Nidec ASI To Renovate Cortina’s Faloria Cableway - Installing An Electric Transmission System With A Low Environmental Impact
Cableways are central to attracting visitors and winter sports enthusiasts, and thus to the relaunching of Italian tourism, a sector of paramount importance for the economic revival of our country. Nidec ASI - head of the Nidec Industrial Solutions platform belonging to the Nidec Group -, one of the Groups committed to economic recovery with the emphasis on greater sustainability, has played a key role in the sustainable renovation of Cortina d'Ampezzo’s landmark Faloria cableway which connects the city centre with Mount Faloria, at an altitude of 2,120 m, hub of the ski slopes in the winter months, offering a magnificent view over the Dolomites. Tourists enjoying the natural beauty of the Alps this summer will have the opportunity to travel sustainably, in keeping with the restraints imposed by the Government, minimising the impact on the environment, thanks to Nidec ASI’s innovative green solutions.
Overall, the cableway covers a difference in altitude of over 900 m and has had 3 stations ever since it was built in 1939: the lower station in Cortina, near the bus station (1,230 m asl), the midway station in Mandres (1,500 m asl) and the station at the summit, with the Faloria chalet, at which it arrives with a final exhilarating surge, soaring 646 m in a single span. It is precisely this last part of the ascent, during which the cable car passes just metres from the rock, running parallel to the mountain, that offers passengers a breathtaking view of the Dolomites that would otherwise be impossible.
Specifically, Nidec ASI and its experts at the production plants in Montebello - a world centre of excellence in the development of cutting-edge systems for the development of cableway transport - and Monfalcone, are to design, construct and supply ultimate generation SMART architecture that will incorporate the automation and safety features of the 3 stations and 4 cable cars, enabling integrated diagnostics of the entire system both from the local supervision station and remotely. The cableway will also be equipped with an innovative backbone radio circuit (wi-fi), with hand-over management of moving vehicles similar to that of railway technologies, in order to enable communication between the stations (upline/midway/downline), the automated vehicles and the safety features. Last but not least, the Nidec ASI project plans to significantly expand the bandwidth for integrated diagnostics and on-board video surveillance, thanks to CCTV cameras at the stations, in the 4 cable cars, to guarantee passenger safety, and at the back and front of the cars in order to monitor the route.
The new systems installed by Nidec ASI will bring the Faloria cableway up to the highest safety standards worldwide, guaranteeing greater reliability, diagnostics of electrical equipment and air-ground communication that will allow video surveillance, communication with passengers and observation of critical points of the system, to ensure prompt action and the prevention of any kind of problem.
“With the strength behind us of over 40 years of experience in the design and development of industrial automation and control systems for cableway installations, our team of engineers has custom-tailored a safe and reliable system built to last, that will enhance the value of a landmark installation such as the Faloria cableway, which has been carrying thousands of tourists and skiers to the mountain top since 1939, and which will continue to do so. From now on, with even more respect for the environment, thanks to the green technologies we have developed and installed". commented Dominique Llonch, CEO of Nidec ASI and Chairman of Nidec Industrial Solutions. “We are, in fact, particularly proud of this project designed and constructed in Italy, which will contribute to providing a state-of-the-art cableway to the local population and to tourists who, after this period of lockdown, are keen to visit the spectacular landscapes of this area. And we are proud to do so while reducing the impact on the Alpine ecosystem to a minimum and contributing to the relaunching of the tourism sector. This project is part of our Group's commitment to developing innovative solutions that contribute to the sustainable transformation of energy, logistics and industry".
With over 600 installations in 40 years of activity at the highest levels in the sector, Nidec ASI offers customised, cutting-edge solutions for every type of installation, facilitating the transition of energy towards increasingly more sustainable modes of transport, and playing a fundamental role in projects located in every corner of the world, such as the Moscow cable car - inaugurated during the last World Cup - that connects the Luzhniki Stadium to the scenic viewing point at Moscow State University.
