Doppelmayr/garaventa Builds One Of Switzerland’s Biggest Chairlifts In Villars

The fourth 8-seater chairlift in Switzerland went into service in the Villars-Gryon-Diablerets ski area. The new ropeway means a significant increase in capacity for the trip from Villars to Les Diablerets.

After 27 years in operation, the time had come to replace the quad chairlift Lac Noir-Chaux Ronde. The invitation to bid specified a major increase in transport capacity to ensure a comfortable ride without waiting times for winter sports practitioners traveling from the slopes in Villars to those in Le Meilleret. At the time, long waiting times had made the transfer virtually impossible on busy days.

Relief for the ski area

The operator Télé-Villars-Gryon-Diablerets SA decided in favor of a new 8-seater chairlift from Garaventa. This installation carries up to 4,000 passengers an hour in each direction and brings a huge relief for passenger flows in the winter sports resort in the canton of Vaud. As the lift makes it easier to access the ski trails in Les Diablerets from Villars and vice versa, winter sports enthusiasts can now benefit from the entire ski area.

Efficient and maintenance-friendly

The high-speed chairlift takes three minutes to cover the almost 900-meter route, climbing 260 vertical meters between the boarding point at Lac Noir and the top station at an elevation of 1984 meters. The chairlift incorporates Doppelmayr direct drive (DDD) technology. This gearless drive concept is particularly low-noise and low-vibration as well as being energy-saving and easy to maintain.

Year-round operation

In the summer, the chairlift carries mountain bikers and hikers, with bikes transported using the bike carrier. Riders attach their bikes themselves and follow behind on the next chair. At the top station, the bikes are retrieved with a simple hand movement. Thanks to the installed comfort stops in the stations, this operation is performed with stationary carriers, which makes loading and unloading particularly straightforward for guests.

8-CLD Lac Noir–Chaux Ronde, Villars sur Ollon

• Customer: Télé-Villars-Gryon-Diablerets SA
• Inclined length: 944 m
• Vertical rise: 259 m
• Capacity: 4,000 PPH (final stage)
• Operating Speed: 5 m/s