Cheal buys ISPS Consulting Engineers
Cheal has purchased ISPS Consulting Engineers – the firm founded in 1994 by the late Ian and Mary Smith.
The company is known for its structural and seismic strengthening expertise.
Ian and Mary Smith were killed in a car accident near Tokoroa last October.
Cheal director Phil Battersby said Ian Smith had been a prominent figure in the engineering industry over the last 40 years.
At 80 and 74 years of age, the Smiths had long worked past retirement age.
‘‘Their departure has left a big hole in the community and the wider New Zealand engineering industry,’’ Battersby said.
‘‘On a personal level, Ian and Mary were well known for their community work in the Taupo District and beyond.’’
The ISPS board of trustees decided to cease trading earlier in 2017. ISPS Wellington staff joined New Zealand Consulting Engineers Ltd on May 14.
Three engineers and one admin person from ISPS joined Cheal’s Taupo office on May 1.
Battersby said the addition of the ISPS staff to Cheal Taupo’s staff of 32 enhanced the organisation’s provision of services in the fields of residential, commercial and industrial structural design and seismic engineering.
‘‘We’re really proud to have these guys on board to offer a stronger structural component,’’ he said.
‘‘We’re well-placed to look at upgrades for buildings around the Central North Island.’’
With significant tightening of regulations for the design and construction of new buildings, the role of the structural engineer has become increasingly important in the design and build space.
‘‘The seismic issue is not to be underestimated,’’ Battersby said
‘‘It’s the same for residential, commercial and power stations. A lot of the old power stations need strengthening in all sorts of way. Working with Contact, Mercury, and Genesis Energy is a big part of what we do.’’
Cheal was established in Taupo by Laurie Cheal in 1940. The company now has offices in Napier, Rotorua, Hamilton, Ohakune and Taumarunui.
Cheal offers professional services in resource management planning, land and hydrographical surveying, civil, structural and geotechnical engineering.