Dr Bill Robinson
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4 June 2007
Dr Bill Robinson, founder and Chief Engineer of Robinson Seismic Limited, has been appointed as a Companion of The Queen's Service Order (QSO) in recognition of his services to engineering. The appointment was announced this morning in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.
In a career spanning more than 30 years Dr Robinson has developed many new
techniques and written more than 60 papers in the fields of Antarctic
studies (sea ice), ultrasonics (solid state physics), plasticity
(metallurgy) and damping devices (seismic isolation). In 1993 he was
a co-author of 'An Introduction to Seismic Isolation' by Skinner, Robinson
& McVerry, the first book in this new field of engineering.
Dr Robinson became involved with seismic isolation in 1970 when he
invented the lead extrusion energy absorber. The Lead Rubber
Bearing, the device he is most well known for, was invented in 1974.
The Lead Rubber Bearing is now the most widely accepted seismic
protection device around the world, and has been installed in more than
3000 buildings and bridges. More recently he has invented two
vibration dampers (PVD and RVD), a new seismic isolation system based on a
'friction ball' and of course RSL's newest product - the RoGlider.
In November 1990, Dr Robinson suffered a cerebral haemorrhage paralysing
his right side. After intensive physiotherapy and 4 1/2 months in
Hutt Hospital he was able to return to work as a engineer.
During his career he has been awarded more than ten awards and honours
including the 1999 NZ Royal Society Gold Medal for Technology (now called
The Rutherford Medal) and an honorary DSc from Victoria University of
Wellington.
Upon the occasion of this honour, Dr Robinson said "I am honoured to
receive this award, and recognise and appreciate the support I have had
from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research for 25 years
during which I made my major contributions to engineering and science.
Since 1995 I have been supported by the staff of Robinson Seismic
Limited and local and NZ engineers, particularly members of the NZ
Earthquake Engineering Business Cluster for which I am grateful.
Seismic isolation continues to have a great potential for protecting
structures, particularly hospitals, from earthquake damage, and I can look
back with satisfaction at the part I have played in this field."
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