in earthquake technology. They specialise in developing, testing and manufacturing seismic protection and damping services. Their greatest invention is the lead-rubber bearing - a seismic protection motion-absorbing device. The bearing carries the weight of the structure, providing an elastic restoring force and the necessary damping. Invented in the 1970s, lead-rubber bearings now protect New Zealand's Parliament Buildings, Te Papa and the Old Bank Arcade. Internationally, the San Francisco City Hall and the University Hospital in Los Angeles are amongst hundreds of buildings and bridges throughout California and Japan that are protected by this Wellington invention. Robinson Seismic Ltd supplied 180 base isolation bearings and 120 sliding bearings to earthquake-proof a new 300-bed hospital in Bhuj, India, after the hospital was destroyed in the 2001 earthquake. The newly-constructed hospital has recently won the prestigious Excellence in Built Environment 2003 Award. Recent AdvancesVibration dampers - a more recent invention by Robinson Seismic Ltd - absorb small and medium-sized vibrations from earthquakes, wind and traffic. This makes the dampers suitable for tall and flexible structures such as bridges and buildings. Vibration dampers were first used on a cable-stayed bridge in South Korea. Together with other cluster companies, Robinson Seismic Ltd have recently supplied lead-rubber bearings for the upgrade of the Rankine Brown library building at Victoria University. They are also supplying sliding bearings and lead-rubber bearings for work on the upgrade to Wellington Hospital. Related LinksDepartment Details: |
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