Sensors built by a company that recently relocated to Maple Ridge help measure the stability of large structures like the Golden Ears and Pitt River bridges and the Ruskin Dam that’s being currently refitted.

RST Instruments has set up shop in the Maple Meadows business park area in a former movie studio.

Maple Ridge Mayor Ernie Daykin said RST Instruments is a “perfect fit” for the community. The economic strategy of the District identified advanced manufacturing and technology jobs as an areas to focus on.

“[RST Instruments is] the type of business that we’re looking to build on in Maple Ridge,” Daykin said.

The sensors built by RST Instruments are put into concrete of civil engineering projects, like bridges and dams, to test and measure deformations or compression. The sensors give readings once or twice a day, and the information is fed into automated data loggers.

The sensors last the lifetime of the structure, said Pierre Choquet, vice-president of sales.

The sensors are sold worldwide and there are only about six other companies that make similar products to serve the international market.

When the company was looking to expand, they took into consideration that many of their employees lived in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.

“That was heavy in our decision,” Choquet said.

RST Instruments, which opened in the Maple Meadows business park in March, includes a large machine shop, an assembly line, an electronics lab, and research and development facilities.

It employs about 60 people with a day shift and smaller evening shift.