Robb Engineering

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Robb Engineering was a metals manufacturer that was located in Amherst, Nova Scotia Canada in the early 1900's.^[1] Originally started as a tinsmithy, the factory eventually expanded to the manufacture of Boilers, electric engines and small generator plants.^[2] Some evidence exists that attempts were also made by the company to design and manufacture early locomotive engines [1] as well as a small venture into shipwork.[2]

In 1964 the Robb Engineering Works subsidiary was merged into Dominion Bridge whom then amalgamated into Canada Car and Foundry whom promptly closed the Robb Engineering division.

Most notably Robb Engineering has been pointed to as the maker of faulty 'Open Web Steel Joists. In some cases there joists have failed catastrophically and allowed a roof collapse to occur.^[3] With the collapse of 3 joists in 3 separate buildings confirmed, an inspection of all governmental structures was conducted in eastern Canada surveying how many of Robb's joists were in use.^[4] Inspections costing into the millions of dollars, found that several thousand government buildings, in several provinces across eastern Canada, were involved.^[5] ^[6] An unknown number of private buildings could also be involved, however no statistical information was recorded reflecting this data.