together with the Mayrhofner Bergbahnen and the Zillertaler Gletscherbahnen

For this winter, the Tyrolean company Sunkid, together with Mayrhofner Bergbahnen and Zillertaler Gletscherbahnen, was able to realize two innovative winter sports return systems in the Zillertal 3000 ski area - the Horberg Shuttle and the Mini Lift.

The Horberg Shuttle transports skiers and pedestrians by means of Moving Carpet conveyor belts from the Horberg Valley to the top station of the Horbergbahn lift. This new, very convenient connection bridges a difference in altitude of approx. 60m.

General overview of the installation

On peak days, up to 750 winter sports enthusiasts struggled up the 60 meters of altitude to the Horberg cable car to return to the valley after a wonderful day of skiing. Of course, the Mayrhofner Bergbahnen also recognized this shortcoming and had been looking for a comfortable connection for some time. After intensive study of various technical solution options, the mountain railroads under operations manager Rauch Andreas decided on conveyor belts to bridge this difference in altitude.

A Sunkid Moving Carpet with a length of 54m and a second one with a length of 60m now comfortably bring all winter sports enthusiasts up to the top station. On peak days, up to 4,700people are transported. Almost 90% of them use the lifts in the late afternoon from 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm! The two lifts are supervised by a lift attendant who stands between the two sections and has an excellent view of both lifts.

For next year, the Mayrhofner Bergbahnen are planning a third Sunkid Moving Carpet conveyor belt to open up the last missing section of approx. 50m. Also under consideration is the expansion of all lifts to two-way operation. This means that pedestrians and beginners can be transported downhill in the morning and uphill during the day.

The following arguments speak for Sunkid Moving Carpet conveyor belts as logistics solutions:

• Any type of user can be transported (skiers and snowboarders with and without skis strapped on, pedestrians, children of any age, strollers, toboggans, etc.?)
• Very high transport capacity per hour
• Comparatively very low investment costs
• No construction works (no foundations, supports, etc.)
• Flexibility: change of length and location possible at any time
• Maximum safety and comfort
  

SUNKID Moving Carpet - technical data
Generation 9, length 1x54m and 1x60m, link chain version

• Belt width 60 cm
• Drive: 7,5 KW - 3 x 400 V
• speed 0,1-0,6 m/sec
• infinitely variable
• incline up to 22
• modular construction (3 m units)
• plug-in and portable e-box
• 24 V safety circuit
• new fault diagnosis system
• High quality frequency converter
• Stainless steel running surface
• Stand feet for height adjustment
• Sturdy steel construction, hot-dip galvanized
• Lifting device for drive unit for easy maintenance and service
• Foldable 30 cm gangways with snow fleece
• Adjustable entry and exit platforms that also give easy access for snow cleaning

2nd Zillertal Glacier Lift - Mini Lift:

Since the winter of 2001/2002, the revolutionary "150er Tux" aerial tramway has created a link between the Penken/Mayrhofen ski area and the Rastkogel/Tux. Winter sports enthusiasts return to Mayrhofen via a beautiful but relatively long red run. In order to provide an easier and more comfortable way back to Mayrhofen for tired ski freaks and the less experienced, the aerial tramway is also used to bring skiers back. Until now, however, a difference in altitude of 25m with a length of approx. 150m had to be overcome. Since this year this distance can be mastered quite simply and comfortably with the mini lift, a Bruckschlögl SwissCord rope lift.

At this altitude of 2,450m above sea level and the very wind-exposed terrain, a very special lift system is required to keep maintenance and operating costs as low as possible. The Swiss Cord lift system meets these requirements in the best possible way due to

• the vertical rope guidance and
• the motorized height adjustment of up to 2.6m.

This allows optimum adjustment to the respective snow heights as well as easy track preparation by snow groomers.

Of particular importance in the Swisscord surface lift system is the safety device at the exit point. Here, Bruckschlögl has found a convincing solution. An orifice is mounted at the front end of a bellows through which the rope enters the station. The orifice is connected to the station via a lever system in the form of an arch above the bellows . If the orifice is moved towards the station by an object on the rope, a metal plate is pulled out of an electric switch already at a switching distance of 55mm, thus interrupting the safety circuit and switching off the drive. The length of the bellows is dimensioned to the stopping distance of the system.

The system is operated by indirect supervision through a video system with an intercom, which saves personnel costs and ensures rapid amortization of the system. Another special feature of the Bruckschlögl Swisscord rope lift is the rubber handholds on the rope, which are installed every 9m and provide passengers with an easy way to hold on.