SnowExperts Magazine - 04.2012 - TechnoAlpin · 2016. 12. 12. · difficulties with planning permission it was possible to complete the first stage of construction in time for the

01/2012 english

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The contents at a glance

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TF10 …the new “big one”

Ski resort of Predigtstuhl (GER)

Construction of a fully automatic hybrid system

WHAT job is actually done by…?

Dagmar Geis

Guaranteed snow for Kayseri (TUR)

Largest ski resort in Turkey emerging at the foot

of the extinct Erciyes volcano

MMS - hand-operated yet high-tech…

Austria

Under construction in Mönichkirchen and Fiss

“No-man” system in Alebacken (SWE)

Sustainability for Sörenberg (SUI)

France

Guaranteed snow for Schnepfenried and Ascou

Italy

Sauze d’Oulx and Kronplatz remain loyal to TechnoAlpin

Customer feedback - V3 on course for success

C O N T E N T S

Page 22Did you know,…

Page 7

Page 12

…the new “big one” Product launch

guaranteed snow

yet high-tech…

V3 on course for success

for kayseri (tur)

MMS - hand-operated

customer feedback

W W W . T E C H N O A L P I N . C O M

walter rieder & erich gummerer

Dear readers,

In recent years innovation has been the topic of every con-

versation. It almost seemed that this was an entirely new

recipe for success which had just been discovered. But it

has always been the case that the most innovative enter-

prises also reap the rewards of success.

Having invested in constant development in all areas of

snow-making technology, TechnoAlpin has gradually earned

the privilege of call itself a leading innovator in the field.

Every bolt, every valve and every component, no matter

how small, is thought through down to the tiniest detail.

The search is always on for potential improvements in every

respect. This is the challenge and the standard we set our-

selves. On the face of it, improvements and new features

are not always apparent to everyone. This spring, however,

there are new developments which are highly likely to be

very obvious.

The new automatic TF10 fan gun is the most powerful Tech-

noAlpin machine launched to date. In the manual market the

new MMS (manual mobile snow gun) follows in the footsteps

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South Tyrol · Italia/Italien/Italy · Tel. +39 0471 550 550 · Fax +39 0471 200 441 · [email protected] ·

www.technoalpin.com · Responsible for stipulating: Erich Gummerer – Editors: Patrizia Pircher – Design: dv media, Vahrn/

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in whole or in part, including electronically, without the explicit permission of the publisher – As of: April 2012

of the M18. We are very proud to present these new

developments in this issue. They are proof of the in-

novative spirit which is behind the constant stream

of developments at TechnoAlpin. This is our way of

remaining successful in difficult economic times.

Another recipe for the success of TechnoAlpin comes

across in the regular feature “What job is actually

done by…?”. This time we shine the spotlight on

Dagmar Geis who heads up the Quality Control de-

partment. Once again this issue is full of news of in-

teresting projects from all over the world. Small but

select systems like the one in Alebacken (SWE) are

included just as much as the largest snow-making

system in Turkey.

Happy reading!

Walter Rieder and Erich Gummerer

E D I T O R I A L

april 2012

S N O W E X P E R T S E D I T O R I A L 32

1and distributes the snow over a large area. Moreover, the

quality of the snow is consistent over the entire area. The

slope preparation time is therefore significantly reduced.

There are 16 variable stages which allow for tip-top

snow even in constantly changing outside temperatures.

Reduced Turbine Frequency

The snow output is certainly not the only advantage

of the TF10. “The new turbine with an internal motor

running at 1500 rpm makes the machine less sensitive

to vibrations and reduces the noise emissions”, contin-

ued Rieder, “and the lower frequency of the TF10 also

means it has a much more pleasant sound”. The main

components, such as the motor, compressor, electric

The first thing you notice about the TF10 is that it is big! With

a turbine diameter of 90 cm, it towers over virtually all of the

previous TechnoAlpin fan gun models. Its size is also reflected in

the snow output. With 24 Quadrijet type nozzles and eight nu-

cleators, the TF10 is one of the most powerful machines on the

market. “Our aim was to achieve a major increase in efficiency”,

said Walter Rieder who heads up the engineering department at

TechnoAlpin. The strength of the machine in marginal tempera-

tures is impressive. “We delivered an initial test batch this winter

and received really positive feedback“, added Rieder, “especially

at the beginning of the season in marginal temperatures”.

It is not only the snow output which has been increased but also

the projection range. The TF10 has amazing projection capability

P R O D U C T L A U N C H

After two years of development, countless tests and trials, the time has finally come for TechnoAlpin to launch

the new fully automatic TF10 fan gun.

…the new “big one”


keys, is integrated in the cover and protected from rain

and vandalism. Components which have stood the test

of time are retained on the TF10, however, such as the

Quadrijet nozzles with ceramic inserts and the oil-free

4kW compressor.

“If we had to sum up the TF10”, said Rieder, “we would

say that it represents a new approach in snow-making

technology. We are convinced that TechnoAlpin will once

again set the standard with this machine”.

cabinet and valve block, have been cleverly arranged around

the machine’s center, and the center of gravity has been low-

ered, thus further increasing the machine’s maneuverability

and balance.

User-friendliness as standard

The other outstanding feature of the TF10 is its user-friendliness.

The functions which are frequently required, such as height ad-

justment, keyboard, rotation release and Emergency Stop, are

all located on the same side of the machine. The well-proven

seamless WEDGE WIRE stainless steel filter insert is also used in

the TF10. The height adjustment facility with angular gear and a

ratio of 2:1 is new and greatly simplifies the height setting pro-

cess. The new user interface, with color screen and LED-backlit

S N O W E X P E R T S P R O D U C T L A U N C H 54

2

www.skilift-predigtstuhl.de

predigtstuhl850 - 1024 m above sea level

• 2x T40 mobile

• 4x V3 lance mobile

• 9x standard pit

• 6x Hydromat WO

• Pumping plant 25 l/s / 450 m / 177kW

• Cooling tower system 25 l/sec

• 750 m cast iron pipe DN150

• 750 m aluminum cable

• 750 m data line

• ATASSplus

Projectsummary

The first ski lift was built back in the 1960s in the ski re-

sort of Predigtstuhl (GER) in the Bavarian Forest. The slopes

range from 850 m to 1,024 m above sea level, and for a long

time the resort tried to guarantee the ski-season without

snow-making systems. However, the increasing demands

of skiers prompted the managers to invest in snow-making

equipment last year. Florian Kaiser of the third generation of

the ski resort management confirmed the decision, saying,

“the ski lift company will only be successful in the future if

the resort can offer top skiing conditions. This starts with the

great free parking facilities and the friendliness of

the staff right through to the excellent slope prepara-

tion”. After an extended test phase in Predigtstuhl

they opted for the expertise of TechnoAlpin. Despite

difficulties with planning permission it was possible

to complete the first stage of construction in time for

the start of winter and to guarantee an uninterrupted

winter season. The installation is a fully automatic

hybrid system which is controlled by the ATASSplus

software.

P R O J E C T P R E D I G T S T U H L


3…Dagmar Geis

S N O W E X P E R T S D A G M A R G E I S

65,000 parts underwent incoming goods inspections

in 2011. This represents a random sample of 2.6%

of all the items delivered. The comparative figure for

2010 was 43,000 parts”, she added. The importance

of this job shows in the number of complaints. There

were some 400 reports of non-conformity in 2011 and

complaints about 40,000 parts altogether. If the team

had not weeded out these parts, they would have found

their way into the production cycle and into the store-

room. The effort is also reaping lasting success, how-

ever. “Our suppliers have learnt to meet our standards

and there is a reduction in the number of faults with

incoming goods. Complaints were made about 3.5% of

all the articles delivered in 2010 whereas, in spite of

more in-depth checks, the figure was down to 1.6% in

2011”, said Dagmar Geis with a hint of pride.

„qualityis never an accident“ (John Ruskin)

W H A T J O B I S A C T U A L LY D O N E B Y … ?

…that’s the motto of Dagmar Geis. Originally from Ingolstadt,

who has been working for TechnoAlpin since 2000. She headed

up the production team to start with and began to develop the

quality control department in 2006. “The main job of my team

is to check incoming goods for production, the spare parts

store and systems engineering. We are also responsible for

dealing with complaints and for overseeing the production line”,

explained the quality control manageress. The four-strong team

has an important role to play beyond incoming goods, however.

The final inspection of the assembled parts before delivery is

also part of their remit.

““Nothing is left to chance at TechnoAlpin in terms of quality,

and so we make thorough checks on incoming and outgoing

goods in order to meet the exacting demands”, continued Dag-

mar Geis. The demands have increased over the years, with

more items being added to the checklist every year. “A total of

76

4 new standards in kayseri

The city of Kayseri lies at an altitude of 1,054 m but the ski resort

itself begins at 2,100 m and extends to an altitude of almost

3,000 m. The slopes of the Erciyes volcano are positively preor-

dained to be a ski resort. They are gentler at the bottom but the

terrain gets steeper towards the top. The summit of the volcano,

which is over 4,000 m high, is covered in snow all year round,

and in winter there can be large amounts of natural snow right

down into the valley. Local investors spotted the potential of the

location a few years ago. This heralded the start of the project

which will see a small ski resort evolve into the largest in

Turkey. The target is to achieve 800,000 overnight stays

per year. The project is being funded by the government

and city council as well as by private investors.

The large-scale project got underway in the summer

of 2010 with the construction of the first lift systems.

The plan is to have built 21 lifts when fully completed.

For example, a four-seater covered chairlift with heated

Kayseri is located at the heart of Turkey at the foot of the extinct Erciyes volcano. In the last 10 years the

number of inhabitants in the city has virtually doubled and now around one million people live there. A new

ski resort is currently being developed on the slopes of the Erciyes volcano and, when complete will be the

largest in Turkey.

P R O J E C T K A Y S E R I


www.erciyes-zumrut.com

S N O W E X P E R T S K A Y S E R I

seats was built in 2011. Work will soon also begin in the spring

of 2012 on the construction of the snow-making system which

is due for completion by the beginning of the 2012/2013 winter

season. The resort managers are relying on the expertise of

TechnoAlpin in this major project. The brief is to supply a fully

automatic turnkey system complete with piping and control

system. A total of 80 T40 fan guns and 54 V3 lances will be in-

stalled on the various slopes. Four pumping plants will take care

of the water supply to the slope installations. The existing res-

ervoir on the Erciyes Pass with a capacity of one million m³ will

be joined by a second reservoir with a capacity of 200,000 m³.

This is sufficient to cover some 960,000 m² of slope with snow

within one week.

The local managers are banking on the experience of companies

and consultants from the European Alps in their quest

for the highest quality standards in all areas. The in-

frastructure of the Erciyes ski center will also be totally

modernized. The plans include both luxurious and basic

accommodation. There is a need for further development

in this regard. The use of state-of-the-art technology in

all areas is destined to set new standards for winter

sports in Turkey. The hope is to gain the interest of more

investors in Kayseri and, in a few years, establish healthy

occupancy rates in accommodation for some 5,000 peo-

ple. The central geographic location of Kayseri and its

cultural riches are expected to be key contributors to its

success in addition to its ideal location on the mountain.

The airport in Kayseri is only 30 minutes from the actual

ski resort.

• 2x T40 mobile

• 47x T40 mobile with E-Motor

• 33x T40 mounted on 1.6 m tower

• 54x V3 central air

• 30 km of cast iron pipes

• 32 km of data cable

• 84 km of aluminum cable

• 4x 75 kW pumps

• 5x 160 kW pumps

• 2x 250 kW pumps

• 1x 355 kW pump

• 1x 7 kW submersible pump

• 2x 22 kW submersible pumps

• 1x cooling tower 75 l/s

• 2x compressor 15 kW



Projectsummary

98

5

P R O D U C T L A U N C H

hand-operated yet high-tech…In addition to the fully automatic TF10, the development team

at TechnoAlpin has also come up with the goods in manual

snow-making systems. The MMS (Manual Mobile Snowgun) is

designed as a mobile snow gun and is intended to complement

the tower-mounted MTS (Manual Tower Snowgun).

The first thing you notice that is different from previous manual

machines is that the nozzles are no longer controlled by valves

on the nozzle ring itself but at a central location on the ma-

chine. The MMS snow gun comes with a temperature sensor

as standard data displayed on the PLC screen. Needless to say,

these manual snow guns also boast high-quality ma-

terials. Quadrijet nozzles with ceramic inserts and an

oil-free 4 kW compressor are all part of the package,

as is the seamless WEDGE WIRE water filter.

The Premium version also comes with the added facil-

ity of displaying machine status and error messages as

well as the current air temperature. The snow quality

can also be entered and the software will then calcu-

late the optimum flow setting according to the prevail-

ing conditions. The swinging mechanism on the MMS


Premium allows an oscillation rotation angle of up to 180°.

Therefore the snow lands where it is needed. The central water

connection located at the lowest point of the snow gun is fitted

with an automatic drain system.

“The MMS is the perfect symbiosis of old and new

components. The controls and settings are much sim-

pler but the snow quality is still as high as ever”, said

Walter Rieder, summing up the advantages.

S N O W E X P E R T S P R O D U C T L A U N C H 1 11 0

www.schischaukel.net6.1

• 31x M18 on 3.5 m lift

• 2x M18 mobile

• 27x T40 lift-mounted

• 2x T40 mobile

• 5x T60 lift-mounted

• 14x existing machines

• 117 pits

• 2.8 km of cabling and pipes

• 1x pumping plant with an output of 2x 33 l/s / 160 kW



• 1x pumping plant with an output of 50 l/s / 75 kW

• Remote delivery station with an output of 35 l/s / 30 kW

• ATASSplus

Projectsummary

P R O J E C T S I N A U S T R I A

…comes from TechnoAlpin. The Mönichkirchen-Mariensee ski

resort followed up its initial development of the snow-making

system in 2009 (AUT) with another investment in snow-making

technology in 2011. Having proven its expertise the first time

round, TechnoAlpin is back on board for the second phase.

An ongoing program of modernization has raised the status of

the Mönichkirchen-Mariensee ski resort from a dark horse to one

of the leading resorts in the east of Austria. It was primarily the

ski enthusiasts from the nearby capital city of Vienna who dis-

covered the ski resort on the Wechsel mountain for them-selves.

The recipe for success is perfect slopes and excellent service. The

TechnoAlpin snow guns are mainly responsible for the first ingredi-

ent. The area around the Panoramabahn chairlift in Mariensee was

modernized and developed in 2009, followed in the same year by

extensions on the Schwaig mountain in Mönichkirchen. Now that

the current expansion work is complete there are 70 snow guns

for guaranteed coverage of all slopes. Man-made snow

is needed for other areas besides the ski slopes, how-

ever. Mother Nature also gets a helping hand in the newly

built Fun Park with take-off ramp, rail and butter box. Four

pumping plants take care of the water supply throughout

the resort. Cooling towers will bring the water to the opti-

mum temperature to increase the efficiency of the system.

The Mönichkirchen-Mariensee ski resort extends from

870 m to 1,450 m. There are four chairlifts, one table-

top lift and one rope tow for the ascent to the 13.5 km

of slope. Money was also invested in widening the fam-

ily slope in order to make it safer. The judging panel

in consumer tests had good reason for declaring the

ski resort in Lower Austria the winner in both the “Ski

Slope Management” category and the “Best Snow Cov-

erage” category.

the viennese snow…


www.serfaus-fiss-ladis.at

6.2

• 3x T40 tower-mounted, central air

• 10x T60 tower-mounted, central air

• 1x T40 mobile

• 1x T60 mobile

• 1x V3

• Pits and line material

• ATASSplus

Projectsummary

TechnoAlpinnow also in fi ssThe managers in the Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis (AUT) season ticket

network realized a long time ago that snow-making techno-

logy is indispensable for optimum slope quality. Serfaus and

TechnoAlpin have been working closely together since 1992

and so Fisser Bergbahnen AG mountain railway company de-

cided to follow suit and install TechnoAlpin snow guns in 2011.

There had been mainly lances on the slopes in Fiss until then.

TechnoAlpin fan guns were installed for the first time when the

new 12-seater downhill extension was developed. The greater

projection range, higher snow output and lower susceptibility to

wind were key factors in the decision.

The new black run alongside the 12-seater is 1.8 km long. The

installation site at an altitude of 430 meters now accommo-

dates 13 tower-mounted fan guns, two mobile snow guns and

one lance. The system is controlled by the intelligent ATASSplus

software in order to achieve high efficiency levels and consist-

ent snow quality. The powerful system has already proven its

reliability this past winter. The members of the snow operations

team were particularly lavish in their praise of its efficiency in

marginal temperatures.

Since the ski resorts of Serfaus and Fiss-Ladis merged

there have been over 200 kilometers of ski slopes of

varying degrees of difficulty to choose from. There is

a wide range of facilities and something for everyone,

with toboggan runs, fun parks, facilities for children

and over 100 km of cross-country runs. There are now

snow-making systems covering some 150 kilometers

of slope – and further development is planned.

S N O W E X P E R T S P R O J E C T S I N A U S T R I A 1 31 2

www.alebacken.nu

7 ”no-man” systemin alebackenThe small ski resort of Alebacken (SWE) is just 20 kilometers

north of Gothenburg. The two downhill slopes are approximate-

ly 400 m long and are mainly open in the evenings. The biggest

advantage of Alebacken is the large regional population. There

are 1.2 million people living within a radius of 25 km. This

central location is to thank for visitor numbers of 200 - 500

per day. The resort is run by an association. Four years ago

Alebacken had the opportunity of converting the existing lift fa-

cilities and snow-making systems. The demands on the snow-

making system are high. The climate in Alebacken is particu-

larly mild due to its proximity to the sea. It is also necessary to

be able to run the system with as little manpower as possible.

Various systems were tested over a period of two years after

which time TechnoAlpin became the supplier of choice and its

fully automatic preferred equipment. “TechnoAlpin offered us

an all-in solution which enables us to produce snow of a high

quality without any staff. The main advantage of TechnoAlpin

was the technical expertise of the company and its interest

despite the fact that we are a small resort”, commented John

Hansson who chairs the Alebacken association.

The power supply system and the pumping plant conversion

constituted the first phase of the development. Also installed

were 8 V3 lances. The association members took care of the

installation themselves. The system was put into operation

right on schedule in the fall.

“In the first season we saw a 32% reduction in energy

consumption as compared with the previous system”,

reported Hansson. “This is because the new snow guns

produce more snow when it is cold because they also

work in marginal temperatures, and their output is

greater – even with the frequent temperature fluctua-

tions”. The system works night after night without man-

power thanks to the intelligent ATASSplus software.

They are still aiming high in Alebacken. “Our target is to

generate snow cover of 50 cm over the entire area with-

in 24 hours”, continued Hansson with reference to their

future plans. “We are following the TechnoAlpin master

plan in a bid to achieve this target and will be installing

more high-pressure pumps and snow guns”.

P R O J E C T S

• 8x V3

• Automation of existing pumping plant

• ATASSplus

Projectsummary


8www.soerenberg.ch/bahnen

long-term sustainability

for sörenberg

TechnoAlpin has had many repeat orders for snow guns over

recent years from the Swiss ski resort of Sörenberg. In 2011

the managers then extended their confidence in TechnoAlpin to

automation systems and electromechanical design engineer-

ing. The construction and conversion work began in the fall of

2011 and is continuing in 2012. The extension and automa-

tion of the existing pumping plants are the main items on the

agenda. All the existing control units will be integrated into the

ATASSplus control system. There are around 20 TechnoAlpin

fan guns and these will also be operated by the ATASSplus

system in future.

The main aim of automating the system is to use the available

resources as efficiently as possible with a view to maximizing

the conservation of resources. The latest version of ATASSplus

was launched in 2011 and is already in use in Sörenberg. Only

fully automated intelligent systems allow simple and efficient

exploitation of the increasingly shorter snow-generation win-

dows – when the temperature is at its optimum – or instant

responses to relevant parameter changes. The software col-

lects data from snow guns and weather stations and optimizes

the snow production according to the prevailing conditions.

This provides the basis for clever water and air management

and continuous energy control. Operational states and the con-

sumption of resources can thus be monitored and evaluated

with maximum accuracy, optimizing operating costs and guar-

anteeing consistent snow quality down the entire length of the

slope. This is also clear to the managers in Sörenberg.

S N O W E X P E R T S P R O J E C T S

The needs of mankind and nature are very important to

Sörenberg. The ski resort is in the UNESCO Entlebuch

Biosphere where there is a high degree of concern for

the interrelation between humans and nature. The aim

is to adopt strategies conducive to the sustainable use

of habitats and to the conservation of the natural diver-

sity of the area. The automation of the system started

by TechnoAlpin marks a major step towards sustain-

ability.

1 51 4

www.leschnepf.com

9.1


• 20x V3 central air

• 2x T40 tower-mounted

• 3x T40 mobile

• 18 pits

• 6 combined pits

• 2,650 m of line material

• 180 m³/h pumping plant

• 90 kW compressor

• 13,000 m³ reservoir

• ATASSplus

Projectsummary

guaranteed snow for

schnepfenried at long last

TechnoAlpin France delivered the first snow gun to the

Schnepfenried ski resort (FRA) back in 2005. An M20 with

on-board pump then started lending nature in the Vosges a

helping hand. Despite difficult conditions with marginal tem-

peratures and high relative humidity, the M20 produced im-

pressive amounts of snow of high quality. But it was another

five years before a further extension to the system was initi-

ated. The long wait tried the patience of the resort manag-

ers. An extensive modernization process was finally embarked

upon by the ski resort in 2010. The existing lifts were reno-

vated and more were added, a wider choice of eateries was

established, slopes were levelled, and a new building was

constructed for ticket sales.

Schnepfenried is on the Franco-German border in the

Munster region. Schnepfenried is the largest of the four

ski resorts in the region, with 12 slopes, many kilo-

meters of cross-country skiing trails and a snow park.

Efforts were also made in 2011 to extend the facilities

for beginners. The new system has provided a solution

to the biggest challenge which is to guarantee quality

snow conditions despite mild temperatures.

The snow-making system was also extended at long last. The

resort managers opted for a hybrid system supplied by Techno-

Alpin. The site work and the new reservoir were completed

before the end of 2010. The building for the new pumping plant

was also completed in 2010. It also doubles up as a store and

a garage for the grooming fleet.

The 25 snow guns were eventually installed in the summer of

2011. Since then the fully automatic system has been deliver-

ing tip-top slope conditions in the ski resort of Schnepfenried

which lies at an altitude of 1,020 m to 1,258 m. The lances

and fan guns are mainly used in difficult marginal conditions.

P R O J E C T S I N F R A N C E

www.ascou-ski.com

9.2

800+ inhabitants only just under 100 were left in the

1960s. The population is now growing again thanks to

tourism. Ascou-Pailhères has plenty of variety to offer

and 14 slopes.

automationfor ascou

S N O W E X P E R T S P R O J E C T S I N F R A N C E

The ski resort of Ascou-Pailhères lies in the south-west of

France in the heart of the Pyrenees. There has already been a

semi-automatic lance system in use there for a few years but it

only provided snow in the lower section of the resort. The resort

was still dependent on natural snow at the top. The plan was to

change this situation in 2011.

When they developed the top slope sections they decided to

automate the existing system as well. The aims in doing this

were to use the available resources more sparingly and to in-

crease the efficiency of the system. In their bid to achieve these

aims they now rely on the expertise of TechnoAlpin France.

A new pump has increased the water flow and pressure. The

pumping capacity has been doubled. New snow guns have

been installed and the existing ones automated in order to im-

prove the snow quality. The new system will be controlled in

future via the TechnoAlpin control system ATASSplus.

Ascou is a small village in the west of France. Of the original

• 8x V3

• Automation of 18 existing lances

• 1,250 m of data cable for automation

• 550 m of line material

• 120 m³/h pumping plant

• ATASSplus

Projectsummary

1 71 6

www.kronplatz.com

10.1 • 13x T60 on 3.5 m lifts

• 3x high-pressure FIP pump with an output of

50 l/s / 630 kW

• 3x high-pressure Caprari pump with an output

of 37.5 l/s / 250 kW

• 8x submersible pump with an output of 22 kW

• 2x 75B cooling tower

• 69x reinforced pit

• 15 km of aluminum cable

• 8 km of data cable

• 8 km of fi ber optic cable

• 4.5 km of cast iron pipe DN400 PN85-PN40

• 2.7 km of cast iron pipe DN 250 PN40

• 590 m of cast iron pipe DN 150

• 1.4 km of cast iron pipe DN 125

Projectsummary

The reliability of TechnoAlpin systems has long been in demand

at Kronplatz (South Tyrol / ITA). The new slope in Ried once

again demonstrated the local confidence in the snow experts.

The TechnoAlpin contract included all the line material, hydrau-

lic equipment, connection points, aluminum cable, data cable

and 13 snow guns.

The new slope in Ried is the valley run from Kronplatz to Percha

and will make the ski resort easier to access. The new section

is 4.7 kilometers long and branches off from the Spitzhorn slo-

pe. TechnoAlpin laid 4.5 kilometers of DN 400 PN85 - PN40

cast iron pipes in this new section. This is the first time DN 400

pipes of pressure class PN85 have been used for making snow.

TechnoAlpin also supervised the installation of the lines with

this high pressure class.

Six high-pressure pumps and eight submersible pumps were

installed to carry the water from the source to the summit of

the Kronplatz and to the snow guns. Two 75B cooling towers

provide the optimum water temperature and thereby increase

the efficiency of the system. TechnoAlpin supplied 69 connec-

tion points altogether, including Hydromat, electrant, etc., and

installed 15 km of aluminum cable, eight km of data cable and

fiber optic cable. Snow will be provided on the upper section of

the slope in future by 13x T60. The contract was worth

a total of 2.2 million euro for TechnoAlpin.

However, investment did not stop at the slope in the

large-scale project in Ried. A railway station was built

in the valley to enable the visitors to travel to the resort

in comfort and to cut down on traffic and, most impor-

tantly, on pollution. The regional route links Kronplatz

to the ski resorts in the Hochpustertal valley and East

Tyrol. There are plans to provide a connection to Bolzano

and Innsbruck in future. The managers are hoping this

will bring about a 20% reduction in car traffic.

by trainto the slopes

P R O J E C T S I N I T A L Y


www.vialattea.it

10.2

• 31x V3

• 31 pits

• 2.5 km of cast iron pipe

• 2.5 km of aluminum cable

Projectsummary

new lease of life for gran pistaThe “Gran Pista” in Sauze d’Oulx enjoys a long skiing tradition

but it had lost some of its luster in recent years. In a bid to

counteract the decline and to restore it to its former glory, the

Gran Pista underwent an extensive revamp in 2011. The slope

was widened and flattened. The slope was lengthened at the

bottom. This has resulted in an unparalleled black run from

2,700 m to 1,300 m. Naturally, capital was also invested in the

snow-making system on the new flagship piste. 31 V3 lances

were installed together with pits on a section of 2.5 kilometers.

“We already have experience of working with TechnoAlpin and

that’s why we chose fully automatic TechnoAlpin snow

guns for this difficult system”, explained snow opera-

tions manager Franco Annestai.

Sauze d’Oulx is in the Vialattea ski resort which also

encompasses the towns of Sestriere, Sansicario,

Cesana, Claviere and Montgenèvre (FRA). Vialattea

has a total of 140 slopes and 92 ski lifts. At eight

kilometers the “Gran Pista” is the longest downhill

run in the area.

S N O W E X P E R T S P R O J E C T S I N I T A L Y 1 91 8

11


on course for success

C U S T O M E R F E E D B A C K

The V3 snow lance has now completed its second winter of service. The improved round lance head has

proved itself. Around 1,300 of the new V3 lances left the production building in Bolzano in 2011. Good reason

to ask around and get some feedback from the world on the snow output.

From the south to the far north. The V3 is also being used

in Idre Fjäll (SWE). Work began here in 2003 to convert the

existing system to an automatic system. “We chose to do

business with TechnoAlpin because of the impressive quality

of the products. We now have 105 lances and 15 fan guns.

The conversion brought an increase in the water flow from

300 to 1,000 m³ per hour. At the same time we have

seen a 30% decrease in energy costs and a 70%

reduction in man-hours. There has also been a major

improvement in the quality of the snow”, commented

Kjell Skoglund of Sweden’s largest ski resort, Idre

Fjäll.

31 V3 were installed on the “Gran Pista” in Sauze (ITA). “The

slope is in a very difficult climate zone and extends from

2,700 m to 1,300 m. This has caused us quite a headache

in the past”, said snow operations manager Franco Annestai,

“but the initial skepticism soon vanished when we started up

the system. It took next to no time to produce snow on eight

kilometers of perfect slope. That really did impress us”.

Conditions were also difficult for the V3 in Navacerrada

(ESP), just one hour away from Madrid by car. “Our ski

resort reaches an altitude of 2,170 m”, said technical

director Jose-Luis Gonzales. “Although the conditions

for a low-pressure system could hardly be worse, we

still opted for the V3. Looking back at the first season,

we can say that the V3 has far exceeded our expecta-

tions. The lance generated a large amount of snow of

the very finest quality”.

“We have installed the V3 on the Lèchereuse slope where the

humidity is consistantly over 80%”, said Francis Perrin, snow

operations manager in Champéry-les-Crosets (SUI). “The thing

we noticed straight away was the high quality of the snow and

the ease with which it could be moved by the gooming ma-

chines. The snow-making team was also impressed by how

easy it was to use”.

“What we love best about the V3 is that it requires so

little maintenance”, said Peter Marent, snow operations

manager at the Illwerke/Golm (AUT) ski resort, “and

the same goes for the oil-free 4 kW compressor, which

adds to the appeal of the lance. We also found that the

head didn’t ice over, not even in a headwind. We have

used the ski route version of the V2 with the narrow an-

gle in addition to the V3. We were impressed by this as

well. We also like to sing the praises of the TechnoAlpin

service team as there is always someone available”.

The V3 has also put in an impressive performance on the sunny

slopes of Crans Montana (SUI). “The snow-making team was

amazed at its user-friendliness and speed of installation. They

also liked the round head which remained free of ice even in

cold temperatures. But the biggest advantage of the V3 is defi-

nitely the high quality of the snow. The snow was dry and ideal

to work with”, commented snow-operations manager Bertrand

Cassignol, extolling the virtues of the V3.

There are several generations of lances working side by side in Montgenèvre (FRA). “We have observed a gradual improve-

ment from the L lance through to the V3”, commented Pierre Querlioz, snow operations manager in Montgenèvre. “There

is far less susceptibility to ice formation and there has been a 30% increase in snow production with the V3 lances. The

overground valve block has also impressed us. The filter and connections are easily accessible which makes servicing

more simple. The heating in the valve block is the primary advantage in terms of energy. We can save a few kW in the pit

and that all adds up over the course of the season”, added Querlioz.

Armin Savoy, operations manager at the Alpin Center Todtnau-

Feldberg (GER), reported back on the results of the V3 opera-

tion, commenting that “the lance performed very well in all

temperature ranges. The lance didn’t even ice over when it

was very cold. The quality and quantity of snow were very high

which indicates the high energy efficiency of the lance. We are

very satisfied with the V3”.

“The lance works very well and achieves excellent results in

terms of snow quantities, even in milder temperatures. We pro-

duced more snow with the same amount of energy with the

V3”, said Milan Vodicka of the ski resort of Janske Lanze (SLK),

praising the energy efficiency of the V3.

The performance of the V3 has been impressive in Japan

as well as in Europe. “The V3 has produced high-quality

snow in our ski resort in Biwako Valley. It even worked

well in marginal temperatures despite the high levels

of humidity due to our proximity to the largest lake in

Japan. We were very satisfied with the performance in

cold temperatures too. Thanks to the V3 we reduced the

air consumption and therefore also the energy consump-

tion”, reported Yoshinobu Torinoumi, General Manager at

the ski resort of Biwako Valley (JAP).

S N O W E X P E R T S C U S T O M E R F E E D B A C K 2 12 0

1

122

did you

that TechnoAlpin took over the indoor snow system

specialist Innovag in 2011? The move will see new products

and services added to the TechnoAlpin range and will see the

company become a one-stop shop for snow-making solutions

of all kinds. The snow-making systems developed by Innovag

AG are mainly used to generate snow for indoor winter sports

and leisure activities, for spa facilities and health resorts, and

for industrial test purposes in the automotive industry. Custom-

ers served by Innovag AG include Audi, Volkswagen, Europe’s

largest indoor ski center, the “Snow Dome” in Bispingen (Ger-

many), the Qiabo Ice & Snow World in Shaoxing (China), and

Caesars Palace in Las Vegas (USA). “I see great potential for

synergy”, said Erich Gummerer, Managing Director of Techno-

Alpin, “in that both companies stand to learn from each other

and gain from each other’s expertise”.

that TechnoAlpin has lots of little fans as well?

There were lots of entries in the drawing competition organ-

ized by TechnoAlpin trading partner Poltava Ski in the Ukraine.

There were little presents for the children to thank them for

their efforts

all about TechnoAlpin!D I D Y O U K N O W …


3

4

5

6

© Ruhpolding Tourismus GmbH

that the T40 was the star of the show at the 50th

anniversary celebrations in the ski resort of Breckenridge in

Colorado (USA)? The T40 was taken on a ride through the town

on a parade float. Breckenridge was also the first customer of

TechnoAlpin in the USA 10 years ago. The theme of the parade

was fitting. It was dedicated to Ullr, the Norse God of Snow.

know…

that TechnoAlpin protection mats have lots of dif-

ferent uses? The lance protection mats are not just fitted round

the snow guns in the ski resort of Carezza (ITA). They are also

used to protect the tape holders.

that TechnoAlpin made snow for lots of

world champions again this year? TechnoAlpin snow

guns were making sure of excellent conditions at the

Biathlon World Championships in Ruhpolding (GER)

and at the World Snowboarding Championships in Oslo

(NOR). The athletes will also compete on TechnoAlpin

snow at the 2013 Nordic World Ski Championships in

Val di Fiemme (ITA) and the 2013 Alpine Ski World Cup

in Schladming (AUT).

that TechnoAlpin snow guns can provide

pleasure off the ski slopes and cross-country ski runs?

A resourceful hotelier in South Tyrol installed an M12

on the roof of his hotel spa in order to create a really

Christmassy atmosphere for his guests.

S N O W E X P E R T S D I D Y O U K N O W … 2 32 2

Alain De Cian Alex SeebacherAlbert Messner Alexander Borgia Alexander MairAlexander Klapfer Alexander Leitner Andrea Cavatton Andrea Valmorbida Andreas Gutgsell Andreas Mumelter A. Schwingshackl Andreas Weiss A. Kompatscher

Arnold Antoni Astrid Torggler Benjamin Pötz Christian Bonini Christian De Brida Christian Jocher Christoph Fischer Dagmar Geis Daniel Heiss Daniel Kahler Daniel Lantschner Daniel Neulichedl Daniel Raffl Daniel Widmann

Daniele Neri Dominik PöderDaniele Facchin

Daniela Stelzer

Dominik Psenner Elisabeth Hauser Elisabeth Kofl er

Martin Hofer Martin Noggler Martin Verant Matej Budaj Matteo Paterno Matthias Obrist M. Centofanti Mauro Ficara Mauro Freno Max Vieider

M. Hawlin Michael Mayr Michael Smaniotto Michael Wieser Michele Marsonet

Elmar Kanestrin Elmar Kaufmann Elmar Pardeller Elmar Rainer Erich Gummerer Erika Marchio Erika Unterweger Fabian Alegre Federico Tricotti

Florian SchwaltFlorian Holzer F. Zambaldi Frank M. Saviane Frederik Danielsson Gerhard Höller Gideon MussnerG. Reichegger G. Cassiolari Hannes Pichler Hannes Simonini H. Hochwieser Heidi Vonmetz Heinz Viehweider

Horst Schmid Irene Pancheri Irina Belkina Ivan Gross Jacques Fournier Johann Kaufmann J. Untermarzoner Johannes Fontana Jonas Mantinger Jozef Duřcák Juris Panzani K. Terrabona Kathrin Pfeifhofer Katja Obkircher Klaus Bacher

Manfred Winkler Manuel Domanegg Manuel Furlotti Manuel Meraner Manuel Nössing M. Planötscher Marco Moratti Marilise Di Domenico Marion Margesin Markus Fischnaller M. Mahlknecht

Markus Messner Markus Pfeifer Martin Coser Martin Eppacher M. Gamberoni

Mirko Brunner

Pierpaolo Salusso Rafal Smolan

Thomas Burger

D. Schatt-Orecchini

Igor Schmidt

Veikko Mantila

Hideki Urano Toshiyuki Sakai

L. Radovanovich Aleksandr Viktorovich

Leonid Leonidovich Slawa Kalugin Cristian Chilea Petre Popa Serban Sovaiala Caba Gere Anastasiia Andrieieva Slaven BaduraAnton Faltynsky Serge Sirotko Paul A.H. Lambert Santiago Hardt

Hanspeter Pleisch George Noulikas Nikos Tzimogiannis A. Mechkov

Asya Mechkova Martin Popov S. Mechkova Ali Güral Ünal Stefan Ties Ali Rahimi A. Rodriguez Ángel Jaraiz Cristina Osado Oscar Fernandez Raul Garcia Rosa López Santiago Lazaro

A. Olsson Erik Reinholdsson Jan Mangborg

Jan-Erik Nilsson Magnus Hedlund Martin Bergström Jong Woo Won Kwan Hee Won Tae Ha Kim Chris van den Berg Lue Shengming Xing Xin

Jan Duchlansky

Zuzana Zidekova

Roman Hotera

Adam Askwith C. Hemming David Kennedy Eric Campbell Geir Vik Jay Collins Jesse Collins Joe Scarfi Sean McKinnon Steve Daly Peter Söderholm

Ulrich Gall Bernard Ligori Didier BlanchardCyril Cain Franck Tiff reau Henri Philip Mathieu Verriere Michael Payan Michel Gallois

Valérie Vacher Alena Mihova Anna Fablova A. Turiakova Branislav Kukula

Marco Albiez Martina Furrer M. Zurbriggen Patrick Varonier Remo Bulgheroni Stefan Gisler Thomas Kempf Alexander Reindl

Bernhard Maier Gerti Zandt Jonas Sögtrop Thomas FörsterManfred Huber Richard Fiedler

Albert Gomig Bianca Zanona David Dietrich Georg Zeller Hannes Resch H. Grünbacher Martin PlankManuel Schöpf Markus Goller Martin Ganzer

Martin Zeiser R. KrambergerNatas Vujancevic Brice Lacorre Christian Gutknecht Damir Casu

Thomas Faller Thomas Kaserer Thomas Lunger Thomas Möltner Thomas Nocker Thomas Pichler T. Strumpfl ohner Thomas Unterholzer Tobias Spitaler Ulrike Oberrauch U. Marchesan Verena Pattis Walter Rieder Walter Weger Werner Siller

Wolfgang HanniWolfgang Gurschler Wolfgang Lechner Wolfgang Mair Wolfgang Psenner

Richard Reifer Robert HerbstRalph Anranter Rene Tschigg Roberto Begliatti R. D‘Agostino

Rudolf Prantl Sarah Winkler Sergej Ragosin Siegfried Göller Siegfried Rieder Stefan Egger Stefan Felder Stefan Malfer Stefan Reinstadler Stefan Zelger Stefano Bruscagin Stefano D‘Amicis Stefano Locatelli Stephan Psenner Sylvia Psenner

Othmar Kanton Patrizia PircherPaolo Alberti Paolo Bagozzi Paolo Nardone Patrick Peintner P. Platzgummer

Paul Psaier Peter Mahlknecht Peter Mittermaier Peter Rottensteiner Peter Unterholzer Philippe Ronin

Martin Margesin

Florian Villgrattner Hermann Nock

Manfred Scherer

A. Aichhorn

Gregor Vehovec

Stefka Miteva

Sebastian Jalkmar

Corinne Vascon

Florian Grimm

Thomas Damian

Robert Maoret Robert Reider

Monika Hornikova Nemanja Dogo Nicole Thaler

Jan Podmanicky Jaroslav Kral L. Podmanicky Lowy Ladislav Marek Vesely Martin Merka Milos Slosiar Radoslav Martonik

Anja Berents Anton Puff

Elmar Walder

Lasse Nordström

Lesya Faller Luca Bonetto Manfred LiviManfred Alber

T E C H N O A L P I N .C O M

Ben Siefert

Documents

SnowExperts Magazine - 04.2012 - TechnoAlpin · 2016. 12. 12. · difficulties with planning permission it was possible to complete the first stage of construction in time for the