WIR 01/2019 [EN]

The Customer Magazine of the Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group Issue 1/2019 44th Year/No. 207 

Accessibility 

opens up new 

opportunities 

Barrier-free ropeways with 

feel-good factor 

Mulden lift 

in Leogang 

First-class 8-seater chairlift 

Digitally 

connected 

Information and 

communications technology 

for ropeways 

8-CLD-B Mulden lift, Leogang, Salzburg (AUT)

2 

Contents 

6 

Mobility for all 

How Doppelmayr/Garaventa ropeways ensure convenient mobility for 

all passengers. 

24 

13 

D-Line station in glass 

The new gondola lift in Gstaad impresses with its cuboid station with real glass facade. 

Monoskier tries out the 

new Gampen lift 

Barrier-free trip up the mountain – Claudia Lösch 

tried out the new D-Line chairlift in Ischgl. WIR 

accompanied her.

Foreword 

3 

Comfort without compromise 

On our way to the ski slopes, as an exciting ride 

experience in our leisure time or as part of the 

daily commute, there are many ways in which a 

ropeway can make a positive contribution to our 

lives. In our role as manufacturer, it is our task to 

know passenger needs and to offer our customers 

high-performance products that provide the best 

solution for their ropeway project. We take all 

requirements into account so that we can enable everyone to enjoy an 

exceptional ropeway experience in the interests of inclusion. 

We cater for a wide range of passengers. Our ropeways carry families with 

children, seniors, people with physical impairments, passengers with 

sports equipment, experienced ropeway users as well as first-timers and 

plenty more besides. Simple use and barrier-free access is therefore a 

major priority for us when developing our products. 

World premiere for OMEGA V 

14 

Kohlmais lift in Saalbach: The fi fth generation of the OMEGA 

cabin series brings passengers to the local mountain in 

comfort. 

Since this year’s winter season, the 8-seater D-Line chair has also been on 

the market. The Mulden lift makes full use of the possibilities that the latest 

ropeway generation has to offer. In terms of passenger comfort, there were 

no compromises in the design of this lift. 

In Gstaad, the Saanersloch lift boasts a world fi rst in terms of its architecture, 

with the cuboid station roof with real glass facade. 

Another milestone was set in Japan, where the Sunrise Express is the first 

D-Line combination lift. This means the D-Line range is now complete. 

The latest developments in the industry will again be on show at this year’s 

Interalpin in Innsbruck. This international trade fair event is a highlight for 

Doppelmayr/Garaventa and an important platform for dialog with customers 

and business partners from around the globe. Visit us at our stand, take 

your seat on the D-Line and allow yourself to be inspired by the world of 

ropeways. 

31 

Michael Doppelmayr 

CEO 

Ordering spare parts made easy 

The Ropeway Assistant enables Doppelmayr/Garaventa 

customers to order spare parts and tools for their ropeways 

quickly and easily.

4 

Facts & Figures 

Interalpin – hotspot for alpine technologies 

The Interalpin show in Innsbruck, which fi rst 

opened its gates in 1974, now ranks as the 

world’s most popular fl agship trade fair for the 

ropeway sector. Every two years, entrepreneurs 

and trade visitors come to fi nd out about the 

latest innovations and developments in the world 

of mountain experiences. The Doppelmayr/ 

Garaventa Group has been showcasing its broad 

portfolio at Interalpin for many years. Alongside 

its comprehensive offer for winter applications, 

summer use of the mountains, sustainability, 

resource-effi cient technologies and urban transport 

are all areas of growing importance. 

More information about 

Interalpin can be found at: 

SAVE THE DATE 

MAY 8-10, 2019 

Hall A, Stand 9 

Doppelmayr/Garaventa 

at Interalpin 2019 

FACTS AND FIGURES 

First Interalpin: 1974 

Visitors in 2017: 26,400 visitors 

85 nations 

Exhibitors: 650 (from 50 nations) 

Exhibition space: 40,000 square meters 

“Distinguished training company” for the eighth time 

Doppelmayr has held the title of “Distinguished 

training company” ever since the 

Province of Vorarlberg first launched the award 

in 1997. In November 2018, the company received 

the accolade for the eighth time. The 

title remains valid for three years, which means 

that Doppelmayr can reapply for it in 2021. 

Since the company was founded, Doppelmayr 

has always attached great importance to the 

vocational training of young people. The leading 

ropeway expert is currently training 107 apprentices 

in the various trades that are required 

in the fi eld of ropeway construction: electrical 

and metal engineering, mechatronics, IT and 

design engineering. Doppelmayr apprentices 

get to work on actual orders at an early stage 

and acquire a lot of experience in different 

departments and areas – every year they 

achieve excellent results in the Vorarlberg 

apprentices' skills competitions. 

Brief outline of the award 

A training company has to meet a host of criteria 

before it is awarded the title of “Distinguished 

training company”. The accolade is generally 

given to companies and institutions that demonstrate 

excellence in their apprentice training. 

Items examined include how subject matter is 

taught, the success of apprentice training, the 

commitment to those with learning diffi culties or 

disadvantaged youngsters and the further training 

of instructors. Representatives of the award 

commission visit the training companies to obtain 

an exact picture of the training given to youngsters. 

At the present time, the title is held by 

391 companies in Vorarlberg – 20 percent of all 

training companies. 


Doppelmayr as “Distinguished training company”: 

8 times (continuously since 1997) 

Validity of the award: 3 years – up to 2021 

Apprentices at Doppelmayr (status 2019): 

107 apprentices 

Awarded by: 

Provincial Government, Economic Chamber, 

Vorarlberg Chamber of Labor 

2018 award: 

Given to 131 Vorarlberg companies 

Current total: 

391 companies across all sectors 

(20% of all training companies)


5 

Employees Worldwide 

A thoroughly 

successful 

business year 

2,297 

2011/2012 

2,378 


2,452 


2,546 


2,673 


2,720 


2,933 


1,462 

AUT 

Sales Revenues by 

Regions 2017/2018 

16% 

Austria, 

Germany 

10 % 

CIS, CEE 

USA, Canada 

13% 

26% 

Switzerland, 

France, 

Italy 

Middle 

East 

3% 

21% 

Asia 

11% 

Rest of the World 

Sales Revenues in Million Euros 

628 795 

858 

795 

834 

801 846 








The Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group can be 

proud of its results for the last fi scal year, which 

saw sales revenues rise from the previous 

year’s 801 million euros to reach 846 million 

euros. This represents an increase of 5.7 percent. 

Customers in the winter tourism sector who are 

keen to invest, large projects in growth markets 

and a dedicated team made this success 

possible. 

The clear sales driver in 2017/2018 was once 

again winter tourism – two-thirds of the Group’s 

projects are implemented in this sector. 

Doppelmayr/Garaventa generated 40 percent 

of its overall sales revenues in the Alpine countries 

Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France 

and Italy. Milestones set in 2018 were the 

reversible aerial tramway up to Germany’s 

Zugspitze and completion of the world’s 

steepest funicular railway up to the Stoos 

in Switzerland. Garaventa won the 2018 

IHZ Innovation Award for its innovative design 

of the cars on the Stoos funicular (see report 

on page 35). 

Gratifying development in Asia 

Development in Asia, which accounted for 

21 percent of sales revenues, was more than 

gratifying for Doppelmayr/Garaventa. In Vietnam, 

the world’s longest tricable gondola lift now 

links up the vacation islands of Phú Quốc and 

Hòn Thơm, and has consequently claimed its 

place in the Guinness World Records. China’s 

first tricable gondola lift crosses Lushan National 

Park. Contracts for another nine ropeways 

for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing 

will ensure continued strong growth in the 

Asian market in the future. A new Cable Liner 

from Doppelmayr Cable Car at Sheremetyevo 

Airport in Moscow and completion of the 

material ropeway in Cerattepe, Turkey, again 

demonstrate the professional and highly effi cient 

work performed by the Doppelmayr subsidiaries 

and the great commitment of their workforce. 

Growth in expertise 

The company has gained more know-how in 

the area of ropeway control systems through 

the integration of the Frey Group. LTW Intralogistics 

is expanding its software expertise 

with the takeover of the Vienna-based software 

company Metasyst Informatik GmbH. With 

these two companies and worldwide growth, 

the Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group has welcomed 

213 new employees to the family. 

The outlook for Doppelmayr/Garaventa is positive 

in all areas. The growth in Asia and South 

America as well as the stable ropeway business 

in Central Europe are promising indicators 

for the future. The company will also be 

systematically expanding is service network for 

customers.

All aboard 

and enjoy the ride 

Mobility is a major factor influencing our quality of life. 

Being able to move freely and comfortably from A to B 

makes life easier for us. This is why Doppelmayr/Garaventa, 

as a ropeway manufacturer, engages with this topic and 

has adopted an integrative approach. Because ropeways 

should be readily accessible to all – which, needless to say, 

includes people with impaired mobility such as seniors, children 

or the physically disabled. The needs of all passengers 

are considered in the development of ropeway systems 

from the world market leader.

No barriers to reaching your destination 

Ensuring genuine easy access for all 

Fast, comfortable travel with your bike 

Simply take the bike with you 

Family-friendly and compatible 

Fun for passengers young and old 

Accessible for everyone 

Comfort for guests of all ages 

A day on the slopes 

The Smith family are fully equipped for skiing 

and standing at the ticket counter with their children. 

They are looking forward to spending a 

day together on the slopes. Four-year-old 

Johnny took his first ski course at the beginning 

of the season; seven-year-old Anna is 

already a pretty good skier and has ridden on a 

chairlift several times. They start off with a few 

rounds on the practice slope. This surface lift is 

ideal because you can choose between taking 

a platter on your own or using a T-bar with another 

person. Exactly the right thing for practicing. 

Then it’s off to the big slope. The Smiths 

take the new chairlift to get there. It’s an ultramodern 

installation that only opened this winter. 

Boarding is child’s play. The family can simply 

ski to the lift and stand in line at the loading 

gates. As soon as these open, the skiers move 

forward onto the loading conveyor. Johnny is 

not so tall, but the height-adjustable conveyor 

automatically adapts to suit the smallest passenger. 

This means that he too can easily take 

his place on the seat. The chairs move through 

the station at very low speed, giving each passenger 

plenty of time to board. Everyone there? 

Yes. The Smiths are all seated on the comfortable 

6-seater chair. Anna immediately notices how 

nice and warm the seats are. The restraining bar 

has already closed – all automatic. It lands exactly 

between the knees. That gives the entire family a 

sense of security. There’s a cold wind blowing, so 

Mr Smith closes the bubble. Johnny fi nds this 

funny because now everything looks blue. At the 

top station, the restraining bar opens again by 

itself. The Smiths marvel at the glistening snow in 

the distance. At a count of 1-2-3, all four of them 

are off the chair and gliding on the crunching 

snow toward the ski trail in eager anticipation.

8 All aboard and enjoy the ride 

Ropeways are a means of transport and 

an attraction at the same time. They help to create 

unforgettable leisure experiences worldwide. 

Heading for the great outdoors 

Change of scene: The retired couple Rose 

and Fred have always enjoyed being in the 

mountains. When they were younger, they 

spent most of their free time hiking. Unfortunately, 

their advanced years now mean that 

they are no longer so sure on their feet, but 

they still want to take advantage of the magnificent 

fall day for a walk. Their favorite route 

lies on a picturesque plateau, where they can 

sit on a bench, marvel at the mountain peaks 

opposite and leave all their cares behind. 

At one time, they used to walk all the way on 

foot – a day trip in the fresh air and a relaxing 

change from the stressful world of work. 

Nowadays, they both prefer to take the lift 

up the mountain. This enables them to get 

to their destination quickly, in comfort and 

barrier-free. It’s quite busy. A lot of people are 

milling around at the bottom station. Apparently, 

they aren’t the only ones who are keen 

to take advantage of the good weather for a 

day out. Rose and Fred wait for their cabin. 

It’s very spacious. One arrives every few 

seconds, so passengers don’t have to wait 

long. Now it’s their turn. They share the 

cabin with a young man. He’s a mountain 

biker and on his way to the downhill trail. 

Taking his bike with him on the lift is no 

problem. With a flick of the wrist, he folds 

up the seat bench and pushes his bike into 

the cabin. There’s even a special holder for 

his bike. Rose and Fred also have plenty 

of room. During the trip, the three of them 

talk about their passion for the mountains – 

the young man is amazed to hear all the 

places that the couple have already visited. 

They are approaching the top station. The 

cabin moves through the station at reduced

All aboard and enjoy the ride 

9 

Ropeways offer barrier-free access 

for all: including passengers with baby 

strollers, wheelchairs or bikes. 

Passengers glide above the city in 

a new transport plane. 

speed. Rose and Fred go first. The young 

man skillfully pushes his bike out of the lift 

cabin. He winks goodbye as he sets off. 

Off to work 

It’s 6 o’clock in the morning. Peter is an early 

riser and already on his way to work. He lives 

in a suburb of a major city and uses public 

transport every day to get to his downtown 

office. Parking in the city is expensive and 

parking spaces are in any case hard to find. 

A few years ago, the city council installed a 

new means of transport. A ropeway is now 

part of the public transport network. For Peter, 

this is particularly practical as the route 

takes him very close to his apartment. It’s 

just a few minutes’ walk to the ropeway 

station. He can use his bus ticket on the 

ropeway. The trip takes barely a quarter of 

an hour. The monitor inside the cabin is 

showing today’s weather forecast, followed 

by the departure times for the subway that 

links up with the ropeway. The transfer is 

straightforward and doesn’t involve waiting 

in the cold. Peter’s wife also regularly travels 

on the ropeway. Thanks to the large cabins, 

she can comfortably walk straight in with 

the baby stroller. For her, that’s easier than 

riding the bus, where she has to rely on 

friendly passers-by to help her lift the stroller 

on board. She has also seen a wheelchair 

user on the ropeway who was able to board 

effortlessly all by himself. Even the ropeway 

stations are entirely barrier-free. No escalators, 

stairs or steps so that everyone 

really gets to enjoy easy access. During the 

relaxing trip, the cabins cross a big river. The 

view of the city is breathtaking. The ride is an 

experience for that reason alone.

10 Interview 

We believe in 

perfect comfort 

WIR spoke with Kornel Grundner, managing director 

of Leoganger Bergbahnen Ges.m.b.H 

WIR. What was the motivation behind 

investing in a new lift? 

Kornel Grundner: Over the past few 

years, the Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm 

Leogang Fieberbrunn has seen excellent 

development in terms of trip numbers and 

first-time visitors. We’ve also seen strong 

growth in trip numbers in the Leogang area, 

which also gave rise to a need for higher 

capacity. 

WIR. Why did you decide in favor of a 

Doppelmayr installation? 

Kornel Grundner: In the past, Leoganger 

Bergbahnen has always found Doppelmayr to 

be outstanding when it comes to reliability and 

service. Needless to say, we also drove a hard 

bargain on price and, here again, Doppelmayr 

was able to put forward the best offer. 

WIR. What role did comfort and design 

play in your decision? 

Kornel Grundner: The tourist region 

Saalfelden Leogang and the entire Skicircus 

have placed the emphasis on perfect comfort 

for many years now and, as a result, are certainly 

seen as a premium ski resort. We are 

once again confirming our goal with the new 

8-seater D-Line generation chair. The minimalist 

color scheme for the chairs and the topnotch 

logo embroidery along with the styling of 

the station exteriors provide a coordinated 

design language on the mountain that harmonizes 

with our magnificent landscape. 

WIR. Doppelmayr has introduced many 

innovations with the new D-Line generation. 

Which of the D-Line features bring you the 

greatest added value? 

Kornel Grundner: For us, comfort and 

safety for our guests were the essential features 

and the most important factors in the 

construction of the new 8-seater Mulden lift. 

With the fully automatic restraining bar, the 

seat heating and bubbles plus the increased 

capacity of 3,500 PPH, the new D-Line generation 

from Doppelmayr perfectly addresses our 

needs. 

WIR. There’s a lot going on in the Saalbach 

Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn region 

right now. What major investments are planned 

in your ski resort for the coming years? 

Kornel Grundner: In addition to the investments 

by the other companies in Saalbach 

Hinterglemm and Fieberbrunn, such as the 

new Zwölferkogel gondola lift, the merger with 

Zell am See via Viehhofen lies ahead. As part 

of our plans to further increase comfort 

and safety, Leoganger Bergbahnen is currently 

working on replacement of the existing 

6-seater Asitzkogel chairlift, which will involve 

another new 8-seater chairlift in the foreseeable 

future. Perhaps that will again be a D-Line 

from Doppelmayr!? 

WIR. Thank you very much for speaking 

with us.

D-Line comfort package for Leogang 

8-CLD-B Mulden Lift | Leogang, Salzburg (AUT) 

Leoganger Bergbahnen GmbH 

548 m 3,500 PPH 5 m/s 3.8 min 34 8-seater chairs December 8, 2018 D-Line 

The new Mulden lift in Leogang is unique in Austria: The 8-seater 

D-Line chairlift brings optimal comfort to the ski resort. 

With the construction of the 8-seater Mulden 

chairlift, which was offi cially opened on December 

8, 2018, Leogang has pursued the resort’s 

objective of continuous improvement in comfort 

for guests. Its predecessor was the Asitzmulden 

lift, a detachable 6-seater chairlift. In the case of 

the new installation, Leoganger Bergbahnen 

opted for the D-Line from Doppelmayr – and 

fi rst-class travel for its guests. 

Comfort and safety 

The Mulden lift offers skiing enthusiasts a high 

level of comfort in the form of seat heating, individual 

seats and bubbles as well as setting 

benchmarks in the area of safety. It is Austria’s 

fi rst 8-seater D-Line chairlift and incorporates 

the autolock function for automatic closure, 

locking and monitoring of the restraining bar, 

ensuring maximum safety during the trip. The 

new ropeway installation has also increased 

capacity from 2,400 to 3,500 passengers an 

hour – which relieves the Saalbach-Leogang 

bottleneck. Styling was another important factor 

for Leoganger Bergbahnen. The chairs feature 

a timeless combination of black and gray, with 

custom embroidery on the backrest depicting 

the Leogang lion and the Saalbach 

clown. The new Mulden lift provides an important 

return route for guests using these two 

ski resorts. 

The latest technologies 

The ropeway control system Doppelmayr 

Connect with deactivation concept has been 

used on the Mulden lift. The Doppelmayr 

Direct Drive ensures particularly low noise 

emissions and less maintenance. This puts 

Mulden lift at the state of the art in terms of 

modern ropeway technology. 

DID YOU KNOW THAT... 

the now replaced 6-seater Asitzmulden 

lift, which was originally built in 2002, 

has found a new home? 

The installation is back in operation at the 

small ski resort of Vent in the Ötz Valley after 

undergoing a thorough inspection. Here, a 

surface lift has made way for the detachable 

6-seater chairlift, which now provides a 

welcome increase in comfort for adults and 

children alike.

12 Interview 

D-Line for aesthetic, technological 

and commercial reasons 

WIR spoke with Matthias In-Albon, CEO of Bergbahnen 

Destination Gstaad AG (BDG). 

WIR. Mr In-Albon, you have been CEO of 

Bergbahnen Destination Gstaad AG since 

2015 and have put a lot of things on an entirely 

new footing as part of a comprehensive restructuring 

and modernization process. What 

was the motivation behind the construction of 

the new Saanersloch lift? 

Matthias In-Albon: 2016 was dedicated 

to restructuring, 2017 to modernization, and 

2018 saw the start our forward strategy with 

the construction of the Saanersloch lift. After 

almost 40 years in operation, the gondola lift 

that in its time had been the fastest, most 

cutting edge and offered the greatest comfort 

was taken out of service and made room for 

the first D-Line gondola lift in Switzerland – another 

investment in modernity and innovation. 

WIR. What made you opt for Doppelmayr’s 

new D-Line ropeway generation? 

Matthias In-Albon: Gstaad stands for the 

true alpine experience and lifestyle. We can offer 

our guests two large connected ski areas – 

each with its own strategic positioning. 

Zweisimmen-Saanenmöser-Schönried targets 

its offer first and foremost at the sporty daytripper; 

it also has a direct link to public rail, 

which means the ski area can be reached in 

74 minutes from Bern. The second ski area, 

Gstaad-Saanen-Rougemont, is used mainly by 

hotel guests and affluent chalet owners. Here, 

the product features focus on pleasure, 

boutique and lifestyle. This new strategic positioning, 

with the new ropeway installation as a 

contributing factor, enables us to address the 

individual needs of our groups of guests in a 

more targeted fashion. One of the challenges 

we face is certainly the image of Gstaad – for 

instance, many families still think that a visit 

here would be too expensive. In fact, a day 

pass at our resort doesn’t cost any more than 

in other ski regions, and we have a host of 

attractive additional offers for families and 

young people. 

WIR. What role does the continuing 

advance of digitalization play? 

Matthias In-Albon: For us, digitalization 

is very important – certainly up to the point 

where the guest reaches the ski slopes. That’s 

when I’d like to take their cell phone away! But 

joking apart: We want to be authentic, to place 

the emphasis on pleasure. Where we have to 

be strong is in the digitalization of work processes 

and maintenance planning – in other 

words, ERP. Here, we’re talking about interfaces 

and the communication between software 

systems such as the snowmaking management 

system and the snow depth measuring 

system in order to ensure intelligent automation 

and optimal support for operations. What I 

don’t understand is that, so far, we haven’t 

seen a legal framework and any solutions for 

autonomous lift operations from the manufacturers. 

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to 

recruit personnel to perform the monitoring 

tasks. With today’s technology, this work can 

be extensively supported or automated and 

monitored from a central control room. 

WIR. We can expect to see a series of new 

developments in Gstaad in the next few years. 

What other investments are in the pipeline? 

Matthias In-Albon: Following the sucessful 

implementation of the Saanersloch replacement 

gondola lift, this spring will see the start 

of construction for the replacement of the Eggli 

gondola lift, including the ski lodge. Then 

there’s the expansion of summer operations 

with the planned mountain attractions. Here, 

we shall be focusing on our youngest guests. 

This spring we shall start building two experiential 

play areas on two mountains – and 

expect to be opening them in time for the 

summer season. 

WIR. Many thanks for taking the time out to 

talk to us! 

Matthias In-Albon: To put it briefly: for aesthetic, 

technological and commercial reasons. 

The last point encompasses the annual cost savings 

for maintenance and operation as well as the 

lower costs for noise protection in comparison 

with previous models. In a nutshell: The D-Line 

meets the requirements of today’s guests. 

WIR. You are looking to position yourselves 

as the leading alpine destination for guests 

who focus on comfort. How do you go about 

achieving that position? What challenges does 

Bergbahnen Destination Gstaad have to face?

Projekte International 

First D-Line station with real glass facade 

10-MGD Saanenmöser–Saanenwald–Saanerslochgrat | Saanenmöser, Gstaad (CHE) 

Bergbahnen Destination Gstaad AG (BDG) 

2,858 m 673 m 2,000 PPH 6.0 m/s 11.0 min 69 10-passenger cabins 

A world first has opened in the Gstaad ski 

area: The Saanersloch lift is a D-Line installation 

incorporating the first stations in cuboid 

design with real glass facades. 

Saanenmöser, in the ski area operated by 

Bergbahnen Destination Gstaad (BDG), 

has boasted a brand-new ropeway since 

December 2018. The Saanersloch lift is the 

only D-Line gondola lift in Switzerland to 

date and impresses not only with its ropeway 

technology but also with its architecture and 

aesthetics. The stations are the first worldwide 

to feature the cuboid design in real glass. 

Launching into a new era 

Gstaader Bergbahnen has kicked off a modernization 

process aimed at boosting the level 

of comfort in the region and presenting the 

area as an attractive destination for guests who 

appreciate creature comforts. It therefore made 

perfect sense to add a D-Line ropeway from 

Doppelmayr/Garaventa to the offer as this provides 

everything guests could wish for in terms 

of comfort. Taking quality as well as design to a 

new level has enabled the operating company 

to meet the expectations of even the most discerning 

guests. Moreover, the investment also 

promotes sustainable operations. Cutting-edge 

D-Line ropeway technology means savings in 

running costs and annual maintenance for 

Gstaad. A photovoltaic installation on the roof 

of the bottom station cuts energy costs. 

Quantum leap in ropeway construction 

The new D-Line cabins offer plenty of room, 

relaxing comfort seats and tinted windows. 

The elegant real glass facades of the station 

buildings in Gstaad are the first of their kind 

worldwide. As well as representing a quantum 

leap in ropeway construction for the operating 

company BDG, the modern glass surfaces 

can be equipped with an LED media facade 

at a later date. This opens up great new 

possibilities as the “glass medium” is ideal for 

presenting the latest information for visitors as 

well as advertisements in a large format. 

The installation developed by Doppelmayr/ 

Garaventa with its innovative glass facade 

represents a quantum leap in ropeway 

construction. Matthias In-Albon, Director, 

Bergbahnen Destination Gstaad AG

Projekte International 

World premiere for the OMEGA V cabin 

10-MGD Kohlmais Lift | Saalbach, Salzburg (AUT) 

Saalbacher Bergbahnen GmbH 

3,200 PPH 6.0 m/s 95 OMEGA V 10-passenger cabins December 2018 D-Line 

Section 1: 1,113 m 365 m 4.4 min Section 2: 1,176 m 404 m 4.4 min 

Doppelmayr has come up with some very 

special features for the new Kohlmais lift in 

Saalbach. It is also the first gondola lift to be 

equipped with next-generation OMEGA V 

cabins. 

It’s a real eye-catcher. The stations are in elegant 

red, with brand-new fiery-red OMEGA V 

cabins to match. The installation in question is 

the Kohlmais lift in Saalbach, which went into 

service in December 2018. The new D-Line 

gondola lift replaces an outmoded triple 

chairlift as well as a pulsed-movement aerial 

ropeway. It carries up to 3,200 passengers an 

hour direct from the village center up to Saalbach’s 

local mountain, the Kohlmais. The lift’s 

location in a densely populated area called for 

a low-noise solution. The D-Line’s impressively 

quiet running means that local residents are 

not disturbed by lift operations. Passengers 

also benefit too – gliding quietly uphill in comfort 

on board the new OMEGA V cabins. The 

acoustic ceiling and the innovative ventilation 

concept with draft-free fresh air intake ensure 

a pleasant indoor ambience. Additional benefits 

include ergonomic seats and generously 

proportioned panorama glazing, which gives 

the cabin occupants magnificent views of the 

village center and surrounding mountains. This 

cabin is the fifth generation of the popular 

OMEGA series from CWA – taking development 

without compromise to a new level with a host 

of new features and technical details. 

Tailor-made ropeway 

The dimensions of the bottom station with underground 

cabin parking, employee apartments 

and a two-level underground parking 

garage are also spectacular. Construction of 

the station in this central location created the 

need for efficient and space-saving logistics, 

which Doppelmayr and all the other contractors 

involved with the project were able to 

optimally accommodate. 

The entire ropeway technology – particularly in 

the case of the mid station – was adapted in 

line with the particular circumstances on the 

mountain. These meant the solution had to be 

as compact as possible. The operating company, 

Saalbacher Bergbahnen, attached great 

importance to the lift’s availability. Even in the 

event of a power outage, for example, the lift 

can be emptied and the passengers rapidly 

and safely brought back to the base. 

The D-Line’s advanced technology and variable 

design concept open up many possibilities for 

customers in the form of tailor-made ropeway engineering 

and individual styling, as demonstrated 

by the new Kohlmais lift with its striking red design. 

Doppelmayr fully addressed our requirements 

when designing the lift. They gave 

us all the technical refinements we 

wanted and implemented 

them perfectly. Dipl.-Ing. 

Walter Steiner, Construction 

Manager and Operations 

Director, Saalbacher 

Bergbahnen GmbH

International Projects 

15 

The next level of mobility 

for Colombia’s capital 

10-MGD Ciudad Bolívar | Bogotá (COL) 

Instituto de Desarrollo Urbano (IDU) 

3,247 m 263 m 3,600 PPH 5.5 m/s 13.4 min 163 10-passenger cabins 

An aerial ropeway in the south of the 

Colombian capital Bogotá brings a time 

saving of up to two hours for commuters. 

Colombia’s capital has chosen the aerial 

ropeway as a means of urban transport. Getting 

to work in the Ciudad Bolívar district in 

the south of the city has become a simple 

matter. A detachable gondola lift provides the 

people who live in this district with a particularly 

convenient direct link to the TransMilenio 

terminal of Bogotá’s successful express bus 

service. The three-kilometer-long ropeway 

opens up an entirely new transport plane and 

glides above a densely built district of the city 

where the streets are too narrow for cars, 

buses and other means of transport. The 

catchment area for the gondola lift’s four 

stations covers a large part of this district and 

guarantees good accessibility to the lift for 

residents. The ropeway is an integral part of 

the TransMilenio transport network, which 

means that passengers holding bus tickets 

can also use the gondola lift. 

Optimal views instead of traffic jams 

The aerial ropeway crosses a hilly area with 

ease and provides passengers with a convenient 

and fast route to the bus terminal. The 

gondola ride can save passengers up to two 

hours’ traveling time on a daily basis. Instead 

of getting stuck in heavy traffic, they can sit 

back and enjoy the optimal views on the short 

trip in one of the 163 cabins. During the 

planning and implementation phases, a major 

priority was making the installation barrierfree 

so that everyone can use the ropeway 

with ease. For the operating company, this is 

a fundamental principle and the installation 

achieves it without limitations. The lift improves 

the quality of life for the residents of 

Ciudad Bolívar as passengers are brought to 

their destination by a means of transport 

which is emission-free and virtually noiseless. 

It has also become an attraction for the 

district. 

The TransMiCable transport project is of huge 

importance for Bogotá’s urban development. 

As well as installing a fast, fi rst-class transport 

system for the people using extremely clean 

technology, we are simultaneously creating 

new possibilities with great 

social benefi ts. 

Felipe Ramírez Buitrago, 

Deputy Director of 

Technology and Operations, 

TRANSMILENIO S.A.

16 


Custom solution for 

the Sonnblick Observatory 

6-ATW Sonnblick | Rauris, Salzburg (AUT) 

Sonnblick Verein 

3,054 m 1,478 m 104% 6.0 m/s 10.0 min 6-passenger cabin 

weather conditions. This meant that at wind 

speeds of 30 km/h and above, the lift had to be 

shut down for safety reasons and consequently 

it was often impossible to get to the research 

station for days at a time. 

November 2018 saw the opening of an entirely 

new-design, modern ropeway installation from 

Doppelmayr – a prototype compact ropeway. 

The six-passenger cabin, which also has a 

freight deck, climbs the 1,478 vertical meters 

in ten minutes, making the trip on the new 

installation twice as fast. The frequently high 

wind speeds and side winds posed a particular 

challenge. This was resolved with a double 

track rope with 1.2-meter gauge. Special ballast 

weights on the slack rope carriers act as a 

counterbalance to side winds, enabling the 

tramway to carry ZAMG employees from the 

bottom to the top station at wind speeds of 

80 km/h and more without any difficulty. The 

installation is solely for use by personnel and 

therefore not accessible to the public. It is 

operated by the Sonnblick Association. “The 

new tramway brings greater safety and increased 

comfort for our staff. It also makes 

visits to the observation station from national 

and international researchers easier to plan,” 

explains Elke Ludewig, director of the Sonnblick 

Observatory. 

© Hermann Scheer and Doppelmayr 

The new Doppelmayr aerial tramway for 

the meteorological observation station provides 

researchers with a reliable means of 

getting to work. 

The Sonnblick Observatory was founded in 

1886 and is located at 3,106 meters in the 

Hohe Tauern national park, on the border 

between Carinthia and Salzburg. It is Europe’s 

highest meteorological observation station 

that is manned all year round. Since the 1950s, 

the only transport link from the base up to the 

observatory had been a material ropeway, 

which the researchers at the Central Institute 

for Meteorology and Geodynamics (ZAMG) 

also used to get to work. The adventurous ride 

in an open carrier used to take 20 minutes. 

However, operations were very dependent on 

The project was implemented with the support 

of the Ministry of Education, Science and 

Research. At the observatory on the Sonnblick, 

interdisciplinary teams work on over 40 international 

research programs a year. It was here 

that a temperature of - 37.4 °C was measured 

on January 1, 1905 – the lowest ever recorded 

in Austria under normal conditions. The highest 

wind speed ever recorded in Austria also originates 

from the observatory, which has measured 

peak wind speeds of over 220 km/h under 

storm conditions on several occasions. 

The exceptional location of our 

observatory is just as unique as 

the solution required, and that 

is precisely what Doppelmayr 

delivered for us. 

Elke Ludewig, Director, 

Sonnblick Observatory


17 

The first French D-Line 

6-CLD Pic Vert | Hautes-Alpes, Les Orres, (FRA) 

SEMLORE 

1,543 m 580 m 2,400 PPH 6.0 m/s 63 6-seater chairs December 15, 2018 D-Line 

Two premieres in France: The ski resort 

Les Orres places its trust in D-Line and 

Doppelmayr Connect for its new chairlift. 

The ski resort Les Orres in the Hautes-Alpes 

department sets new benchmarks in terms 

of comfort, safety and technology with its 

new 6-seater detachable chairlift. The Pic 

Vert chairlift marks two premieres: As well 

as being the first D-Line generation ropeway 

in France, it is equipped with the new 

Doppelmayr Connect control system. As the 

replacement for two fixed-grip chairlifts and 

a surface lift, the new installation impresses 

with a capacity of up to 2,400 passengers an 

hour. To coincide with the construction of the 

new lift, the ski trail infrastructure has also 

been improved, particularly for beginners. 

Passengers now enjoy shorter waiting times 

and a fast trip to fun in the mountains while 

marveling at the idyllic views down into the 

valley. The individual footrests and lockable 

restraining bars ensure a safe and comfortable 

ride, especially for the younger guests. 

Efficient, comfortable and maintenancefriendly 

Doppelmayr addressed the customer requirement 

for reduced energy costs through the use 

of a water-cooled motor – the exhaust heat can 

be used to heat the control room adjacent to 

the top station. 

The Pic Vert 6-seater chairlift also incorporates 

an automatic carrier parking facility. This 

means chairs can be parked and launched 

onto the line rapidly, reliably and, of course, 

automatically. 

The D-Line installation optimally meets the 

specification of the operating company, SEM- 

LORE, for quiet operation and straightforward 

maintenance. Doppelmayr France implemented 

this project within a very short time frame – 

between July and December – and the chairlift 

went into operation on schedule for the start of 

the season on December 15, 2018. During the 

summer months, pedestrians and people with 

impaired mobility can also look forward to a 

modern and comfortable means of transport. 

This was the first time that we worked with 

Doppelmayr and we are entirely happy 

all round: The price-performance ratio is 

exactly right and the fast, precise and 

solutions-oriented work of the Doppelmayr 

team enabled us to open on time. 

Xavier Corne, Managing Director, SEMLORE

18 


Direct route to the ski area 

10-MGD Schlossalm Lift | Bad Hofgastein, Salzburg (AUT) 

Gasteiner Bergbahnen AG 

3,000 PPH 6.0 m/s December 1, 2018 

Section 1: 1,275 m 455 m 3.7 min 50 10-passenger cabins 

Section 2: 2,114 m 763 m 6.1 min 72 10-passenger cabins 

The new Schlossalm lift in Bad Hofgastein 

is the centerpiece of the biggest investment 

project ever undertaken by Gasteiner Bergbahnen 

AG. The new 10-passenger gondola 

lift from Doppelmayr provides a major boost 

in terms of comfort and capacity. 

There’s an upbeat mood in Bad Hofgastein. The 

project of a generation, “Schlossalm NEW”, 

is aimed at ensuring the attractiveness of the 

ski resort for decades to come. The operating 

company, Gasteiner Bergbahnen AG, is 

investing a lot of money in this project, which 

envisages the construction of cutting-edge 

ropeway installations and the complete restructuring 

of the skiing and hiking facilities on 

Schlossalm mountain. The new Schlossalm lift, 

which opened on December 1, 2018, marks an 

important milestone. The 10-passenger gondola 

lift runs directly from the base to the ski area 

via a mid station. It replaces three existing lift 

installations – a funicular as well as a double 

and a quad chairlift. In addition, capacity 

has been more than doubled from 1,400 to 

3,000 passengers an hour. 

The OMEGA IV cabins have an orange paint 

finish. Inside, passengers benefit from maximum 

comfort in the form of heated seats and 

Wi-Fi. Doppelmayr Connect ensures straightforward 

ropeway operation with a clearly laid out 

user interface. A spectacular feature of the lift is 

the quadruple tower number 17, which guides 

the ropeway over a rocky mountain ridge. 

Installation of the tower foundations and assembly 

were particularly time-consuming due 

to the diffi cult terrain and challenging alignment. 

The second leg from the mid station also incorporates 

a comprehensive recovery concept. 

Perfect integration into transport network 

The new bottom station is also extremely 

impressive. Alongside the carrier parking facility, 

it houses a restaurant, a parking garage, ski 

hire with ski storage plus a sports shop. The 

exterior of the building creates a very modern 

impression, with its unique architecture and 

striking orange stripes. At the same time, the 

overall concept is extremely practical. Guests 

reach the loading area for the lift from the 

new parking garage, from the newly installed 

outdoor parking lot or from the bus station, 

which is located immediately next door to the 

gondola station. 

A pedestrian subway is no longer required, 

waiting times are a thing of the past, every 

passenger has a seat and it’s no longer 

necessary to change at the mid station. 

The new lift brings guests ‘non-stop to the top’ 

and to the ski area’s optimal distribution point. 

In terms of design, the new ropeway 

is also visually striking and ensures 

that Bad Hofgastein receives 

greater recognition as a winter 

sports resort. 

Wolfgang Egger, CEO, 

Gasteiner Bergbahnen AG

The world’s biggest aerial tram with open roof deck 

99-ATW Grande Motte | Tignes (FRA) 

Société des Téléphériques de la Grande Motte (STGM), Vanoise National Park 

1,696 m 420 m 1,010 PPHPD; 99 pax +1/cabin 10.0 m/s 5.0 min 

2 cabins, 99 pax +1 each; deck 20 pax Winter 2018/19 

In the luxury ski resort of Tignes in the 

heart of the French Alps, a world-class tram 

takes guests up to the glacier. 

At over 2,000 meters, the French municipality 

Tignes is one of Europe’s highest villages and, 

along with Val d’Isère – which hosted the 1992 

Winter Olympic Games – belongs to the Espace 

Killy ski network. The high alpine location 

means exceptional weather conditions. 

The completely refurbished aerial tramway 

was specially designed by Garaventa to 

withstand the extreme weather at an altitude 

of over 3,000 meters. The Doppelmayr/ 

Garaventa aerial tramway has a striking 

feature: The two CWA cabins, which can 

each carry 99 passengers, have an open 

roof deck to take another twenty passengers. 

Open-top trips up to the Grande Motte Glacier 

will be possible from May 2019. The ride on 

the roof deck will be a special experience for 

day-trippers and skiers – the ski area around 

Tignes is also well-known for summer skiing. 

Panorama experience, plenty of room and 

top comfort 

The two cabins offer passengers ultramodern 

comfort and a unique 360-degree view 

of the natural landscape, which includes 

the entire Mont Blanc group and the highest 

peaks of the Savoy Alps. The Grande Motte 

tramway is the biggest ropeway with open 

roof deck and can carry more than one 

thousand passengers an hour. 

Part of a global project 

The open-deck tramway is part of the ALTIDUDE 

EXPERIENCES construction project and is 

being implemented jointly by the Société des 

Téléphériques de la Grande Motte (STGM) – 

which operates the Tignes ski area – and the 

Vanoise National Park. The tramway blends 

in perfectly with the entire region. ALTITUDE 

EXPERIENCES will be accessible to the public 

from May 2019. Visitors can experience the 

special panorama at various viewing points 

and information areas and get to know the 

exceptional surroundings and the region’s 

ecosystem.

© Hofer Wolfgang 

Goodbye chairlift, hello gondola! 

10-MGD Panorama | Steinhaus im Ahrntal, South Tyrol (ITA) 

Klausberg AG 

1,004 m 453 m 2,700 PPH 5.0 m/s 30 10-passenger cabins December 1, 2018 D-Line 

The new gondola lift in the Skiarena 

Klausberg replaces a chairlift that dates 

back almost 30 years. 

The Hühnerspiel triple chairlift at the Klausberg 

ski resort in South Tyrol’s Ahrn Valley boasted 

a long service record. After 28 years in operation, 

it was replaced by a modern D-Line 

generation installation from Doppelmayr/ 

Garaventa. “Panorama” is the name chosen 

for this new 10-passenger gondola lift. It epitomizes 

both the impressive mountain landscape 

in the Ahrn Valley and the new ropeway, 

and is proudly displayed on stations and 

cabins. Thanks to the new location of the top 

station, the lift stretches further up the mountain 

and enables winter sports enthusiasts to 

enjoy a longer downhill run. 

Luxury for passengers 

The Panorama gondola lift ranks among the 

ropeways with the highest capacity in South 

Tyrol. It can carry up to 2,700 passengers an 

hour and provides passengers with plenty of 

room and luxury features in the 30 cabins: ample 

legroom, wide seats and large panorama windows 

affording fantastic views. In addition, the 

cabins have heated seats and ski holders inside, 

which make for a comfortable, hassle-free ride. 

Second Doppelmayr Sector Drive in Italy 

The advanced drive model for the new gondola 

lift, the Doppelmayr Sector Drive, is the second 

of its kind to be used in Italy. The electric motor 

is whisper-quiet and extremely low-vibration. 

In addition, high efficiency and low energy consumption 

are key features of this model. The 

new Panorama lift also has low maintenance 

requirements and is particularly user-friendly, 

largely thanks to the Doppelmayr Connect 

control system. 

With the new D-Line lift, 

we have significantly 

upgraded our ski resort – 

our guests now enjoy 

one hundred percent 

comfort. 

Walter Fischer, CEO, 

Klausberg AG.


21 

Modernized Mühlegg 

funicular back in service 

38-FUL Mühlegg Funicular | St. Gallen, Canton St. Gallen (CHE) 

Mühleggbahn AG 

322 m 71 m 450 PPH 5.0 m/s 2 38-passengers cars November 17, 2018 

St. Gallen’s historic funicular has reopened 

with significant value added following a 

seven-month refurbishment. 

The Mühlegg funicular connects the historic 

quarter of St. Gallen in the south with the St. 

Georgen district higher up and has been an integral 

part of the cityscape since 1893. Back 

then, it was the city’s fi rst ever public means of 

transport. In November 2018, the upgraded 

Mühlegg funicular went back into service following 

a seven-month break for modernization. 

The funicular, which can carry up to 450 passengers 

an hour, is now entirely barrier-free. Every 

passenger is now able to enter the car without 

having to negotiate any steps or ramps. Loading 

and unloading has been made much easier 

thanks to doors at the uphill and downhill ends 

of the car, particularly for passengers with baby 

strollers, wheelchairs or bicycles. The car 

features generously dimensioned glazing and 

carries passengers from the edge of the city 

direct to the center in less than two minutes – 

many residents use the funicular as a means of 

transport for getting to work or for accessing 

St. Gallen’s recreational areas. 

Added value for the passengers 

As well as ensuring barrier-free access, the 

upgrade included an overhaul of the 125-yearold 

tunnel wall. Despite the fact that this 

reduced the tunnel’s cross section, it was still 

possible to increase passenger capacity to 

38. The upper and lower terminal buildings 

have also been modernized. Garaventa was 

responsible for the entire ropeway equipment 

including the track. “The aim of the rebuild 

was to enable us to offer every passenger 

genuine value added. We achieved that with 

an integral station and vehicle concept,” says 

Garaventa project manager Ueli Sutter. 

From 1893 until 1950, the Mühlegg funicular 

operated as a two-car system. Filling and 

emptying water tanks enabled propulsion to 

be generated by gravity. It later ran as an 

electrically powered rack-and-pinion railway 

from 1950 to 1974. Following another rebuild 

in 1975, this became the first automated funicular 

in Switzerland. The fi rst funicular car was 

replaced by a more contemporary model in 

2004. Since 2018, the Mühlegg railway has 

become an ultramodern urban funicular thanks to 

the new integral station and vehicle concept. 

The passenger flow concept put forward 

by Garaventa, with doors at the uphill and 

downhill ends of the car, has significantly 

enhanced the comfort and user-friendliness 

of the funicular for our guests and has 

therefore been a complete success. 

Roland Streule, Technical Director, 

Mühleggbahn AG / Managing Director, 

Streutec GmbH 

DID YOU KNOW THAT ... 

the funicular has grown very close to 

the hearts of St. Gallen’s population? 

Alongside the city council and Mühleggbahn 

AG, a local friends’ association provided 

the funding for the project. The offi cial 

opening ceremony on November 17, 2018 

was attended by many visibly delighted 

local residents.

World fi rst: Combined D-Line comfort in Japan 

6/10-CGD Sunrise Express | Minami Uonuma City, Niigata (JPN) 

Ishiuchi Maruyama Resort 

1,157 m 301 m 3,105 PPH 5.0 m/s 5.1 min 

The Sunrise Express in the Japanese ski 

resort Ishiuchi Maruyama is the first D-Line 

combination lift worldwide. 

The Ishiuchi Maruyama ski resort has entirely 

fulfilled its aim of addressing a broader target 

group with the new D-Line combination lift. As 

the installation offers passengers both cabins 

and chairs, the resort attracts not only winter 

sports enthusiasts but also non-skiers. The ski 

area is one of the biggest within the catchment 

area of Tokyo and can be reached in 70 minutes 

from Tokyo railroad station with the Shinkansen 

high-speed train. 

Attraction for different target groups 

The city’s residents appreciate Ishiuchi Maruyama 

as a recreation area. As well as drawing skiers 

and snowboarders, it has plenty of leisure 

activities to offer day-trippers who are on foot. 

And that’s precisely what the Sunrise Express 

is designed for: Winter sports practitioners can 

ride the 6-seater chairs straight to the slopes 

without having to remove their skis, while 

pedestrians choose the comfortable 10-passenger 

cabins for their trip to the snow or to 

enjoy the views. The D-Line chairs provide 

ample room and are fitted with heated seats 

and bubbles. The spacious OMEGA IV cabins 

with elegant leather seats also ensure a comfortable 

trip into the mountains. Once at the 

top, guests have a wide choice of snow trails 

and mountaintop restaurants as well as a 

Snow World for the entire family. The Sunrise 

Express was built jointly with Nippon Cable, who 

have been the Doppelmayr Group’s licensed 

partner in Japan for over 40 years. Ishiuchi 

Maruyama ski resort is one of the resorts Nippon 

Cable Group owns worldwide. 

The promotional video 

of the Ishiuchi Maruyama 

ski resort can be viewed at: 

The Sunrise Express offers all our guests – 

skiers, foot passengers or families with 

children – a comfortable ride to the mountains. 

We see many guests come to the resort 

just to have a ride to experience the comfort. 

The new lift has definitely boosted the attractiveness 

of our ski resort. 

Shungo Ohkubo, Managing Director, 

Nippon Cable Group 

Doppelmayr and Nippon Cable – 

More than 40 years of partnership 

As a means of transport, ropeways enjoy a tradition in Japan that stretches back over more than a 

century. The island nation is home to some 500 ski resorts. Its mountainous landscape with abundant 

snow offers the ideal conditions for winter sports. Nippon Cable was set up as a local ropeway 

manufacturer in 1953. The license agreement between Doppelmayr and Nippon Cable has 

existed since 1977. The two companies have been linked by a close business relationship based 

on trust ever since. This collaboration has enabled Nippon Cable to consolidate its position as 

market leader in the Japanese ropeway industry. The construction of the world’s fi rst D-Line combination 

lift, the Sunrise Express in the Ishiuchi Maruyama ski resort, epitomizes that achievement.


23 

Two innovations in one 

8-CLD-B Sonntagskogel Lift 2 | Wagrain, Salzburg (AUT) 

Bergbahnen AG Wagrain 

652 m 202 m 3,200 PPH 5.0 m/s 2.84 min 38 8-seater chairs December 1, 2018 D-Line 

The new Sonntagskogel lift 2 in Snow 

Space Salzburg is an 8-seater D-Line chairlift 

that features two innovations at the same time. 

When it came to planning and implementing 

the Sonntagskogel lift 2 in Snow Space 

Salzburg, the customer placed all their trust in 

Doppelmayr’s innovation capability. As a result, 

the new 8-seater chairlift is not only a D-Line 

installation but also incorporates two innovations: 

On the one hand the lift is the fi rst in the 

world to be fi tted with heated backrests, on the 

other the lockable restraining bars have a tilt 

function. 

The new backrest heating is the perfect complement 

to the proven seat heating system. It provides 

passengers with warmth in the sensitive 

lumbar region and takes ride comfort to a whole 

new level, especially on cold days. The seat heating 

system – a Doppelmayr development – has 

been adapted and, following a test phase, 

integrated into the backrests on the 38 chairs. 

Enhanced safety 

The second Doppelmayr innovation contributes 

not only to passenger comfort but also to 

safety on the chairs. The automatic restraining 

bar tilt function reminds the passengers to 

close the restraining bar and places it in an 

ergonomic position that makes it easier for 

younger passengers to reach and close the 

bar. The new system is completed by the locking 

system, which locks the restraining bar 

once it has been manually closed and ensures 

that it cannot be opened again during the trip. 

The new 8-seater chairlift is equipped with 

proven features such as bubbles, a low-maintenance 

direct drive and a loading conveyor 

with elevating platform that automatically 

adjusts to suit the height of the youngest passengers. 

This is a safety function that makes 

loading particularly easy and brings benefi ts for 

families with children and for ski school classes. 

Greater attractiveness thanks to shorter 

waiting times 

The new installation replaces a quad chairlift 

and significantly cuts waiting times, making 

this section of the ski area even more attractive 

for repeat uphill trips. The Sonntagskogel 

lift 2 also serves an important role as a return 

route in the ski area, which makes lift 

availability crucial. This installation is the first 

Doppelmayr project under the umbrella brand 

“Snow Space Salzburg” with the ski resorts 

Wagrain, Flachau and St. Johann. A specially 

styled chair design in the Snow Space look 

was chosen for the lift. 

“We can rely on Doppelmayr’s innovation 

capability when it comes to offering our guests 

an unforgettable winter sports experience. 

With the world’s first chairlift incorporating 

heated backrests, we have achieved a 

new level of comfort and are underlining 

our position as a premium 

ski resort with another 

technical highlight,” says 

Snow Space Salzburg CEO 

Wolfgang Hettegger, who 

is visibly delighted with the 

new Sonntagskogel lift 2. 

© Mike Vogl

24 


High capacity plus comfort 

6-CLD-B Gampen Lift | Ischgl, Tyrol (AUT) 

Silvrettaseilbahn AG 

2,416 m 924 m 2,800 PPH 

5.5 m/s 7.88 min 122 6-seater chairs December 2018 D-Line 

The new Gampen lift in Ischgl climbs a vertical 

rise of almost one kilometer. The design 

of the 6-seater D-Line chairlift perfectly reflects 

the distinctive features of the ski resort. 

Silvrettaseilbahn AG is constantly investing in 

innovations and improvements that offer 

Ischgl’s skiers the best possible winter sports 

experience. The latest example is the new 

Gampen lift E4, which opened in December 

2018. The 6-seater chairlift replaces a quad 

chairlift and extends from the 1,924 m Fimba 

to the Palinkopf at 2,848 m, which is the highest 

point in the ski area. At 924 meters, the 

Gampen lift climbs the greatest vertical rise of 

any 6-seater bubble chairlift worldwide. 

Doppelmayr has built a large lift installation 

with impressive dimensions, as borne out by 

figures such as 2,416 m length, 25 towers and 

122 chairs. The goal was to cut the trip time to 

this very popular section of the ski area and to 

increase capacity. The uphill ride to the 

Palinkopf takes just eight minutes with the 

new lift. 

a loading conveyor in the bottom station 

makes for easy boarding. 

Unique Ischgl design 

Doppelmayr has styled the lift entirely in the customer’s 

corporate color scheme – as already implemented 

on the Palinkopf D1 6-seater chairlift. 

Both the stations and the chairs feature the striking 

black and red Ischgl colors. The chair backs 

have been printed with different animals to be 

found in Ischgl’s mountains, making each chair 

unique. The variability of the D-Line enabled the 

distinctive features of the ski resort to be refl ected 

in the design. That’s what makes the Gampen 

lift unmistakable and a true eye-catcher – for a 

unique winter sports experience. 

The new D-Line chairlift Gampen E4 is another 

milestone in the history of the Silvretta Arena. 

Quality, innovation and design were once 

again the deciding factors. 

We’re already looking forward 

to our next D-Line lift from 

Doppelmayr. 

DI (FH) Markus Walser, 

Board Member, 

Silvrettaseilbahn AG 

The D-Line chairlift is not only exceptionally 

high-capacity but also meets top standards in 

comfort. Ergonomically shaped individual 

seats, bubbles and the integrated seat heating 

offer guests an outstanding ride experience. 

The lift also has a system that locks the 

restraining bar after manual closure – so that 

it can’t be opened during the trip. In addition,


25 

Barrier-free access to the Palinkopf 

The new Gampen lift offers passengers 

with impaired mobility simple and safe 

access as well as optimal comfort. The seat 

dividers on the D-Line chairs can be removed 

to allow monoskiers a barrier-free trip. 

Claudia Lösch is looking forward to a great 

day’s skiing in Ischgl. The abundant fresh 

snow and brilliant sunshine promise perfect 

outdoor fun on the ski trails. The monoskier 

and former disabled sportswoman starts off 

from the bottom station of the Silvretta lift in 

the center of Ischgl. In her wheelchair, she 

takes the elevator up to the platform. The 

Funitel from Doppelmayr then brings her 

straight to the ski area. On arrival at the top 

station, the double Olympic champion at 

Vancouver 2010 swaps over to her sit-ski, 

which was specially developed for wheelchair 

users. 

In her active racing career, Lösch, who is 

originally from Lower Austria and now lives in 

Innsbruck, has got to know a host of ski 

resorts worldwide. Accessibility and lift installations 

are major issues in her choice of ski 

region. “Chairlifts and surface lifts are what I 

like best,” she says. Her sports equipment can 

easily be used on surface lifts by fixing a rope 

to the moniski’s seat or on chairlifts by adjusting 

the seat height on her monoski. 

Accessibility for all 

From the Palinkopf, Claudia Lösch cuts elegant 

curves as she skis down the long and 

spectacular run to the bottom station of the 

Gampen lift. The entrance to the lift is level and 

easily accessible. This enables Claudia to 

rapidly reach the loading area. Once there, a 

member of the ropeway crew briefly stops the 

lift. With a simple flick of the wrist, he removes 

the seat divider in the middle the D-Line chair, 

creating a level and wider seating area. “That 

means I have unobstructed access to the seat. 

Also, the low loading height and horizontal 

seat surface on the Doppelmayr chair are extremely 

practical,” emphasizes Claudia Lösch. 

Closing the restraining bar is entirely straightforward 

as the strap makes it particularly easy 

to reach, which is an advantage for all chairlift 

passengers. Austria’s 2016 disability sportswoman 

of the year finds ample space between 

the footrests and enjoys the breathtaking views 

of Ischgl’s mountains during the uphill ride. 

Disembarking at the top station is equally unproblematic 

for Claudia: “A long and slightly 

downward sloping unloading area like here is 

helpful – that gives you enough time to get out 

of the seat and the slope helps with forward 

momentum.” 

When developing the Doppelmayr D-Line, 

safety and disabled-friendliness were major 

priorities along with capacity and comfort in 

order to ensure optimal accessibility and a 

comfortable uphill ride for all passengers – 

from skiers, snowboarders and adaptive skiers 

to seniors and children. Nonetheless, Claudia 

Lösch still sees potential for improvement: “It 

would be good if you could remove several seat 

dividers at once – that would be a great advantage 

at ski resorts which are hotspots for 

sit-skiers. Then several of us could use a chair 

at the same time.” This is a feature that can 

be readily accommodated at the customer’s 

request. 

The seat divider can be removed with a simple 

flick of the wrist. 

Monoskiers find ample space between the 

footrests. 

Breathtaking: Claudia Lösch enjoys the views 

of Ischgl’s mountains.

26 

News from Around the World 

First aerial tramway in Peru 

The Peruvian city of Calca is providing 

access to an important Inca archaeological 

site with the construction of the country’s fi rst 

aerial tramway from Doppelmayr/Garaventa. 

The tramway project is of particular significance 

for several reasons. For international 

visitors, the new installation provides access 

to Huchuy Qosqo, a historically important archaeological 

site of the Incas. Huchuy Qosqo 

is located at over 3,600 meters above sea level 

and is embedded in an attractive landscape 

with breathtaking views of the Valle Sagrado, 

the sacred valley of the Incas. Up to now, the 

ascent into this region was only possible on 

foot and took several hours. In future, the 

aerial tramway will be a convenient means 

of visiting the historic site for day-trippers. 

For Doppelmayr/Garaventa, this is the first 

ropeway in Peru. 

Driver for sustainable tourism 

The project engineering for the new tram 

has already been completed. Production at 

Garaventa and cabin construction at CWA are 

in full swing. The tramway stations are due to 

be assembled in fall 2019. Rope installation 

is scheduled for early 2020, with start-up to 

follow in the summer. The official groundbreaking 

ceremony was attended by Calca’s 

mayor, Adriel K. Carrillos Cajigas, the Austrian 

ambassador in Peru, Dr. Gerhard Zettl, and 

Garaventa sales manager Thomas Hunziker 

along with Rafael Lemos and Alexander 

Baumgartner from Doppelmayr Peru. The 

project managers from Doppelmayr/Garaventa 

joined the Austrian ambassador in emphasizing 

the importance of ropeways both for 

Peru’s rural areas and for public transport in 

cities. They highlighted the fact that such installations 

are an ecological way to create new 

jobs and drive forward the development of sustainable 

tourism. The environmentally friendly 

means of transport is safe, virtually noiseless 

and congestion-free, and also serves as a 

flagship project for further installations in Peru. 

DID YOU KNOW THAT ... 

... construction of the aerial tramway in 

Calca/Peru adds another country to the list 

of nations – now totaling 96 – where 

Doppelmayr/Garaventa installations are 

in operation? 

Next-generation lift to the 

Planai in Schladming 

Planai-Hochwurzen-Bahnen invests in comfort 

for guests with a new D-Line gondola lift. 

After a proud 33-year service record, the Planai 

lift is to be replaced by a new gondola lift. 

Since the 2013 Ski World Cup, more and more 

guests have been visiting the Styrian mountain 

and leisure region. In order to offer the 

required capacity and bring a new level of 

comfort to Schladming, the operating company, 

Planai-Hochwurzen-Bahnen, is implementing 

the biggest innovation in its history. From 

December 2019, a high-capacity 10-passenger 

gondola lift from Doppelmayr offering firstclass 

travel and modern design will await 

Schladming’s guests. Optimal comfort will be 

provided fi rst and foremost by the new OMEGA V 

cabins from CWA featuring barrier-free loading 

and unloading, individual seats in a luxurious 

wood and leather construction plus panorama 

glazing to maximize the view. The new D-Line 

gondola lift will operate in the summer as well as 

in the winter, providing guests with an enjoyable 

uphill and downhill ride experience. 

© Kreiner Architektur

News from Around the World 

27 

Construction start for ropeway 

link in Berner Oberland 

© Jungfraubahn AG 


In Switzerland, Doppelmayr/Garaventa is to 

build a 3S lift up to the Eiger Glacier and a 

gondola lift up to the Männlichen that will both 

start from a shared terminal in Grindelwald. 

The operating companies Gondelbahn Grindelwald-Männlichen 

(GGM) and Jungfraubahnen 

are collaborating on a joint project to build a ropeway 

link that will access both the Eiger Glacier 

and the Männlichen region from 2019/2020. 

The starting point will be an ultramodern 

terminal in Grindelwald Grund. With the new 

railroad station Terminal Grund (Rothenegg) belonging 

to Berner Oberland-Bahn, the two lifts will 

also link up with the public transport network. In 

future, this will cut travel time to the Jungfraujoch 

and into the ski area by a total of 47 minutes. 

Construction of the Eiger Express – the sixkilometer-long 

3S lift from Grindelwald Grund 

to the Eiger Glacier – is also already underway. 

Towers one and three have been assembled 

and work on the top and bottom stations for 

the 3S lift will start in midsummer 2019. The 

opening is planned for December 2020. 

Project with many benefits 

The ropeway link is a once-in-a-generation 

project and will ensure a successful future 

for the Jungfrau region as a year-round destination. 

The long journey to get there will become 

a thing of the past with the ropeway link. 

The new terminal with shopping facilities, ski 

storage and parking garage will also create 

around 50 new jobs. 

A fi rst glimpse of the 

ropeway link project can 

be found here: 


High-speed construction timetable 

The construction start for the new Grindelwald-Männlichen 

gondola lift (GGM) takes 

priority as the concession for the old lift is due 

to expire. The current installation will make its 

last trip at the end of March 2019 and will be 

demolished in April. The top station of the new 

lift has already been completed and the work 

being carried out by Doppelmayr/Garaventa at 

the mid station is in full swing. Parts for the 

new towers will be flown in and the bottom 

station built between the end of May and 

mid-July 2019. The ropeway is scheduled to 

go into operation for the start of the winter 

sports season in December 2019.

28 

Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group 

Director duo with a great 

passion for the job 

Gerhard Gassner became the new joint managing director of Doppelmayr Seilbahnen GmbH 

as of January 2019. Alongside Thomas Pichler, he forms the two-man team at the headquarter 

in Wolfurt. WIR spoke with the two of them about their roles, experiences and goals. 

Gerhard Gassner is the managing director 

of Doppelmayr Seilbahnen GmbH responsible 

for the areas of logistics, production, 

administration and finance. 

WIR. As the former managing director of 

your own family business, Gassner Stahlbau 

GmbH, you already have experience of the 

ropeway industry. What changes has the 

move to the parent company brought for you? 

Gerhard Gassner: During my 14-year career 

as managing director at Gassner Stahlbau GmbH, 

I already worked in the areas which are now 

part of my duties. The move to the parent company 

has significantly increased the dimensions 

involved. Whereas my previous focus 

was on the products made by Gassner – i.e. 

chairs, towers and cabin hangers – I’m now 

dealing with the entire ropeway installation. 

Another huge change is the international aspect, 

with production plants in other countries, which 

also involves more travel. Something else that’s 

new for me: The size of the company means I can 

no longer be in touch with every employee. 

WIR. Digitalization is also making inroads 

into the ropeway sector. What can we expect to 

see from Doppelmayr/Garaventa in this area in the 

future? What has already been implemented? 

Gerhard Gassner: At Doppelmayr/ 

Garaventa, the digitalization drive goes under 

the name of “SMART Ropeway”. SMART Ropeway 

encompasses all the topics associated 

with digital data, expands the product and service 

portfolio and thus creates value added for 

our customers. We are developing offers and 

functions that will make day-to-day operations 

easier for the ropeway operating company. 

That can mean operational support for the 

ropeway or assistance with repairs and maintenance, 

and plenty more besides ... but I 

don’t want to reveal all just yet.

Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group 

29 

WIR. Employees are one of the most 

important resources for any company. What 

do you consider to be important in the area of 

leadership? 

Gerhard Gassner: Yes, that’s right. Committed 

and motivated employees are the most 

valuable asset that a company can possess. 

Because they are the ones who achieve 

excellence and go the extra mile for customers. 

When it comes to leadership, I value interpersonal 

relationships based on openness, 

respect and appreciation. It’s important to create 

an environment in which employees can 

work autonomously, experience job satisfaction 

and identify with the enterprise. I see my 

role as that of supporting my employees and 

motivating them to think in terms of the big picture, 

also in relation to efficiency. Customer 

focus is also extremely important. 

Thomas Pichler has been managing director 

of Doppelmayr Seilbahnen GmbH since 2015. 

He is responsible for sales, marketing and 

technology. 

WIR. With the launch of the D-Line, you were 

instrumental in shaping a crucial phase for the 

company. What did you learn from this process? 

Thomas Pichler: The launch of a new 

product is a very exciting process. In the case 

of the D-Line, it was actually an entire product 

line where we reengineered each individual 

component. The feedback we’ve received confirms 

the ideas that went into the D-Line. We 

took the three focus groups customers, passengers 

and ropeway personnel as the benchmark 

and thought about how we could optimize 

their ropeway experience. Passengers 

now enjoy greater comfort, and maintenance 

and operation of the installations is much 

easier for ropeway personnel. Also, new possibilities 

have been opened up for our 

customers in terms of design. What we have 

learned is: It pays to take feedback seriously 

and to rethink ideas from scratch during the 

development process. 

WIR. What, in your view, defines a 

Doppelmayr/Garaventa ropeway installation? 

Thomas Pichler: Every Doppelmayr/ 

Garaventa ropeway is a reflection of our 

corporate DNA. For me, that means reliability, 

versatility, efficiency and quality. For passengers, 

comfort and safety are writ large with our 

products – all over the world and in every 

application. Each customer is unique and, 

equally, every ropeway we build to address the 

customer’s needs is unique. That means there 

is something special about every project. 

WIR. We’re constantly seeing exceptional 

ropeways with lists of superlatives or new 

technical features in the press. How does 

innovation happen at Doppelmayr/Garaventa? 

Thomas Pichler: Our customers are certainly 

one of the major drivers of innovation. 

In our case, new developments often arise from 

an exciting idea put forward by a customer. 

Challenges like these give us the inspiration 

to come up with new solutions, develop 

our products and optimize the technology. 

One of the keys to innovation is therefore 

close collaboration with our customers and 

listening closely to what the market wants on 

the one hand, and highly motivated and qualified 

employees who can think outside the box 

on the other. 

WIR. Thank you for talking to us!

From left to right Dr. Günter Tik, Dr. Fredmund Malik and Dr. Ottokar Strobich 

The three musketeers take their leave 

Courage, loyalty, reliability, friendship and 

charm are the virtues of the musketeers. The 

departure of the long-serving members of the 

Doppelmayr Group’s supervisory board, Dr. 

Fredmund Malik, Dr. Günter Tik and Dr. Ottokar 

Strobich, marks the end of an era for three 

personalities of this ilk at the home of the 

leading ropeway expert. They made a huge 

contribution to safeguarding the future of the 

company. And they were always the driving 

force, providing the courage for technical 

and organizational innovation and acting as 

a bulwark for operational management in 

turbulent times. 

Dr. Fredmund Malik 

Back in the 1970s, Fredmund Malik was managing 

director of Bergbahnen Diedamskopf 

Au-Schoppernau (AUT). During this period, he 

focused his efforts on the modernization and 

expansion of the ski area, which gave him a 

deep insight into the ropeway business and 

its markets at an early stage. From 1996 onward, 

he was chairman of the AMD foundation 

board, chairman of the supervisory board of 

Doppelmayr Seilbahnen GmbH and subsequently 

chairman of the supervisory board of 

Doppelmayr Holding AG as well as chairman 

of the board of directors of Ropetrans AG. 

With his innovative management methods, 

Fredmund Malik was instrumental in driving 

forward the development of corporate strategy. 

The success of the company and securing its 

market position were always his overriding 

goals. It was in no small part due to his contribution 

that Doppelmayr/Garaventa was able to 

expand its technology and market leadership 

and open up new market segments. 

Dr. Ottokar Strobich 

When Doppelmayr was considering the fiscal 

optimization of its corporate structure, Artur 

Doppelmayr appointed Ottokar Strobich as an 

adviser. The public accountant was considered 

to be an expert in tax law in Austria, where he 

earned himself the reputation as being a financial 

law wizard. He was always called upon to give 

advice when fundamental decisions regarding 

corporate policy had to be made. The clear 

structure achieved with his help brought the 

company group not only financial but also legal 

and organizational benefits. As a result, the various 

supervisory board committees gained an 

in-depth understanding of market conditions. 

Ottokar Strobich was appointed as successor 

to Fredmund Malik on the supervisory board of 

Doppelmayr Holding AG in 2006 and held the 

post of chairman until stepping down in 2018. 

Dr. Günter Tik 

Günter Tik contributed valuable know-how to 

the Group. He was appointed to the supervisory 

board of Doppelmayr Holding AG in 1994 on 

the recommendation of Ottokar Strobich. 

Doppelmayr/Garaventa also benefited greatly 

from his management experience in large 

industrial corporations and his knowledge of 

modern accounting and IT-assisted controlling. 

He achieved a change in prioritization at the 

level of top management and drove forward 

policies aimed at securing the future by means 

of adequate self-financing. This led to successful 

innovations as well as rationalization of 

the production chain and a wide-ranging 

standardization of products. As a consequence, 

there was a dramatic increase in productivity, 

which was partly attributable to the introduction 

of the Doppelmayr modular design principle. 

Doppelmayr/Garaventa wishes to thank 

Dr. Fredmund Malik, Dr. Ottokar Strobich and 

Dr. Günter Tik for their untiring commitment 

to maintaining and securing the future of the 

Group. They stand as an example and a 

benchmark for integrity, loyalty and professionalism. 

These values, which they brought to 

life, will continue to accompany the company 

and its employees in the future.

Customer Support 

31 

Ordering spare parts 

made easy with the 

Ropeway Assistant 

Doppelmayr has developed a new service tool to make 

the process of ordering spare parts faster and simpler. 

Ropeway Assistant 

– Electronic spare parts catalog 

– Online ordering through 

the Doppelmayr website 

– Mobile application 

– Password-protected login 

– For D-Line and 3S installations 

Doppelmayr’s Ropeway Assistant gives 

customers a convenient, time-saving 

and individual means of ordering spare 

parts for D-Line and 3S ropeway installations. 

The new tool is akin to an online shop. Access 

is via the customer support section on the 

Doppelmayr website. The emphasis was 

placed on simple access and fast page loading 

when developing the electronic spare parts 

catalog. That’s why online orders can also be 

placed from the top station using a mobile 

device, such as a cell phone or tablet. 

Easy to use 

This is how it works: After logging into the 

service section of the Doppelmayr website 

using a password, the customer is shown all 

his or her D-Line and 3S installations under the 

menu item “Ropeway Assistant”. The next step 

is to select the lift for which tools or spare parts 

are required. The Ropeway Assistant automatically 

identifi es which parts belong to the respective 

installation. Navigation to the required 

part is drastically shortened as the article 

selection is already subdivided into equipment 

groups such as drive station, line or carrier. The 

designation, ID number and a drawing are 

stored for each component. The user can now 

select the required spare part and place it in 

the shopping cart – as a helpful piece of additional 

information, the system shows the number 

of components installed, which enables the 

user to check whether the quantity ordered is 

correct at the same time. Once the required 

items have been confi rmed, the order and the 

stored information selected such as delivery 

and billing address go straight to the relevant 

subsidiary or to Wolfurt, where they are processed. 

The rest of the ordering process 

remains unchanged, and the order history can 

be traced at any time. 

Ropeway Assistant available globally 

The Ropeway Assistant gives customers a faster 

way to fi nd out the exact spare part needed – 

a huge reduction in the work involved for both 

the customer and the team who handle order 

inquiries at Doppelmayr. The Ropeway Assistant 

is being rolled out internationally and new 

installations are added on a continuous basis. 

Local organizations are currently presenting 

the tool to customers. In addition, there is one 

person to contact for each country, who is 

available to answer any questions. 

With the Ropeway Assistant, Doppelmayr is 

offering a new digital service that makes work 

considerably easier for customers – in line with 

the concept of the SMART Ropeway. 

Further information 

can be found online:

32 In Brief 

Managing director Anton Schwendinger 

dies after severe illness 

Doppelmayr/Garaventa mourns a prominent 

and respected figure. 

Anton (“Tone”) Schwendinger, board member 

of Doppelmayr Seilbahnen GmbH, passed away 

on December 28, 2018 following a severe 

illness. For 30 years, he was instrumental in 

shaping the company and contributed to its 

positive development. As managing director, 

he was responsible for the areas of controlling, 

finance, quality management, administration, 

HR, logistics and production. 

Anton Schwendinger was born in Dornbirn on 

April 6, 1963. After completing his obligatory 

schooling, he went on to do a dual apprenticeship 

as metalworker and technical draftsman. 

This was followed by training to become 

a master craftsman for mechanical engineering 

and operating technology. In 1988, 

he joined Doppelmayr in Wolfurt as project 

manager for the introduction of the ERP system 

known as PUISS-O. With hard work, commitment 

and extensive further training, he was 

able to fulfill his career potential and subsequently 

held several managerial posts. As 

production manager, he played a pivotal role 

in consolidating the company’s position as the 

world market leader in ropeway construction. 

He was a strong advocate for retaining and 

expanding Wolfurt as the company’s production 

and development site. On July 1, 2012, 

he was appointed to the post of managing 

director and exercised this role with great 

commitment and enthusiasm up until his 

death. 

Anton Schwendinger will always be remembered 

by colleagues, customers and partners 

not only for his outstanding technical expertise 

but also and in particular for his dedication, his 

positive attitude and ability to motivate, and 

the way in which he responded to employee 

needs. Tone, you are sadly missed. 

German Minister-President Kretschmann 

visits Wolfurt 

Winfried Kretschmann, minister-president 

of Baden-Württemberg, visited Vorarlberg 

in November 2018. Vorarlberg and Baden- 

Württemberg have been working together 

closely on energy, environmental and climate 

policy for many years and regularly 

exchange views on these topics. One of the 

items on the agenda was a trip to Doppelmayr 

to take a look at apprentice training at 

a Vorarlberg company and to share ideas 

on the recruitment of skilled workers and 

vocational training. Kretschmann underlined 

the importance of the dual system of vocational 

education and training for the economy in 

both countries and the promising future prospects 

for young people that are associated 

with it. 

Interest in urban ropeway solutions 

Winfried Kretschmann and his delegation, 

which included Minister of Transport 

Winfried Hermann, were also keen to find 

out more about the possibilities of 

innovative ropeway systems in the urban 

environment. Doppelmayr’s managing director 

Thomas Pichler presented a series of 

successful projects that illustrate just 

how efficient, environmentally friendly and 

space-saving ropeway installations in cities 

can be.

In Brief 

33 

Sharing ideas 

across borders 

Doppelmayr customers visit Doppelmayr customers: 

Employees from the Slovenian ski resort 

Kranjska Gora came to Austria as part of a 

company visit in September 2018 – or to be 

more precise, to Saalbach in Salzburg. There, 

they went to see the Schönleiten installation, 

a 10-passenger D-Line gondola lift, in conjunction 

with a ropeway project of their own they 

have in the pipeline. The guided tour provided 

an insight into the overall concept of the ropeway 

and included a look at the station and drive 

technology along with the workshop. During the 

tour and the restaurant visit that followed, the 

main focus was on the new ropeway technology 

and the opportunity to share experiences. 

Aerial ropeway on her 

Majesty’s secret service 

© Bergbahnen Sölden/Kristopher Grunert 

A unique installation centering on the most 

famous secret agent in cinema history has 

been created in Sölden under the theme title 

“007 Elements”. The choice of location is no 

accident as Sölden provided the setting for the 

James Bond film “Spectre”. Visitors travel in 

style with a 3S lift to the experiential world inside 

the Gaislachkogl mountain at an elevation 

of 3,000 meters – riding in one of the two 

cabins that have been specially fitted out for 

the exhibition experience. Input Projektentwicklungs 

GmbH was involved in implementing 

this project. 

The classic John Barry film music from four 

powerful loudspeakers sets the mood during 

the trip. True to style, the soundtrack begins as 

the ropeway accelerates. Input developed a 

custom color especially for the cabins: 

platinum gold. This was applied using a 

custom-manufactured, top-quality film and 

gives the lift an elegant Bond flair. The cabin 

concept was developed, designed and recorded 

in collaboration with Neal Callow, art 

director for the last four Bond films. 

The exhibition itself takes visitors on a journey 

through the world of 007 – in the form of ten 

differently themed spaces. The film universe of 

the secret agent is interactively brought to life, 

from the legendary title sequences, to the 

villain’s hideaway and the spectacular action 

scenes.

34 In Brief 

Federal Minister Karin Kneissl 

visits Doppelmayr 

Dr. Karin Kneissl, Austria’s Federal 

Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign 

Affairs, visited Doppelmayr at the 

beginning of the year. She was welcomed 

to Wolfurt by Hanno Ulmer along with other 

Doppelmayr representatives. Kneissl 

gained an insight into the world market 

leader for ropeway engineering and 

emphasized the importance of Austrian 

businesses during her visit: “Companies 

like Doppelmayr are Austria’s economic 

calling card.” 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs promotes 

Austrian export business worldwide, 

focusing on cooperations, networking and 

support as its prime goals. 

From left to right: Markus Wallner, Vorarlberg’s provincial governor; Gerhard Gassner, 

managing director (Doppelmayr); Minister Karin Kneissl; Hanno Ulmer, executive director, 

and Alexander Klimmer, executive sales director (both Doppelmayr) 

Gunther Lugauer is new managing director 

of Gassner Stahlbau 

The 44-year-old Tyrolean Gunther Lugauer 

was appointed as the new managing director 

of Gassner Stahlbau GmbH in September 

2018. He took over the reins from Gerhard 

Gassner, who became managing director of 

Doppelmayr Seilbahnen GmbH as of January 

2019. Gassner Stahlbau has been a 

member of the Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group 

since 1998 and specializes in the production 

of ropeway chairs, towers and cabin 

hangers. 

Gunther Lugauer brings a successful career 

track record as well as technical know-how to 

the post. After attending vocational college, 

Lugauer went on to study engineering management 

and mechanical engineering at the Technical 

University of Graz. Following graduation, 

his fi rst rung on the career ladder took him to 

the development of automatic assembly 

machines for the semiconductor industry. He 

then moved into production planning for plant 

and machinery at thyssenkrupp Presta. 

As production planner – later taking up a management 

position – Lugauer’s responsibilities 

included setting up plants in China and 

Germany as well as acting as project manager 

for customer projects. The father of two is 

looking forward to tackling new challenges at 

Gassner Stahlbau. He attaches great importance 

to interactions with employees based 

on appreciation and respect, and sees employee 

satisfaction and motivation as the basis 

for future success.

In Brief 

35 

Symbol of Austria 

Garaventa sponsors young talent 

Since the 2018/19 ski season, Garaventa “Marco Odermatt is committed, grounded 

has been supporting ski racer Marco Odermatt 

as his premium sponsor for the next dedicated and very passionate about what 

and focused. Our employees are also highly 

four years. The 21-year-old from Nidwalden they do. That makes it a perfect fit.” For the 

is one of the greatest young talents in Swiss exceptional athlete, Garaventa also represents 

the ideal partner and a huge stroke 

skiing. At the 2018 Junior World Ski Championships 

in Davos, Odermatt came away of luck: “So many of your lifts have carried 

with five gold medals. Garaventa CEO Arno me up the mountain and enabled me to 

Inauen is delighted about the partnership: practice my sport.” 

A Doppelmayr gondola cabin is representing 

Austria for six months at the Joint 

Research Center (JRC) of the European 

Commission in Ispra (IT) to mark the country’s 

presidency of the EU Council. The cabin 

is adorned with the Austrian and European 

flags and for all 2,000 employees at the JRC 

provides a clearly visible symbol of the country’s 

tourism, successful businesses and innovations. 

While the ropeway has made the 

mountains more accessible for people, it is 

currently conquering more and more cities 

worldwide, providing an environmentally 

friendly solution to traffi c congestion problems 

and an attractive improvement in mobility. JRC 

staff can access information about the cabin 

on their own website. 

Innovation award for the Stoos funicular 

Legend 

Inclined length 

Vertical rise 

Number of towers 

Capacity 

Speed 

Trip time 

Carriers 

Opened 

D-Line 

Max. inclination 

Garaventa has won the 2018 innovation 

award presented by the Chamber of Industry 

and Commerce for Central Switzerland 

(IHZ) for developing the design of the passenger 

compartments used on the new 

Stoos funicular, the world’s steepest installation 

of this kind. The jury was particularly 

impressed with the various innovations 

required to climb the amazing track grade 

of up to 110 percent, or 47.7 degrees. An 

exceptional feature of the Stoos funicular is 

its sun-yellow cars, which feature level 

compensation to ensure maximum passenger 

comfort no matter how steep the 

slope. The innovation award is presented 

annually. 

Imprint 

Proprietor, editor and publisher: Doppelmayr Seilbahnen 

GmbH, Postfach 20, Konrad-Doppelmayr-Straße 1, 6922 Wolfurt, 

Austria, dm@doppelmayr.com, doppelmayr.com; text 

and editing: Doppelmayr Seilbahnen GmbH in collaboration 

with ikp Vorarlberg GmbH, www.ikp.at; graphics and layout: 

Doppelmayr Seilbahnen GmbH in collaboration with 

KONZETT BRENNDÖRFER, www.agenturkb.com; photos: 

Doppelmayr; printing: Thurnher, Rankweil; editorial policy 

pursuant to §25 Media Act: up-to-date information for 

customers, partners and employees of the Doppelmayr/ 

Garaventa Group; publication frequency: the magazine is 

published three times a year and distributed free of charge to 

customers and partners of the Doppelmayr Group. Reprinting 

only permitted with statement of source and explicit written 

authority; status: April 2019; errors and omissions excepted; 

General Terms and Conditions apply. 

doppelmayr.com

Thank you! 

Visions. They empower us to continually rise to new heights. Ideas that we cherish. They enable us to strive for excellence. 

It was your visions and ideas that we implemented in 2018. Worldwide. Your trust is also our driving force for the future. 

And that’s why we want to say thank you. 

doppelmayr.com 

EN

WIR 01/2019 [EN]

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