Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group

Last updated
Doppelmayr Holding SE
Company type Private
Founded1893;131 years ago (1893)
Headquarters Wolfurt, Vorarlberg, Austria
Key people
Thomas Pichler, Chief executive officer
Number of employees
>3335 [1]
Website www.doppelmayr.com

Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group is an international manufacturer of ropeways and people movers for ski areas, urban transport, amusement parks, and material handling systems. As of 2023, the group had produced over 15,400 installations in 96 countries. [2] Their annual revenue in 2022/2023 was 946 million euros. The Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group was formed in 2002 when Doppelmayr of Wolfurt, Austria merged with Garaventa AG of Switzerland to form the world's largest ropeway manufacturer. [3] [4]

Contents

History

Gaislachkogl II Bergstation 03.jpg
A Doppelmayr tricable gondola lift in Sölden, Austria
Doppelmayr Chondola Sunday River Maine 2009.JPG
A Doppelmayr CTEC combined lift at Sunday River, Maine, US
Cable Car Rosh Hanikra03.jpg
A Doppelmayr cable car at the Rosh HaNikra grottoes, Israel, claimed[ by whom? ] to be the steepest cable car in the world, with a 60° (173 percent) gradient [ citation needed ]
Garaventa Tram Snowbird, Utah.JPG
A Garaventa aerial tramway at Snowbird, Utah, US

Doppelmayr was founded in Wolfurt, Austria in 1893 (originally as Konrad Doppelmayr & Sohn), and started manufacturing ropeways in 1937. [5] Garaventa was founded in 1928. [5]

In 1967, Artur Doppelmayr  [ de ], grandson of the founder Konrad and son of Emil, who was a businessman, became managing director of the company. As alpine recreation rapidly expanded around the world during the last half of the 20th century, Artur led and established the Vorarlberg cable car company as the world leader. In 1996, Doppelmayr Holding AG acquired Von Roll Seilbahnen AG, a Swiss manufacturer of gondola lifts, chairlifts, and cable cars. In 2002, Doppelmayr acquired CWA, a Swiss maker of gondola and cable car cabins. The merger of Doppelmayr and Garaventa was announced in 2001 and completed in 2002. In 2016 they broke two world records in Vietnam: Called the Ha Long Queen Cable Car, the largest cable car cabins (produced by Swiss company CWA) travel on the tallest ropeway support of the world. [6] In 2017, produced by Garaventa and CWA, the steepest funicular railway came into effect in Stoos, Switzerland.

Divisions

Doppelmayr Garaventa Group operates subsidiaries in 50 countries manufacturing ropeways under the Doppelmayr and Garaventa brands. Seven of these are responsible for manufacturing parts, [7] namely Doppelmayr Seilbahnen GmbH (Austria), Garaventa AG (Switzerland), Doppelmayr Canada Ltd., Sanhe Doppelmayr Transport Systems Co., Ltd. (China), Doppelmayr France SAS, Doppelmayr Italia Srl, and Doppelmayr USA, Inc. [8]

The company's core ropeway products include cable cars, funiculars, gondola lifts, detachable chairlifts, fixed grip chairlifts, and surface lifts. The company developed the "3S" tricable gondola lift, having acquired the technology from Von Roll Seilbahnen, and built lifts including those located in Kitzbühel (Austria), Koblenz (Germany) and Whistler-Blackcomb (Canada).

Doppelmayr Cable Car

Doppelmayr Cable Car GmbH
Company type Corporation subsidiary
Industry Transportation
Founded1996
Headquarters,
Austria
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsAutomated People Mover systems
Parent Doppelmayr Garaventa Group
Website Doppelmayr Cable Car

Doppelmayr Cable Car GmbH [9] [10] manufactures automated people movers. Their main product is the rope-propelled Cable Liner system, used in airports, city centres, intermodal passenger transport connections, park and ride facilities, campuses, resorts, and amusement parks. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Doppelmayr Garaventa Group, [10] having been established by Doppelmayr in 1996. Up until 2019, the subsidiary was referred to as DCC Doppelmayr Cable Car.

The first installation was completed at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas in 1999. In 2003, after the world's first maglev transport system (opened in 1984 at Birmingham International Airport) fell into disrepair, DCC installed the "AirRail Link" to replace the maglev and temporary replacement bus-service that had been operating since 1995. [11] The company is contracted to operate some of the systems it builds. [12] A newer system is Luton DART, opened in March 2023.

The Aria Express in Las Vegas, US CityCenter Tram - 2010-03-06.jpg
The Aria Express in Las Vegas, US

Doppelmayr Transport Technology

Doppelmayr Transport Technology GmbH [9] develops and sells material-handling ropeway systems. Initially, these systems were similar to cable cars and chairlifts designed for people, but fitted with specially designed carriers. In the early 2000s, Doppelmayr developed a cable-driven material-handling ropeway called RopeCon. RopeCon is a conveyor system that can transport materials over long distances with little ground disturbance. Such installations can be found in Papua New Guinea, Jamaica, Sudan, Switzerland, and Austria.

CWA Constructions

CWA Constructions SA of Olten, Switzerland, was acquired by Doppelmayr in 2001. The subsidiary manufactures cabins, such as gondola and people mover cabins, for most Doppelmayr Garaventa Group installations as well as for systems built by other manufacturers.

Frey AG Stans

Frey AG Stans was founded in 1966 and was acquired by Doppelmayr Garaventa Group in April 2017. The subsidiary manufactures various electrical components and control systems for ropeways.

Gassner Stahlbau

Gassner Stahlbau GmbH is a subsidiary based in Bürs, Austria, that manufactures steel for pylons, chairs, and suspension, as well as various plastic parts. Gassner Stahlbau has manufactured parts for Doppelmayr since 1969, [13] and was later acquired by Doppelmayr.

Input Projektentwicklungs GmbH

The Input Projektentwicklungs GmbH division produces mountain systems and amusement rides, [9] such as the experimental Mountain Glider roller coaster in Walibi, Belgium. This project was plagued with problems and the ride was eventually removed. [14] [15]

Liftbyggarna

In December 2013, the company's Swedish division, Doppelmayr Scandinavia AB, acquired Swedish lift manufacturer Liftbyggarna AB, which has retained its own separate branding. The company was originally founded in 1952. [16]

LTW Intralogistics

LTW Intralogistics produces automated warehouse technology.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aerial tramway</span> Aerial lift in which the cars are permanently fixed to the cables

An aerial tramway, aerial tram, sky tram, aerial cablecar, aerial cableway, telepherique, or seilbahn is a type of aerial lift which uses one or two stationary ropes for support while a third moving rope provides propulsion. With this form of lift, the grip of an aerial tramway cabin is fixed onto the propulsion rope and cannot be decoupled from it during operations. In comparison to gondola lifts, aerial tramways generally provide lower line capacities and higher wait times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gondola lift</span> Aerial transport by cable

A gondola lift is a means of cable transport and type of aerial lift which is supported and propelled by cables from above. It consists of a loop of steel wire rope that is strung between two stations, sometimes over intermediate supporting towers. The cable is driven by a bullwheel in a terminal, which is typically connected to an engine or electric motor. It is often considered a continuous system since it features a haul rope which continuously moves and circulates around two terminal stations. In contrast, an aerial tramway operates solely with fixed grips and simply shuttles back and forth between two end terminals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chairlift</span> Type of aerial lift

An elevated passenger ropeway, or chairlift, is a type of aerial lift, which consists of a continuously circulating steel wire rope loop strung between two end terminals and usually over intermediate towers, carrying a series of chairs. They are the primary onhill transport at most ski areas, but are also found at amusement parks and various tourist attractions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Detachable chairlift</span> Type of high-speed chairlift

A detachable chairlift or high-speed chairlift is a type of passenger aerial lift, which, like a fixed-grip chairlift, consists of numerous chairs attached to a constantly moving wire rope that is strung between two terminals over intermediate towers. They are now commonplace at all but the smallest of ski resorts. Some are installed at tourist attractions as well as for urban transportation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Funitel</span> Type of aerial lift

A funitel is a type of cableway, generally used to transport skiers, although at least one is used to transport finished cars between different areas of a factory. It differs from a standard gondola lift through the use of two arms attached to two parallel overhead cables, providing more stability in high winds. The name funitel is a portmanteau of the French words funiculaire and telepherique.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aerial lift</span> Method of cable transport

An aerial lift, also known as a cable car or ropeway, is a means of cable transport in which cabins, cars, gondolas, or open chairs are hauled above the ground by means of one or more cables. Aerial lift systems are frequently employed in a mountainous territory where roads are relatively difficult to build and use, and have seen extensive use in mining. Aerial lift systems are relatively easy to move and have been used to cross rivers and ravines. In more recent times, the cost-effectiveness and flexibility of aerial lifts have seen an increase of gondola lift being integrated into urban public transport systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doppelmayr USA</span> Aerial lift manufacturer in Salt Lake City

Doppelmayr USA, Inc is an aerial lift manufacturer based in Salt Lake City, Utah, 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. Between 2002 and 2010, the company was named Doppelmayr CTEC. From 2011 the company has operated using the Doppelmayr brand name, in common with most other Doppelmayr Garaventa Group subsidiaries.

Poma, incorporated as Pomagalski S.A., and sometimes referred to as the Poma Group, is a French company which manufactures cable-driven lift systems, including fixed and detachable chairlifts, gondola lifts, funiculars, aerial tramways, people movers, and surface lifts. Poma has installed about 7800 devices for 750 customers worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tricable gondola lift</span> Cable car system introduced in 1991

The tricable gondola lift, also known as the 3S gondola lift, is a cable car system that was developed by the Swiss company Von Roll transport systems in Thun to unite the benefits of a gondola lift with those of a reversible cable car system. '3S' is an abbreviation of the German word dreiseil, meaning 'tricable'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snow King Mountain</span> Resort in Wyoming

Snow King Mountain is a summer and winter resort in the western United States, in Jackson, Wyoming. The mountain is Jackson's original 1936 ski hill, located on the southeast edge of the city, and was the first ski area in Wyoming. Locals sometimes refer to Snow King as "The Town Hill," and it offers skiing, hiking, an alpine slide, and many other attractions. The ski season runs from December to late March, and has a summer season that runs from June to October. Skiing is offered after the closure of lifts, until the snow is gone thanks to a boot pack trail on the west side of the resorts Runs. Hiking trails are offered all over the mountain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cable Liner</span> Cable-propelled automated people mover system

The Cable Liner is a range of automated people mover products designed by Doppelmayr Cable Car for use at airports, in city centers, intermodal passenger transport connections, park and ride facilities, campuses, resorts and amusement parks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peak 2 Peak Gondola</span> Doppelmayr ski lift connecting two ski resorts in British Columbia, Canada

The Peak 2 Peak Gondola is a tricable gondola lift at Whistler Blackcomb Resort in Whistler, British Columbia, linking Whistler Mountain's Roundhouse Lodge with Blackcomb Mountain's Rendezvous Lodge. It is the first lift to join the two side-by-side mountains. It held the world record for the longest free span between ropeway towers at 3.03 kilometres until 2017 when the Eibsee Cable Car exceeded it by 189 metres. It is still the highest point above the ground in a gondola at 436 metres, although a temporary aerial tramway in Switzerland used between 1979 and 1986 had larger span. The gondola was built by the Doppelmayr Garaventa Group in 2007 and 2008 at a cost of CDN$51 million. The Gondola is the first Doppelmayr "3S" tri-cable lift in North America; there are four similar but smaller lifts in Europe which were built in 1991, 1994, 2002, 2004 and 2010 in Switzerland, Austria, France and Germany. Whistler Blackcomb has touted the gondola as an iconic attraction and uses it to transport skiers in the winter months as well as sightseers year round.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hybrid lift</span> Type of ski lift

A hybrid lift is a type of ski lift that combines the elements of a chairlift and a gondola lift. First introduced by Poma, who refers to them as Telemix, they have since been built by most lift manufacturers who refer to them by a variety of names; Doppelmayr refers to them as a combined lift, Bartholet refers to them with the French name, téléporté mixte, while the more generic terms chondola and telecombi are common in North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">People Mover (Venice)</span> People mover in Venice

The People Mover in Venice is an automated elevated shuttle train, which connects the Piazzale Roma—the major transportation hub of the city—and the Tronchetto island with a car parking facility. The train also makes a stop at the Marittima station where the passenger terminal of the Port of Venice is located.

Leitner Ropeways is a business that manufactures and distributes products and equipment for ropeways, snow groomers, urban transportation systems, and wind energy in Italy and internationally. The company was founded in 1888 and was recognized in 2003 to be owned by the Leitner Group, later the HTI Group. The company also provides spare parts, repairs and testing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arosa Lenzerheide</span> Ski area in Switzerland

Arosa Lenzerheide is a ski area located in Arosa, Lenzerheide, Valbella, Parpan and Churwalden, Graubünden/Switzerland. It originated 2013/14 by connecting the existing ski areas of Arosa and Lenzerheide. With a total of 225 kilometers of ski slopes and 43 cable cars it is the largest contiguous ski area in Graubünden.

References

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