“Telecabina”: a moving experience at the world ... - Leitner Ropeways

2NewsOctober 2008One ropeway linking two resorts and two train stationsA connection between the two villages Aosta and Pila (IT)As of December, the two resortsof Aosta and Pila will be linked bya two-stage eight-passenger gondola.The installation will benefitvisitors and residents alike in providingconvenient access to thelocal beauty spots and ski areas.An unusual feature of the systemis the fact that it also links two differentrailway lines. The first stage,from Aosta to Les Fleurs, startsat Aosta railway station, while themid-station of the second stage,from Les Fleurs to Pila via PlanPraz, is located next to anotherstation on a different railway line.That makes it possible for day trippersto leave their cars at homeand explore the area around Aostausing public transport.The new ropeway is also specialin that it has a connecting stationbetween the two stages with synchronizerssupported on a steelstructure that automatically transferthe gondolas from one stageto the other. That permits passengersto travel from the lowerstation in Aosta to the terminalin Pila without having to changegondolas. The two stages canalso be operated independentlyof each other.The ropeway can handle 2400 personsan hour on both stages. Thegondolas are fitted with automaticdetachable grips and are transportedthrough the stations veryslowly (0.3 meters per second).That makes boarding and alightingeasy for skiers and pedestrians,including passengers withrestricted mobility. On the line, thegondolas reach a maximum speedof 6 meters per second.Technical featuresGD8 Aosta - Les FleursLower terminal574 mUpper terminal1,368 mVertical rise794 mInclined length3,355 mOperation speed6 m/sTotal number of vehicles 102Transport capacity2,400 p/hPower of the main drive 2x625 kWRope diameter54 mmGD8 Les Fleurs - Plan Praz - PilaLower terminal1,368 mMiddle terminal1,541 mUpper terminal1,800 mVertical rise431 mInclined length1,635 mOperation speed6 m/sTotal number of vehicles 63Transport capacity2,400 p/hPower of the main drive 2x410 kWRope diameter54 mmThe train station (on the left) is located near the middle station of the second sectionNew ropeway installation for S.I.F. Lusia di MoenaTwo-stage gondola built in the TrentinoCol Raiser GondolaJust three months to refurbishI n t h e I t a l i a n re g i o n o f t h eTre n t i n o , t w o n e w g o n d o l a sc o m b i n e d t o f o r m a s i n g l esystem with a line length ofover two and a half kilomet e r s n o w r u n f ro m R o n c h ito Le Cune at an altitude of2 , 2 0 0 m e t e r s . L E I T N E R w a sawarded the contract for thei n s t a l l a t i o n b y t h e ro p e w a yo p e r a t i n g c o m p a n y S . I . F.(Società Impianti Funiviari)in Lusia, which forms part ofthe municipality of Moena.B o t h ro p e w a y s o p e r a t e w i t h8-passenger gondolas suppl i e d b y S I G M A . T h e f i r s tstage of the new installati o n i s a r e p l a c e m e n t f o rthe only 12-passenger gondolaever built by Agudio in1 9 7 6 , w h i c h h a d a d e s i g nc a p a c i t y o f 1 , 8 0 0 p e r s o n sp e r h o u r, w h i l e t h e s e c o n ds t a g e re p l a c e s a re v e r s i b l ewith 30-passenger cabinsb u i l t b y H ö l z l i n 1 9 6 9 w i t ha c a p a c i t y o f 5 4 0 p e r s o n sper hour.With the two new gondola s , p a s s e n g e r s c a n b o a rdi n R o n c h i a n d r i d e u p t ot h e m i d - s t a t i o n a t Va l b o n ao r c o n t i n u e t o L e C u n e ,Tension and return system in the bottom station Ronchiw h i c h g i v e s a c c e s s t o t h et r a i l s l e a d i n g t o B e l l a m o n t e .There visitors have a choiceof three detachable chairli f t s b u i l t b y L E I T N E R f o rthe SIT company in Bellamonte.T h e n e w t w o - s t a g e g o n d o l ainstallation has a slightly h i g h e r d e s i g n c a p a c i t yt h a n t h e o l d s y s t e m , n a m e l y2 , 0 7 0 p e r s o n s p e r h o u r a tt h e b e g i n n i n g a n d a f i n a lc a p a c i t y o f 2 , 6 0 0 p e r s o n sp e r h o u r. I t c a n b e s e e n a san upgrade to this attractivetourist spot in the Trentinoin terms of modern technolog y, s a f e t y a n d t h e q u a l i t yo f t h e r i d e .The contract placed by the Coldereisercompany in St. Christina(IT) for a complete refurbishmentof the Col Raiser gondola built in1988 was an interesting challengein terms of engineering and logistics.For the engineers the maintask was to integrate the new lowerand upper terminal equipment inthe existing buildings and to designthe line so that most of the existingtowers could be retained. They alsotook advantage of the opportunityto improve the longitudinal profileof the line by replacing some ofthe hold-down sheave trains withcombination sheave assemblies.The result is a smoother ride. Thesolution selected for the primaryThe ropeway now operates with eight seater gondolasmover is again a vault drive in thelower terminal, with the tensioningsystem in the upper terminal. Thecompletely new parking facility alsoremains down in the valley. Theropeway now operates with eightseatergondolas with ski racks.The challenge in terms of logisticswas to complete the refurbishmentand install the new electricalsystems in just three months.LEITNER’s construction crewmoved in on April 7 th and handedthe new installation over to theoperating company punctually andjust in time for the start on July 5 th .Visitors and locals can now enjoya faster and more comfortable rideon the new gondola.

3Murtèl-Corvatsch aerial tramwayFirst LEITNER reversible for SwitzerlandWith its 3303 meters abovesea-level, Piz Corvatsch is nowthe highest mountain with ropewayaccess in the Engadin. Andthe ropeway is a milestone forLEITNER in that it is the first reversiblethe company has everbuilt in Switzerland.For the ski area, too, the replacementof the Murtèl-Corvatschaerial tramway representsthe dawning of a new era.The LEITNER reversible, whichwill open at the start of theupcoming winter season, hasa system capacity of 1200 personsper hour (compared with880 in the past), and it is inquite another league in terms oflooks, too. The new installationlinks the mid-station with themountain terminal on the sameline as the old system. Thatmeans the ecological footprintof the new reversible and alsothe construction costs couldbe kept to a minimum; makingit possible to retain 44% of thestructures of the old Stage II.The inclusion of a sliding platformfor the new installationsignificantly improves passengerflows. The first stage of thetramway, from Surlej to Murtèl,was fully refurbished in 1997.Following a detailed evaluationof the quotations submittedand intensive talks with thebidding companies, the ManagementBoard at the formerLuftseilbahn Surlej-Silvaplana-Corvatsch AG unanimously decidedto award the contract toLEITNER. One of the main reasonsfor that decision was theflexibility shown by LEITNERwith regard to implementationof the client’s special wishes.“We are highly satisfied with thecompany’s performance andthe quality of the work done todate, especially in view of themiserable weather conditionsthey have had to contend withat times,” says Board memberBruno P. Melnik.For the LEITNER engineers, theproject involves the challengeof integrating state-of-the-artropeway systems in existingstructures and finding a solutionto the resulting problem ofdifferences in gauge betweenthe stations and the towers.The line will have two towers,with the first tower designed asa 21-meter-high portal structure.Both the drive and thehaul rope tensioning systemare located in the mid-station.At a line speed of 10 metersper second, the ride to theupper terminal takes just fourminutes. From there, wintervisitors have access to 350kilometers of trails around PizCorvatsch in the Bernina mountains.For non-skiers, too, theride through a world of soaringpeaks, including some over4000 meters high, is a wonderfulexperience.Technical featuresLower terminalUpper terminalVertical riseInclined lengthTransport capacityOperation speedSpeed over the towersPower of the main driveTrack ropesHaul ropeTail ropeEvacuation ropesHeight, tower 1Height, tower 2Gauge at tower 1Gauge at tower 2Gauge in lower terminalGauge in upper terminal2,702 m3,298 m596 m1,672 m1,200 p/h10.0 m/smax. 7 m/s730 kW4 x 56 mm35 mm32 mm2 x 14.5 mm21 m24 m6.5 m11.0 m6.0 m7.0 m21-meter-tall portal towerThe big cabins can carry a hundred passengers eachAdditional planning requirements caused by geological problemsGondola with heated seats to KarlesjochWhen the snowmelt was overon the glacier in the KaunerValley and the LEITNER engineersstarted supervising theexcavation work for the upperterminal of the Karlesjochbahnthey met with an unpleasantsurprise: the rocky plateauchosen as the site of the newterminal was found to be heavilyfissured and too unstableto anchor the foundations forthe building.Further preliminary investigationsand alternative planningwere necessary, leading to therelocation of the station by 26meters. And even then, additionalpreliminary work wasrequired, including extensiveblasting to lower the bedrockby about seven meters andremoval of loose material fromabove the rock face. High retainingwalls with rockfall netsand retention basins also hadto be built to protect the terminalarea against the risk ofrockfall.The new upper terminal standsat an altitude of 3,107 metersabove sea-level on a panoramicsite at the intersection ofthe borders of three countries,A complex task: the foundations of the top stationwhich offers superb views ofthe Reschen Reservoir andthe Ortler massif in Italy aswell as the Bernina mountainrange in Switzerland. The bottomstation is located near theWeissee Glacier Restaurant atLEITNERan altitude of 2,752 meters.The gondola will be openedfor year-round operation atthe beginning of the upcomingwinter season. The five-minuteride gives skiers and boardersaccess to a range of trails forall ability levels (red, blue andblack), while summer visitorswill find the magnificent mountainscenery stunning.At a line speed of 6 metersa second, the gondola has adesign capacity of 2,160 personsper hour. Next to thelower terminal there is a fullyautomatic parking shed witha loop rail and an integratedmaintenance point.Technical featuresLower terminal2,752 mUpper terminal3,107 mDrive and tension systems OverheadReturn terminalUpper terminalVertical rise355 mInclined length1,617 mOperation speed6.0 m/sTransport capacity2,160 p/hTotal number of vehicles 49Rope diameter46 mmPower of the main drive 396 kW

4Schladming is placing a growing emphasis on familiesFirst telemix with heated seats in StyriaSchladming – a ski area with anold-established reputation: TheNight Race – the men’s World Cupslalom held on an illuminated trail– is one of the classics on thealpine ski racing calendar. Lastyear it attracted no fewer than45,000 spectators. The mood inSchladming is also jubilant followingthe decision to award the2013 Ski World Championshipsto the Styrian resort. As in 1982,that will make Schladming the internationalfocus of skiing for twowhole weeks.Apart from its commitment toelite skiing, Schladming is currentlyupgrading its offering forfamilies. That includes the openingof a new telemix – the first ofits type to be built in the Austrianregion of Styria – at the beginningof the upcoming winter season.The chondola, which will be calledSunjet Hochwurzen, offers a highlycomfortable lift experience forone and all and makes a valuablecontribution to Schladming’s developmentas a family-friendly skiarea.The carrier sequence on the newchondola is three six-seater canopychairs followed by an eightpassengergondola – a solutionthat does justice to the differentSchladming will host the World Ski Championships in 2013needs of visitors big and small.The chairs represent the fast trackto skiing pleasures for advancedskiers, while the eight-seater gondolasare the ideal place for childrenand toboganners to enjoy the6-minute ride. The new installationhas a system capacity of 2,315persons per hour.The new chondola offers a modernstandard of comfort, includingheated seats with luxury padding.At the upper terminal thereis automatic carrier parking for51 chairs, 17 gondolas and themaintenance car.Technical featuresLower terminalUpper terminalDriveTensioningVertical riseInclined length1,044 m1,452 mOverhead driveHydraulic408 m1,444 mOperation speed 5.0 m/sTransport capacity 2,315 p/hPower of the main drive 455 kWTotal number of chairs 51Total number of cabins 17Rope diameter46 mmLeitner Poma of AmericaSales defy US finance crisisLast winter, snow conditionswere excellent in most partsof America, and there was averitable boom in skiing. Sixtymillion skier visits was a newrecord for the United States,and Canada also had a ver ygood season. That is doubtlessone of the main reasonswhy sales at Leitner Poma ofAmerica (L-POA) in 2008 areon a par with the previousyear’s figures in spite of theimpacts of the US finance crisisin the last few months.This year, L-POA is installinga number of detachable4-seater chairlif ts in America,including one in Aspen/Snowma s s, w h e re the s k i a re aupgrade continues to makegood progress, one in Killington,Vermont, where PowderCorp. is a new customer,and one for another new customer,namely Snoqualmie inWashington. Winter Park isgetting a new ropeway with8-passenger open Cabrioletvehicles, and the first stageof a n 8 -seate r gondola isbeing built in Revelstoke inCanada, which is now movingahead with the second phaseof development.L-POA’s big export customerthis year is in New Zealand.Production of a second detachable4-seater chairlift –the Captains Express – for theCardrona Ski Area kept theproduction people at GrandJunction, Colorado, on theirThe 4-seater detachable chairlift in Cardrona New Zealandtoes during the winter monthsalready. The new detachablequad is a replacement for af i xe d-grip installation, a ndCardrona has also doubledthe size of the restaurant atthe foot of the gondola. L-POA completed the project injust six months, including thesix to eight weeks requiredfor shipping. T hat is someachievement!

5Bukovel and Elbrus: markets with a big future in the EastPRINOTH occupying a top position in Eastern EuropeIn Eastern Europe, PRINOTH isnow occupying a top positionwith excellent prospects. Thatapplies to the company’s saleson those booming markets, butit can also be taken literally withregard to the mountain heightsthat PRINOTH’s oversnow vehicleshave now reached. In particular,the Everest Power hasconquered Mount Elbrus in Russia,whose 5,642 meters make itthe highest mountain in Europe.That gives the all-round groomerplenty of scope to show off itspower and hill-climbing ability– whether grooming the trailsin a ski area located at 3,550meters above sea-level or transportingmountaineers across theglaciers at an impressive 4,400meters above sea-level, andworking in difficult conditions ineither case in snow that is oftenvery wet and heavy. In addition tolifts, snow vehicles are anotherquality product from LEITNERTECHNOLOGIES that enjoy thepersonal esteem of the PrimeMinister of the Caucasian republicof Kabardino-Balkaria.The Ukraine, too, is very much ona capital spending spree, as theyoung ski area in Bukovel clearlyshows. Until 2004 the area consistedof endless forests andisolated farmhouses. Now the54 kilometers of trails built sincethen are being increased to 120,commercial accommodation for2,000 visitors is being expandedto a new total of 30,000, andeight more ropeways are beingadded to the fourteen alreadyin place. No doubt about it: Bukovelis increasingly developinginto the number-one ski area inEastern Europe. The ultimategoals of the Ukrainian investorsfor this prestigious winter resortare truly fantastic: 400 kilometersof trails, 54 ropeways, andaccommodation for 100,000visitors by 2015. According tothe experts in Bukovel, moneyis no object: “Only the very bestwill do.” Apart from ropewaysfrom LEITNER, the best includessnowcats from PRINOTH. Elevengroomers from the PRINOTHstable have just arrived in Bukovel,with more to follow.Grooming and person transport at 4,400 meters above sea-level with the EverestAlternative uses for oversnow vehiclesPRINOTH Husky on exotic pathsW h e n t h e t a l k t u r n s t oG r e e c e , w h o w o u l d t h i n ko f s n o w c a t s ? A n d y e t i n2008 alone, eleven Huskywere shipped to the classics u m m e r h o l i d a y d e s t i n a t i o nt o j o i n t h e f i v e t h a t h a da l r e a d y b e e n d e l i v e r e d t h eyear before. The fact is thatP R I N O T H i s n o t j u s t o n e o fthe world market leaders int h e f i e l d o f s n o w g r o o m i n gb u t i s a l s o u p f r o n t w h e nit comes to alternative applicationsfor oversnow vehicles.T h e a l t e r n a t i v e H u s k y f o rG re e c e w e re o rd e re d b y t h ePublic Power CorporationSA, or PPC for short, whichis the Greek national utilityand as such responsiblefor the country’s powers u p p l i e s . I n a c u s t o m i z e dv e r s i o n w i t h a s i x - s e a t e rp a s s e n g e r c a b i n , t h e H u s k yare used to transport goodsHusky garantee the power supply in Greeceand passengers in the Greekm o u n t a i n s a n d a r e p l a y i n ga k e y r o l e i n m a i n t e n a n c efor the national grid. Fitte d w i t h a l l - y e a r t r a c k st h a t a r e e q u a l l y e f f e c t i v eo n t e r r a i n w i t h d e e p s n o wa n d b a r e g r o u n d a f t e r t h esnowmelt, the Husky hasthe hill-climbing capabilit y t o s h o w t h e w a y w h e r eJ e e p s a n d o t h e r 4 - w h e e ldrive vehicles have to giveup.T h e r e a r e a f e w s k i t r a i l sin northern Greece, but thescope for deploying conventionalsnowcats in thel a n d o f a t h o u s a n d i s l a n d sis nevertheless very limited.W i t h i n t e l l i g e n t s o l u t i o n sfor customization, however,PRINOTH has succeeded ino p e n i n g t h e d o o r t o t h i sexotic market, too. Salesof further machines are expectedto follow.

6NewsOctober 2008Trail groomingPRINOTH - for perfect pistes…To guarantee maximum funfor skiers, the pistes mustperfectly be prepared. Befo r e t h e s t a r t o f t h e n e ws e a s o n , t h e t a s k o f t h esnow grooming crew ist o c r e a t e a f i r m b a s e o fcompact snow. That givess k i e r s a n d b o a r d e r s t h ep o s i t i v e f e e l i n g o f s n o ww i t h a g o o d g r i p . W h a t i st o b e a v o i d e d i s a h a r dlayer of surface snow sitti n g o n a p o w d e r b a s e .I n s u c h a c a s e t h e b a s el a y e r d o e s n o t b o n d a n d i stransformed into an unstablecoarse-grained mass,w h i l e t h e h a r d t o p l a y e rwill offer little grip and bep r o n e t o i c i n g . A l s o , i f t h ew e a t h e r t u r n s w a r m , t h es n o w c o v e r w i l l q u i c k l yfail. Skiing becomes strenuousand even dangerous.To e n s u r e a h o m o g e n e o u sfull-depth layer of compactsnow, the snow covershould be repeatedlyt i l l e d i n t h e p r e - s e a s o nperiod so that the top andbottom layers are effectivelymixed. The resultinga l t e r n a t i o n o f f r e e z e a n dfracture creates a compa c t b l a n k e t o f s n o w t h a tgives skiers and boarder s t h e k i n d o f g r i p t h e yn e e d . P R I N O T H g r o o m e r sg u a r a n t e e o p t i m u m p i s t eq u a l i t i e s t h a n k s t o t h e i rp u s h i n g f o r c e s a n d t h e i rh i g h e a s e o f o p e r a t i o n .T h i s a n d s i m i l a r t o p i c sw i l l b e d e a l t w i t h i n t h en e x t n u m b e r o f “ P R I N O T HWorld”, the new magazineof Prinoth a n d o nwww.prinoth.com.Drivers Club event in MonzaPRINOTH drivers in Formula 1 feverHappy Birthday! The PRINOTHDrivers Club celebrated itsfifth anniversary with lots ofemotion and plenty of speedon a visit to Monza, the Italiancapital of Formula 1 car racing.On Saturday 13 September,100 drivers and a supportcrew departed by coach fromthe PRINOTH plant in Sterzingand headed first of all forLake Como in Lombardy. Afterlunch, a boat trip provideda fine opportunity to warmup for the karaoke contestin Morbegno in the evening,which saw the participantscelebrating in style a clubthat now is well establishedin Germany, Austria, Switzerland,Italy and France.The next day the party arrivedat Monza’s Royal Park,where the aficionados feel atremor of excitement at themere mention of the famousbends like the Parabolica,Lesmo or Variante Ascari. TheGP2 Race and the PorscheMobile 1 Supercup offereda pretaste of the racing excitementthat was to follow.After the Formula 1 Drivers’Parade, the big race startedat 2 p.m. The reactions ofthe PRINOTH drivers rangedfrom “Almost beyond belief”and “It never looks so fast onTV!”, "I never thought it wouldbe so loud". With an averagespeed of 250 km/h, Monza’sAutodromo Nazionale is theworld’s fastest Formula 1 racetrack, with a 5.793 kilometercourse that above all takes itout of the brakes.Sebastian Vettel was the winnerand with his 21 years hebecame the youngest driverin history to win a Formula 1Gran Prix.Towards 11 at night, the party– still deeply impressed– arrived back in Sterzing.The 5th anniversary of thePRINOTH Drivers Club andthe 2008 Formula 1 race inMonza both met with thesame response from the clubmembers: “Many happy returns!”

7Another impressive component in the modular programThe LEITNER 3S carriageA new and exciting highlightin the ropeway progr a m i s t h e L E I T N E R 3 Ssystem, which is making itsd e b u t o n t h e R i t t n e r B a h ni n B o l z a n o ( I T ) . T h e 3 S i s as y n t h e s i s o f t h e t r a d i t i o n a lbicable circulating ropewayand the familiar twin-trackro p e e m p l o y e d o n j i g b a c k s ,w h i c h o f f e r s a d v a n t a g e s i nterms of intermediate supportfor the haul rope.The new carriage that is atthe heart of the LEITNER3 S s y s t e m w a s u n v e i l e d o nApril 15 th 2 0 0 8 . I t h a s anumber of features that differsubstantially from conventionaldesigns.As in the case of LEITNER’sbicable systems, the twowheelrocker arms are rigid l y s u p p o r t e d a r o u n d t h evertical axis. This ensuressmooth running along thet r a c k r o p e s a n d a v o i d s t h en e e d f o r t r a c k ro d s o r o t h e ra u x i l i a r y e q u i p m e n t .T h e c a r r i a g e s t r a v e l t h ro u g ht h e t e r m i n a l s o n d e d i c a t e dstation rollers designed tohandle very tight radii. Theya re a l s o a b i g a d v a n t a g e f o rcarrier parking as they permi t t r a v e l t h r o u g h c u r v e so f d i f f e r e n t r a d i i i n e i t h e rd i r e c t i o n . I n a d d i t i o n , t h eu s e o f s t a t i o n ro l l e r s m e a n sthere is no need to sacrificetracking performance andq u i e t r u n n i n g o n t h e l i n et o t h e c o n s t r a i n t s o f t h eterminal geometry.W i t h t h e n e w c a r r i a g e , t h eh a u l r o p e i s f e d i n f r o mt h e s i d e a n d p o s i t i o n e d i nt h e g r i p s f r o m a b o v e . T h i ss o l u t i o n w a s s e l e c t e d t or e d u c e t h e h e i g h t o f t h et e r m i n a l s t r u c t u r e a n d s t i l le n s u r e r e l i a b l e c l a m p i n go f t h e g r i p s o n t h e h a u lrope.The two grips on the carri a g e a r e f i t t e d w i t h t w omain springs each, a principlebased on considerationsof reliability that hasb e e n a p r o v e n f e a t u r e o fm o n o c a b l e s y s t e m s f o rd e c a d e s n o w. T h i s f e a t u r emakes a major contributi o n t o t h e e x t r e m e l y h i g hs t a n d a rd o f s a f e t y a v a i l a b l ewith this type of installation.The carriage wheels themselvesare another innova t i v e a s p e c t o f t h e n e wc a r r i a g e . T h e y h a v e o n erigid flange, for example,while the other flange alsos e r v e s a s a s p r i n g f o r w h e e lliner retention. The sidesa r e a l s o f i t t e d w i t h c o v e rplates, which prevent thewheels from icing up anda t t h e s a m e t i m e s e r v e a sa n a d d i t i o n a l s a f e t y i t e m i nt h e c a s e o f a b r o k e n w h e e lf l a n g e a s t h e y e n s u re t h a t aSoon the carriage will go into action at the Rittner Bahnf r a c t u r e d w h e e l r e m a i n s i nposition on the rope.To further improve stabilit y o n t h e l i n e a n d e n s u r euniform distribution of thel o a d o n t h e t w o t r a c k ro p e s ,Modular construction of the carriage for three cable systemsthe main axle on the hangera r m i s l o c a t e d w e l l b e l o wthe plane of the ropes.T h e v a r i o u s a d v a n t a g e s o fthe new design have beeni m p l e m e n t e d i n a s o l u t i o nt h a t i s r e m a r k a b l e f o r i t ssimplicity. This is reflectedin the fact that the new carri a g e c o m p r i s e s n o m o r ethan 64 main components.That simplifies the inspec-Roller beam support moduletion process and maintena n c e . A n o t h e r r e s u l t o fthe intelligent simplicity ofthe modular design is a reductionin the weight of thec a r r i a g e t o 1 2 0 0 k g .Grip module

8First wind power plant in sold northern ItalyPioneer role for the LTW77 in Badia CalavenaMid-June the installation ofthe wind power plant LTW77IEC IIA on Monte Pecora,north of Verona, was completed.This is the first MWw i n d p o w e r p l a n t s o l d i nthe North of Italy and thefirst turbine to be sold byLEITWIND in Italy. The windturbine is located in the vicinityof Badia Calavena, inthe northern Italian RegionVeneto, and the local authoritythere is now running theinstallation.Even though the wind in theregion around Badia Calavenais relatively weak, windspeed measurements showthat an annual generation of2.3 million kWh is realistic.That is half the municipality’stotal energy requirement.The decision in favour of theinstallation of a wind turbinewas made by the local authorityand enhanced by otherinitiatives associated withthe highly topical subject ofrenewable energy. The citizensof Badia Calavena andthe people in the surroundingvillages showed great interestin the arrival and installationof the wind turbine.Hub height is 65 meters, rotordiameter 77 meters andrated power 1.35 MW.from left: Anton Seeber, mayor Ermanno Anselmi, Ermenegildo ZordanOn September 20 the official opening took placeBigger wind turbineThe LTW80 generates even more electricityLEITWIND AGThe new companyLTW80 is a combination ofthe brand name LEITWINDand the figure 80 for a rotordiameter of 80 meters. Followingthe successful completionof the developmentwork, the new LEITWINDturbine, the LTW80, has nowbeen released for sale.Depending on the location ofthe site, the new wind powerplant can produce betweenfive and fourteen percentmore energy than the LTW77.In addition to improvementsto the rotor blades, the engineershave further developedthe nacelle, using cast iron toreplace the welded steel components.The LTW80 also hasan enhanced cooling system.On 1 August 2008 LEITWINDbecame an independent companywith complete freedomof action. The new companyis of course affiliated to theLEITNER TECHNOLOGIESgroup, but it now has its owncorporate design and operativeautonomy.The company continues tobe headquartered at Brennerstrasse34 in Sterzing, and itsorganizational structure alsoremains unchanged.Innovation for higher performanceIn-house rotor blade production at LEITWINDThe new rotor blades developedby LEITWIND in collaborationwith a Danish companyand a German planningand projecting company, boths p e c i a l i z e d i n ro t o r b l a d ep ro d u c t i o n f o r w i n d p o w e rplants incorporate a numbero f i n n o v a t i v e s o l u t i o n s . I nparticular, the prefabricatedc o m p o n e n t s m a d e o f f i b e rg l a s s a n d e p o x y re s i n a reglued together in a vacuumbonding process. Thanks tothis fiber composite technology,the rotor blades can beproduced to tighter designtolerances and at a higherquality standard so that theycombine longer service lifewith higher performance.Mould for the production of blades

9Piepoli report on the MiniMetro in PerugiaPoll shows high level of user satisfactionThe contract for an initial studyinto customer satisfaction withPerugia’s new public transportsystem, the MiniMetro, wasawarded in mid-April, and apoll subsequently conductedby Piepoli, an Italian opinionresearch institute (see box).According to the results of thepoll, users like the new systemfor the same reasons as thelocal authority and the operatingcompany themselves.Customers see the main advantagesin the reduction incar traffic and integration ofthe MiniMetro in the existingpublic transport network. Theyalso appreciate the savings intime and the convenience ofthe big car park at the terminalon the fringe of the city, whichavoids the hassle of finding aplace to park in the city center.The small environmental footprintof the new system, thedesign of the cars (ease ofaccess, temperature, comfort,low noise) and the minimumimpact of the guideway on thesurroundings also score highlywith users.Respondees were also invitedto suggest improvements, but98% said they were totallysatisfied with the overall serviceoffered by the MiniMetro.In response to the questionwhat impressed them most,t h e i n n o v a t i v e c h a r a c t e rof the system supplied byLeitner Technologiescame top of the list.The report on customer satisfactionis based on a qualitativeand a quantitative poll.The qualitative poll was conductedwith a small group ofstakeholders, while the quantitativepoll involved a widergroup of passengers.The minimum impact of the guideway on the surroundings is among the main advantagesWhy do you use the MiniMetro?Other reasonsShoppingLeisureWork0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40At what time of day do you use the MiniMetro?5 p.m. and later2 p.m. - 5 p.m.12 noon - 2 p.m.10 a.m. - 12 noon7 a.m. - 10 a.m.0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45The Piepoli InstitutePiepoli is an opinion researchinstitute based in Milan andRome. In order to guaranteea full assessment based on awide spectrum of factors, itsresearch teams are comprisedof specialists from various disciplinesincluding mathematics,psychology and the world ofbusiness.98% of the users are totally satisfied with the MiniMetroFrom Mergellina to Posilippo AltoRefurbishment of the funicular in NaplesA t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f A u g u s tt h e o p e r a t i n g l i c e n s e w a sissued for the Mergellina-Posillipo Alto funicular inNaples following refurbi s h m e n t a n d a c a p a c i t yupgrade performed by theAGUDIO company.The refurbishment included c o m p l e t e r e p l a c e m e n to f t h e b u l l w h e e l d r i v e . A st h e d r i v e i s l o c a t e d i n amultistory building, it wasplaced on isolated foundationsto solve the problemof noise and vibrati o n s i n t h e b u i l d i n g a n dthe surrounding area.I n s t a l l a t i o n o f t h e n e wd r i v e a l s o p e r m i t t e d l i n es p e e d t o b e i n c r e a s e dfrom 2.5 to 4 meters persecond. The higher speedg i v e s t h e s y s t e m a d e s i g nc a p a c i t y o f 6 8 2 p e r s o n sper hour.I n t h e c a s e o f a s h o r tp o w e r f a i l u r e , t h e n e wdrive can be batterypo w e r e d . T h i s s t a n d b ys y s t e m c o m p r i s e s 2 7 6a c c u m u l a t o r e l e m e n t sw i t h a c a p a c i t y o f 7 2 0 A he a c h , w h i c h p e r m i t s t h ei n s t a l l a t i o n t o r u n a t aline speed of 2 m/s. Thef u n i c u l a r a l s o h a s i t s o w ngenerator, which enablesi t t o b e o p e r a t e d a t f u l lRefurbished bullwheel drives p e e d i f m a i n s p o w e r i sdown for a longer periodof time.Car refurbishment incl u d e d s w i t c h i n g f r o mp n e u m a t i c t o e l e c t r i cdrive for the door actuato r, r e p l a c e m e n t o f t h etrack brakes and conversionof the power suppl y f r o m t h e o l d w i p i n gc o n t a c t s t o w h e e l - d r i v e ngenerators.The funicular with a view of Mt. Vesuvius

10TECHNOLOGIESArt exhibition in a ropeway station259,248 visitors for the “World of Ice”The gondola passing over thepavilions of Zaragoza is morethan a means of transportation.In keeping with the theme selectedfor Expo 2008, namely“Water”, the LEITNER Groupchose one of the two ropewaystations to stage “El Mundo delHielo by Reinhold Messner”, anexhibition devoted to water inthe frozen state.Who knows more about snow,glaciers and ice than ReinholdMessner? From the Antarcticto Mount Everest, the famousmountaineer has conquered allthe regions of eternal ice on hisvarious expeditions. Today heis working to make that worldaccessible to all in his own museums,where he attaches growingimportance to the artist’s impressionof the mountains andthe world of ice.Based on an idea put forward byReinhold Messner, the LEITNERGroup decided to employ oneof the two stations of the Expogondola to present an exhibitionon the subject of ice, whichwas seen by 259,248 visitors injust three months. Together withReinhold Messner and the curatorUrsula Demeter, LEITNER hasassembled a collection of worksby various world-famous artists:Olafur Eliasson, Isaac Julien,Doug Aitken, Hamish Fulton,Stephan Huber, Helmut Ditsch,Mateo Maté, Gottfried Helnweinand Almalé / Bandai. The exhibitionalso includes a contributionfrom Reinhold Messner himself inthe form of the video collage “ElMundo del Hielo”, which was assembledand produced by RinoCapitanata using documentarymaterial from the Messner archives.The resulting exhibition isvery much worth seeing, providingas it does a rare insight intothe world of ice with its distinctproperties, formations and dynamics.Opening with R. Messner, M. Seeber, M. Leitner and curator U. DemeterOlafur Eliasson’s “river raft series”Stephan Huber’s chandelierThe gigantic piece of art by Hamish FultonThree paintings by Spanish artist Mateo MatéJoint art project involving LEITNER and UniKaParallel Event Manifesta7, “Winging across borders”South of Vipiteno, betweenS p re c h e n s t e i n C a s t l e a n dReifenstein Castle, is the siteof a parallel event to Manifesta7,the European biennialfor contemporary art currentlybeing held in South Tyroland the Trentino. A sequenceof pairs of wings, each severalmeters high, has beenpositioned along the Brennermotorway to form an installationcalled “W inging acrossborders”, which has been organizedjointly by LEITNERand UniKa, a group of artistsfrom Gröden (IT). The installationwill be visible fromthe motorway until the endof October, when it will bemoved to a new location inthe grounds of the LEITNERworks in Vipiteno.The idea for the artwork camefrom UniKa, who wanted toi m p l e m e n t a c ro s s - b o rd e rand cross-cultural project anddraw the attention of passingmotorists to the region andto Manifesta7. Collaboratingin a project called “W ingingacross borders” was a logicaldecision for LEITNER as acompany that has been doingjust that for many years nowand has built up an impressivetrack record on its exportmarkets.The installation comprises arow of 32 pairs of aluminumwings measuring five metersacross. They have beenplaced on three- to eightmeterhigh steel poles so asto represent the sequence ofmovement in the beat of abird’s wings. There is no bodyto the wings as the artwork isnot about a bird or an angelbut about the symbolism ofthe wings themselves.ImpressumPublisher: LEITNER Spa, Via Brennero 34, I-39049 Vipiteno, Tel. 0039 0472 722 111, Fax 0039 0472 724 111, www.leitner-technologies.com