Ski lift installations and equipment

To make the experience on ropeways more enjoyable, safer, and more environmentally friendly, an entire sector dedicated to the mountain industry is devising innovative solutions, each in their field.

The growth of mountain tourism also relies on the expertise of international manufacturers, particularly European ones like POMA, MND, or GMM. Globally, the Poma group is known for its high-performance and eco-responsible mobility solutions, whether for specific mountain equipment or urban transport. At the 2023 edition of the Mountain Planet trade show, Poma presented ECODRIVE, a soft and sustainable mobility solution for ropeways, allowing energy savings of up to 20% by automatically adjusting the speed of a gondola lift based on crowd levels. Fully configurable, this system offers energy savings tracking interfaced with the digital services platform SKADII. Browse the Innovation Book #3 by Mountain Planet.

Focus on cable transport installations and alternatives to ski lifts

Ski resorts offer various types of ski lifts to transport skiers or snowboarders to the slopes. In a four-season development strategy, in summer, these lifts are also used by pedestrians, hikers, and mountain biking enthusiasts.

There are chairlifts, equipped with suspended seats, and gondolas that can accommodate a larger number of visitors while offering protection from bad weather. Detachable grip gondolas have the unique feature of not stopping when passengers enter and exit. Aerial tramways are designed to cover long distances and significant elevation changes, often used to connect valleys to mountain summits. Funiculars, operating on a system of wire ropes and counterweights, are typically used for very steep journeys or to connect lower areas to mountainous regions at higher elevations. In some ski resorts, covered moving walkways are also available, a real alternative to traditional ski lifts that makes ski slope access easier for beginners.

Carbon neutrality goal by 2037

Ski areas have implemented several actions to save energy, such as training in eco-driving for aerial tramways and their reasoned use outside peak activity periods.

Moreover, the dismantling of obsolete ski lifts is among the priority projects for ski areas.

At the Mountain Planet trade show, different mountain professionals present their products, services, and solutions in the following areas:

• Technical assistance
• Equipment, parts, accessories: engines, control transmissions, cabins, wire ropes, chairs, rollers, towers, stations, shelters, lubricants, grease…
• Filters (oil, water, industrial)
• Lifting, handling
• Ropeway maintenance
• Safety equipment and control
• Tramways, gondola lifts, chairlifts, ski lifts, surface lifts, funiculars, monorails, elevators

Focus on Urban Ropeway Transport

With over 377,000 passengers a year, the Bastille aerial tramway in Grenoble (the city hosting the Mountain Planet trade show) is a pioneer of eco-friendly transport. Built by POMA in 1934, it represents a particularly effective solution for urban areas to overcome natural obstacles like a river and to climb a hill. Offering a breathtaking panoramic view of the city of Grenoble, its tourist appeal has been confirmed for 90 years!

Many globally recognized manufacturers like MND, GMM, POMA are also developing urban ropeway transport means: aerial tramways, funiculars, urban elevators… all soft and sustainable mobility solutions offering numerous advantages for cities: reducing traffic jams and CO2 emissions, low noise impact, improving accessibility in difficult areas, promoting tourism, etc. Learn more about mobility and transport.