A journey through the history of the creation and development of Sunkid and its Moving Carpet

Sunkid and the Moving Carpet celebrate 25th anniversary

With its Moving Carpet conveyor belt, the Sunkid company has become the world market leader for conveyor belts in the tourist environment. Both celebrated their 25th anniversary in 2021.

During this time, the Moving Carpet has not only revolutionized ski schooling, but is now indispensable as a beginner's lift, feeder lift, connecting lift and in many other areas of use at ski resorts and leisure destinations around the world. In our 6-part series, we would like to take you on a short journey through the history of Sunkid and its Moving Carpet, giving you an insight into the development, technology and milestones from 25 years.

The Moving Carpet, the original since 1996!

MILESTONES

2024
Top
4.000 Moving Carpet

4,000th Sunkid Moving Carpet delivered worldwide: The ceremonial handover to the Hochzillertal Kaltenbach ski center took place on February 6, 2024

2023
Innovation
World premiere Mountain Coaster 2.0

The year-round summer toboggan run sets new standards in terms of safety, comfort, fun and efficiency.

2021
Innovation
25 years Moving Carpet. Sunkid is ...

... constantly developing the Moving Carpet in close consultation with its customers. In 2021, the next generation of conveyor belts also feature many large and small innovations and improvements!

2021
Innovation
Large, larger, the largest

Sunkid develops and installs the world's largest boarding conveyor belt for the world's largest Ferris wheel: Ain Dubai

2021
Project
Les Angles

One of the longest and most action-packed mountain coaster routes was built and installed in the middle of the French Pyrenees in 2021. The approximately 2-kilometer-long descent has an average gradient of 23%. Elements such as jumps, waves and speed turns make the whole route an adrenaline rush.

2020
Top
Cobra Connyland

In summer 2020, Sunkid developed a new train called “Cobra” for Connyland in Lipperswil, Switzerland. Numerous technical and comfort improvements make visitors' eyes light up.

2019
Top
Project Copenhagen

In 2019, the world's most unusual ski slope (CopenHill) was opened in Denmark. The result: 500 meters of ski slope and three Sunkid Moving Carpets on the roof of a waste incineration plant.

2019
Opening
Competence Center

Opening of the new competence center for innovation, design and development in Bad Goisern.

2018
Innovation
Fairytale express

Together with the Ski Dimension Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis, Sunkid develops the first fully themed conveyor belt. (Fairytale Express Kinderland Fiss)

2018
Takeover
Braso Technik GmbH

Acquisition of the summer toboggan run division of Brandauer - Foundation of the subsidiary Braso Technik GmbH

2017
Innovation
I want to hold your hand

Sunkid develops and installs a conveyor belt with motorized handrail for the first time.

2015
Jubilee
Sunkid Heege

Sunkid Heege had two reasons to celebrate in 2015. Not only did we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Heege, but also the relocation and opening of Sunkid Heege GmbH at a new address in Bassenheim near Koblenz.

2014
Innovation
Snow Dome

Assembly of conveyor belts for snow domes in Dubai and Great Britain with special automatic de-icing and snow cleaning function.

2013
Innovation
Ship Ahoi

The first boat conveyor belt with a width of 2,000 mm is built for the “Vienna Water Sports Arena”.

2013
Handover
Young Generation

Max Bruckschlögl handed over his company to Herbert Zopf and Emanuel Wohlfarter (who have been with the company since 1997) in the form of a management buy-out and since then the two have managed the group of companies in equal shares.

2012
Innovation
Treehouse

Sunkid builds the world's longest wooden gallery type VARIOS with a length of 195 m.

2012
Innovation
Conveyor belts for future

Sunkid builds the world's first conveyor belt with a roof including photovoltaic modules

2011
Innovation
a new roof

Sunkid further develops the conveyor belt roofing and presents a new revolutionary roofing system EVOLUS

2010
Innovation
Top Model

Sunkid is the first manufacturer to install gallery roofs in a wide variety of designs (wood, colored polycarbonate, double galleries, foil prints, fiberglass, etc.) - there are no limits to creativity ...

2010
Cooperation
Almholz

Sunkid and Almholz enter into a cooperation and from now on act as joint partners in the support of customers in winter and summer tourism destinations.

2009
Innovation
Super Slide

Sunkid is the first manufacturer to develop a replaceable PE plastic wear layer designed especially for summer use of the Moving Carpet: Sunkid Super Slide.

2009
Takeover
Sunkid Heege & Sunkid France

Takeover of Sunkid Heege GmbH and entry into the amusement park market. Foundation of the subsidiary Sunkid France SARL in France.

2008
Record
High Speed XXL

Sunkid builds the world's longest passenger conveyor belt with a length of more than 400 meters. In order to shorten the travel time, Sunkid developed the “maximum speed” for speeds of up to 1.2 m/s at the same time.

2007
Record
I believe I can fly

Sunkid is the first manufacturer to build a 132 m long conveyor belt 8 m above the ground on its own support system.

2006
Innovation
Phone

Sunkid is the first manufacturer to implement a system that enables communication and control between the system and the operator via SMS.

2005
Innovation
Getting out and covering

Sunkid develops and patents the new exit philosophy, the Radius side exit. Sunkid is the first manufacturer to think about the summer storage of conveyor belts and develops the Type G summer cover.

2004
Innovation
Getting technical

Sunkid is the first manufacturer to supply a radio remote control, an automatic access control system and a fault diagnosis system for conveyor belts.

2003
Innovation
Extra wide

Sunkid develops the first conveyor belt with a width of 1,200 mm, which not only transports more, but also adds value.

2002
Innovation
Roof over the head

Sunkid is the first manufacturer to develop a canopy for conveyor belts, the Sunkid Gallery. This not only pleases the passengers in bad weather, but also the operators.

2001
Innovation
Blue Eye

Sunkid develops the revolutionary endless conveyor belt surface “Blue Eye”, for optimum grip even in challenging conditions, start of production using specially built machines in Bad Goisern Bruckschlögl.

2000
Foundation
Subsidiaries

Founding of the subsidiaries Star Lifts in the USA and Borer Lift AG in Switzerland.

1999
Innovation
Let there be light

Sunkid is the first manufacturer to develop a light barrier for automatic hazard detection and automatic shutdown during conveyor belt infeed.

1999
Merger
Companies are merged

Due to the rapidly growing market, Max Bruckschlögl and Dieter Zimmermann decide to merge the companies.

1996
Foundation
Sunrise

Sunkid develops the first modern passenger conveyor belt that is laid directly in the snow without any foundations and transports passengers on a special plastic link chain.