AZG Armenian Daily #129, 14/07/2005

Technologies

SEISMIC ‘PILLOWS’ TO MAKE BUILDINGS QUAKE-PROOF

The idea of seismic isolation of buildings came to Armenia due to
Prof. Mikael Melkumian who is largely promoting the new technology.
Thanks to his works since 1993, Armenia entered the list of leading
states in this sphere together with USA, Japan, New Zeeland, China and
Italy, even outweighing them in seismic isolation of standing
buildings (Armenian specialists gradually cut building foundations and
put in radio-metallic isolators with a diameter of 20-60 cm). In
Armenia, two buildings are already standing on such isolators. The
first seismic “pillows” came to Armenia from Malaysia and soon after
Armenia launched its production. The enormous experience in metal
working plus scientific achievements allow Armenia reviling with the
most developed countries. Radio-metallic “pillows” of Rubber Novelty
Company are incomparably cheaper than the overseas production
(Malaysia) and meanwhile are of the same quality. The company
constantly receives orders from abroad. Such states as Iran, Italy,
Turkey, Romania, Russia, Kyrgyzstan are interested in Armenian
production. This technology can also be successfully used in
protecting historic monuments, industrial objects, nuclear power
plants, chemical plants and other high-risk buildings.

By Marietta Makarian