By Ayanna Kirton, Staff ReporterLOCAL BUILDING construction company, Hyland Structures has developed a unique concept for structural connectors with the creation of its 'Hubb Knuckle' system.
The system, made from rolled hollow sections or pieces of square hollow steel measuring approximately half an inch to 4 inches in length, can be used in the construction of varied structures from furniture, guard houses, gazebos, play ground facilities, to multi-storey buildings.
Hubb Knuckles are connectors for skeletal frames of structures which help to speed up the construction process and increase the durability and strength of a structure explains Hyland Structures production quality assurance director and inventor of the system, Merrick Seymour.
Overall, the object of the innovation "is to place in the hands of the non-technical person a pre-engineered, precision accessory that can be connected with the aid of a diagram to any off the shelf compatible item that will result in a professionally assembled project," says Mr. Seymour. Currently in negotiations with European and Australian structural engineering firms, Hyland Structures has garnered considerable global interest in the innovation.
LACK OF LOCAL ENTHUSIASM
But Mr. Seymour says in an ideal situation, the company would manufacture the systems locally. However, because of a lack of local enthusiasm and venture capital, Hyland has to first capitalise on overseas attention. "It is difficult to capture the interest of local entities because if something is made in Jamaica there are prejudices against it," observes Mr. Seymour. "We aren't very innovative and we often wait for foreigners to introduce something to the local market before we adopt a particular technology," he says. "Through overseas interest Hubb Knuckles might not be a bad thing as we will be able to employ advanced technology and the most modern production methods to produce the systems, Jamaica will be deprived of the economic benefits associated with producing the systems locally," says Mr. Seymour.
Some of these economic spin-offs include the creation of employment as well as the addition of a viable product to the country's waning list of high-demand exports particularly when traditional exports such as sugar and bananas face such heavy global competition, the production quality assurance director argues.
HUBB KNUCKLE SYSTEM
According to Mr. Seymour, his proposed use of the Hubb Knuckle system in construction particularly in residential roofing is very relevant now as several homeowners have lost their roofs as a result of Hurricane Ivan's 150 mph winds. "Builders need to move beyond the flimsy hurricane straps and rebuild with modern engineering techniques like our system," he says.
As Hyland Structures continues to market the Hub Knuckle system to the international building industry, Mr. Seymour says that the company will also look to local investors to help provide the resources required to build a prototype production facility which would help to facilitate the demonstration of several applications of the Hub Knuckle system for the local market. This facility will also enable Hyland increase its capacity to sell its products and services to the global building construction industry.
