Earthquake technology good for New Zealand

Thursday, 21 October 2004

Earthquake technology good for New Zealand says IPENZ

The recent announcement of New Zealand’s earthquake-proofing technology to be used in China’s third largest city illustrates how the innovation of New Zealand engineers has made earthquake engineering a very effective niche export, says the Institution of Professional Engineers, New Zealand (IPENZ).

John Gardiner, IPENZ Deputy Chief Executive said the continuing success of Earthquake Engineering New Zealand highlights the fruits of many years engineering based research at Auckland and Canterbury universities and DSIR (now IRL), and in particular Bill Robinson, founder, chief engineer and chair of Robinson Seismic Limited, who developed the earthquake base-isolation technology.

“Bill Robinson was made an IPENZ distinguished Fellow in 2002, conferred on him for being a leading figure in New Zealand’s development of base isolation for buildings and other structures,” said John Gardiner.

“In a career spanning more than 30 years Dr Bill Robinson first invented the famed lead-rubber bearing in 1976. Many new techniques and devices have followed improving the rubber bearing and the lead rubber bearing seismic isolator systems,” he said.

ENDS

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