Doppelmayr is the world leader in ropeway engineering, safely transporting mountain enthusiasts since 1937. The Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group, headquartered in Wolfurt, Austria, has a US subsidiary based in Salt Lake City, Utah.
As the world leader in ropeway engineering, Doppelmayr specializes in the production and installation of surface lifts, chairlifts, gondolas, tramways, and funiculars, providing resorts safe and reliable mountain transportation. Our Salt Lake City facility is home to ropeway engineering, sales, service, and production of towers, fixed-grip drive platforms, and low voltage control systems for North American installations.
With a market share of 60%, the former cable car construction pioneers not only lead the industry in numbers, but the Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group is also considered a spearhead of innovation within the industry, introducing new, faster, and more comfortable lifts, as well as delivering cable car technology for adventure parks, suspension railways in Las Vegas, and transportation to attractions such as the Great Wall of China. In addition, it is establishing itself in the field of alternative urban transportation, especially in Asia and South America.
If you are unfamiliar with our equipment, take a ride at any one of Utah's 15 resorts!
A History of Innovation
When Konrad Doppelmayr took over his employer’s farrier business in Wolfurt, Austria, in 1893, he initially focused on manufacturing tools and repairing machines. After World War I, skiing turned into a sport for the masses and mountain slopes needed to be developed. Konrad Doppelmayr’s successor Emil was one of the first to discover the market niche. In 1937, he built Austria’s first ski lift in Zürs. After World War II, he quickly put out feelers in the international market, and in 1953, he delivered the company’s first lift to Canada. After merging with Swiss competitor Garaventa, the newly established group continues to thrive.
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With 60% market share and branches or representatives in 50 countries, Doppelmayr/Garaventa is at the forefront of the industry. Its solutions are also popular in the huge Chinese market - both in newly emerging winter sports areas and in summer tourism.
Pillars of Success
What are the pillars of Doppelmayr’s success? Developing mountain slopes for winter sports and tourism was a completely new - and economically risky - undertaking in the late 1930s. Together with former ski jumper and skiing pioneer, Sepp Bildstein, Emil Doppelmayr nevertheless ventured to build the first lift in Austria. Even today, Doppelmayr/Garaventa keeps a keen eye on new market potential. This includes, among other things, urban passenger transportation.
In 2019, the world’s largest urban cable car network was completed in La Paz, Bolivia, consisting of 10 lines and covering a total distance of more than 20 miles. The group has its eyes set in particular on the cities of Asia and South America with their underdeveloped traffic systems.
Ideally, high-quality cable car facilities can be in use for decades, and the amount of new winter sports areas is increasingly limited. That is why Doppelmayr/Garaventa encourages existing customers to make further investments and upgrades by regularly introducing innovations.
Cogwheel railways, chair lifts with heated seats and Ferris-wheel-like gondola feeders are designed to facilitate the ride and turn a gondola journey into an experience, spurring competition between the winter sports areas and thus also demand.
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The cable car industry is also subject to increasing digitalization. Doppelmayr/Garaventa meets the challenge with their “Smart Ropeway” concept, which aims to design the operation and maintenance of systems efficiently and safely. For instance, two autonomous cable cars have already been installed in France. But gondolas and funicular railways are also bound to become smarter.
A core area of ”Smart Ropeway” is focusing on the customer experience while onboard, turning the gondola into an infotainment center for passengers.
Especially in these times of increasing climate change, market alternatives to winter sports are gaining in importance. The main focus of Doppelmayr/Garaventa is on the future of the adventure tourism market, utilizing its technology perfected in the alpine area in various ways.
The Mandalay Bay Tram, for example, has been running in Las Vegas since 1999. The Hogwarts Express at the Universal Orlando Resort whisks visitors through the Harry Potter adventure world within four minutes using Doppelmayr/Garaventa cable car technology. The group is also involved in the expansion of Luton Airport in London. From 2021, an automated cable liner is to connect the international airport with central London in just about 30 minutes.
Examples of Doppelmayr Installations
Kancamagus 8 at Loon Mountain
NORTH AMERICA'S MOST TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED CHAIRLIFT Kancamagus 8, or Kanc 8, is an eight-seat D-Line Doppelmayr chair with ergonomically shaped heated seats and tinted bubble. Replacing the Kancamagus Express Quad, the Kanc 8 transports 3,500 skiers per hour to the top of some of Loon’s most popular terrain.
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Travel Speed 1,100 Feet Per Minute Adjustable Loading Carpet For Young Skiers and Riders Weather Blocking Tinted Bubble Introduced 2021/22 Winter Season
Lift Maintenance and other resort operations teams kicked off this spring by installing Doppelmayr’s Bike Clip carriers on the chairs of Kanc 8. To accommodate the carriers, bubbles have been removed and half of the 64 chairs have been placed on the storage line inside the bottom terminal. Each one of the 32 active chairs features four Bike Clip carriers.
As a part of Flight Path: 2030, Kancamagus 8 is a pivotal project. Introducing new technology and lifts elevates the ski experience and has propelled Loon into the future. The Kanc 8 is one of two resorts in America and the only one in the East to adapt this technology for biking, furthering our mission to excel in every season.
On Friday, December 10 we celebrated the grand opening of the Kancamagus 8 - the most technologically advanced chairlift in the East. This incredible lift has been two years in the making and it is an exciting time for Loon as it is the first major project of Flight Path: 2030.
Loon Mountain - Kancamagus 8 Chairlift Construction - Late August 2021
Jay Scambio rang the ceremonial Austrian cowbell presented by Doppelmayr signaling the official homecoming of the Kanc 8. The echoes of guests' own bells could be heard across the Governor Adams Lodge base area welcoming the Kanc 8 to the family.
“We needed to install a lift with technology and features that will remain cutting edge for years to come - and Kanc 8 is just that. Loon’s founder, Governor Sherman Adams, was a pioneer and innovator and that spirit is rooted in our efforts here at Kanc 8” - Jay Scambio, General Manager and President
Installation of the most technologically advanced chairlift in the East is complete.
A project of this magnitude has an immense level of detail and as you can see by the size of the parking structure, there is a lot of it. It’s big - but with a lot of purpose both inside and out.
The parking structure is designed to completely house Kanc 8’s technology and provide nightly storage for the 8-place chairs. The structure also requires room for grooming. Guests will be skiing and snowboarding directly inside to load the lift, so the space allows for a snowcat to push snow and lay down corduroy inside.
While inside, guests will notice how quiet the lift operates. Doppelmayr’s Direct Drive technology has eliminated the need for a gearbox making the lift more efficient and whisper quiet. Doppelmayr has also automated the process of removing the chairs for nightly storage. One lift operator can now load and off-load chairs with ease.
Exterior work is nearing completion, with the installation of the siding, roof, windows, and garage doors. “We’ve got the roof on, we’ve got the walls up, all the lights, all the power, everything's going on all at once here” - Brian Norton, Vice President of Operations. On the west side, a heated patio is being completed to open up the arrival experience at the Governor Adams Lodge base area, allowing guests a chance to take a break with a great view of the mountain...year-round.
Kanc 8 is built for all seasons and will be the home of downhill mountain biking starting in summer 2022. “Taking bikes to Kanc 8 is going to transform our biking. We are going to add more vertical feet to our bike park, you’re going to get a quicker ride and a totally unique experience while riding the lift utilizing Doppelmayr's Clip system, where you will actually load and unload your own bike” - Kevin Bell, vice president of marketing.
Since the arrival of the first shipment from Austria back in April, the new Kanc 8 chairs, spanning 15 feet and cloaked in tinted grey bubbles, have been patiently sitting awaiting installation. The day finally arrived last week, as crews carefully began to load each chair onto the parking rail. With all chairs in place, 62 in total, they're now ready and waiting inside the parking structure.
Major components of the first Doppelmayr D-Line lift in the East are now in place. The conical lift towers have been flown in, the top terminal is nearing completion and the parking structure’s steel has been raised. “This project is bigger and badder than all the other projects” comments Steve Mayhew, Dopplemayr’s project manager.
Driving towards Loon, the impressive steel beams of the Kanc 8 parking structure are visible from across the river. “It’s a work of art.” says Ken Mack, Loon’s special projects and snow surfaces manager. The eye-catching construction is drastically different from its predecessor and has a bigger purpose than aesthetics. The core functions of the custom open-air structure are to store the eight-place chairs as well as serve as a loading area for guests. In winter, the entrance will be snow covered and groomed nightly, providing guests a covered loading experience, keeping them out of the elements. Come summer, mountain bikers will load Kanc 8 in the same manner, minus the snow.
The concrete has cured and it’s time to set the new towers. Our friends from the north were back on Monday, June 21 to assist in the aerial placement of the new conical lift towers. Teams from Doppelmayr, Loon and HeliCarrier Helicopters all worked methodically over 2 days to set 10 of the 11.
Impacts of the pandemic presented early concerns centered around manufacturing and construction, but our team has continued fine tuning details and the anticipation is mounting. A major component of the Kancamagus 8 will be the parking structure - where guests will load the lift. Design for the parking structure is almost finalized, as well as the general contractor for its construction. Doppelmayr has nearly finished fabricating the lift components in Austria, and once completed, they will be shipped to Loon in storage containers. There will be A LOT of containers coming this way, 80 to be exact. Fun Fact: 80 x 40ft Long = 0.6 Miles - That’s over half a mile of containers.
Big Sky Resort's Investment in Lift Technology
Big Sky Resort has partnered with Doppelmayr to bring the best in lift technology to North America. Their series of D-Line ropeways combines elegant design, efficiency, and comfort for a seamless on-mountain experience. From the features of your ride, like ergonomic heated seats and spacious, weatherproof bubbles and cabins, to the direct drive that quietly and efficiently powers each lift behind the scenes with less downtime, these features come together to make our lifts reliable, comfortable, and fast-creating a better experience for you on the mountain.
Doppelmayr Direct Drive is installed on Ramcharger 8, Swift Current 6, Madison 8, and the Explorer Gondola. The Doppelmayr Direct Drive is a gearless drive concept, as opposed to a traditional gearbox. The direct drive reduces maintenance requirements, operates more efficiently, and is extremely quiet. The benefits of the direct drive mean more reliable lifts, cleaner operations, and a more comfortable ride.
Fatzer Performa-DT Haul Rope is installed on Madison 8 and the Explorer Gondola. Constructed with plastic threads between the rope strands, the Fatzer Performa-DT rope brings a new level of comfort to ropeways. The plastic helps dampen vibrations and smooths the rope's profile, allowing it to run seamlessly over the towers. This results in less wear and tear on the lift machinery and a more comfortable, quieter ride for guests.
The Explorer Gondola extends from Mountain Village to the Bowl, connecting to the lower terminal of the Lone Peak Tram, allowing for full pedestrian access from the base area to the summit of Lone Peak, and a mid-station terminal for improved access to beginner terrain. The Explorer Gondola is the fastest gondola in the world, traveling at 7.1 meters/second for a 9-minute ride time to the Bowl 10-person cabins with ergonomic heated seats, floor-to-ceiling windows, and exterior and interior ski and snowboard holders.
Madison 8, which replaced the Six Shooter lift, nearly doubled uphill capacity and reduced ride time by 30%. Enjoy the 8-minute ride on the world’s longest 8-place lift with heated seats, weatherproof Big Sky Blue Bubbles, and a whisper-quiet ride. Operates at 6 meters/second, the fastest chairlift speed in North America Ergonomic heated seats with individual headrests & footrests Weatherproof Big Sky Blue bubbles Auto-lowering and locking safety bars Fatzer Performa-DT haul rope reduces vibration for a smoother, more comfortable ride.
Installed 50 years after Big Sky Resort’s inaugural opening day in 1973, the new Lone Peak Tram is an engineering marvel that serves as a gateway to experience one of North America’s most spectacular summits on Lone Mountain. The new tram is a complete replacement of the original jig-back gondola built in 1995 and the first new tram to be built in North America since 2008.
Replacing the Swift Current high-speed quad, Swift Current 6 increases uphill capacity out of the Mountain Village base area by up to 50%. On the hill, the 90-degree unload faces skiers toward the Bowl on Jay Walk, creating a smoother skier flow. Operates at 6 meters/second, the fastest chairlift speed in North America Ergonomic heated seats with individual headrests & footrests Weatherproof Big Sky Blue bubbles Auto-locking safety bars.
As the first 8-place chair and first Doppelmayr Direct Drive installation in North America, Ramcharger 8 launched lift technology into a new era. Equipped with a weatherproof Big Sky Blue Bubble and ultra-wide ergonomic heated seats, guest comfort is optimized while the improved technology eases maintenance. Ergonomic heated seats with individual headrests & footrests Weatherproof Big Sky Blue bubbles Auto-locking safety bars.
| Lift | Features | Capacity | Vertical | Length | Ride Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lone Peak Tram | High Speed | 75 | 2,142 ft | 4,612 ft | 4 min |
| Explorer Gondola | High Speed, D-Line Technology, Heated seats | 10 | 1,499 ft | 8,236 ft | 9 min |
| Madison | High Speed, D-Line Technology, Heated seats, Big Sky Blue Bubbles | 8 | 1,846 ft | 8,631 ft | 8 min |
| Swift Current | High Speed, D-Line Technology, Heated seats, Big Sky Blue Bubbles | 6 | 1,647 ft | 8,555 ft | 7 min |
| Ramcharger | High Speed, D-Line Technology, Heated seats, Big Sky Blue Bubbles | 8 | 1,160 ft | 4,578 ft | 4.5 min |
Challenges and Setbacks
In December 2022 a cabin fell from the same gondola, a mishap later blamed on human error. This time Québec ordered three detachable quads and the gondola closed, effectively shuttering the resort. Inoperable lifts include a 1986 Doppelmayr quad, a 1987 Doppelmayr quad, a 2013 Doppelmayr quad and a 1989 Doppelmayr gondola.
In February 2021, the new Pucci chairlift which went into service in the 2020/2021 season at the Timberline Lodge ski area in Mount Hood, Oregon furnished by Doppelmayr USA[18][19] broke down due to an electronic failure[20] causing 42 people to become stranded.
Doppelmayr CTEC
Doppelmayr USA, Inc is an aerial lift manufacturer based in Salt Lake City, Utah,[1] and a subsidiary of the worldwide Doppelmayr Garaventa Group. The United States company was formed in 2002 after the merger of Garaventa of Goldau, Switzerland, and Doppelmayr of Wolfurt, Austria.[2] Between 2002 and 2010, the company was named Doppelmayr CTEC. CTEC's first lift produced as an independent manufacturer was at Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Pennsylvania, in 1978.
Leonard oversaw engineering at the company's Salt Lake City facility while manufacturing was performed in Sacramento, California, where Ballantyne worked.[4] CTEC slowly grew to become one of three major lift manufacturers in North America along with European-owned Doppelmayr USA and Poma of America. From 1990 onwards, CTEC used detachable grips built by the Swiss company Garaventa. In 1992, CTEC and Garaventa merged and the new company was named Garaventa CTEC. Prior to the merger, Garaventa had built only a few lifts in North America, including Aerial Trams at Snowbird, Utah, and Palisades Tahoe, California. The combined company utilized the designs and manufacturing facilities of CTEC since Garaventa never had much of a presence in North America besides supplying parts to CTEC.
Unlike its competitors, Doppelmayr used exclusively European designs in North America. In 1996, Doppelmayr's European holding company purchased the ropeway department of Von Roll, a Swiss manufacturer which had been making lifts in North America since the mid-1980s. Von Roll owned Hall Ski-Lift, an American company that produced more than 400 lifts from 1960 to 1985.
In 2002, Garaventa of Switzerland merged with Doppelmayr of Austria, forming the world's largest aerial lift manufacturer. Starting in 2003, Doppelmayr CTEC produced a new line of products that combined the best designs of Doppelmayr and CTEC. The Uni-GS detachable chairlift terminal design was specifically designed for the North American market and incorporated elements of Garaventa CTEC's Stealth line and Doppelmayr's Uni line. Many of CTEC's fixed-grip designs were kept.
In 2005, the company purchased Partek, a small chairlift manufacturer based in Pine Island, New York. Jan Leonard stepped down as president of the company in October 2007 to start a new company, Skytrac Lifts. In 2007 and 2008, Doppelmayr CTEC constructed two notable lifts at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia.
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