Technical & Safety
The Technical Services Team has 10 technicians and four administrative staff. There is always a minimum of two technicians on site. They work on a rotating shift pattern; there are also night regulators and four specialists in the following fields:
- hydraulics
- drive control systems
- capsule control systems
- capsule mechanism systems
Daily maintenance
On average, 350 hours a week are spent on routine maintenance and testing of the Eye, covering:- capsule doors
- heating, ventilation and dehumidification
- communication and audio-visual systems
- speed control
- battery charge
- drive motors
- gearbox and drive systems
Annual maintenance
Annual maintenance during January is carried out according to regulations governing the Eye - and is similar to an MOT.
Work includes:
- fitting new drive wheels
- checking electrical systems
- changing oils and grease in the main bearings
- changing filters in the air-conditioning
- checking the capsule drive system
- checking the capsule stability system
- weld inspections
In addition, the ticket office is refurbished and improvements to the landscape around the Eye are carried out.
