Leitner: Ochsenkopf And Hauser Kaibling Start The Season With New Lifts
Just in time for the start of the winter season, two new ropeways from LEITNER will go into operation on the Ochsenkopf in Bavaria and on the Hauser Kaibling in Styria. While the second 10-seater gondola lift completes a new era on the ski mountain in the Fichtelgebirge, a significant modernization is being implemented in Styria after more than 30 years.
Back in 2023, LEITNER implemented the first part of the ambitious construction program, a 10-seater gondola lift on the Ochsenkopf, a local recreation region particularly popular with families. A new investment of around 17 million euros has now also enabled access from the south side of the mountain. The GD10 “Ochsenkopf Süd” follows the concept of the 10-seater “Ochsenkopf Nord” gondola lift and has also been equipped with practical features, such as special entry and exit solutions for monoskiers. The newly built bottom station has a raised covering which offers space for hydraulic tensioning, and is equipped with cabin parking and a snow groomer garage. Staff rooms and a generously designed entrance area round off the well thought-out concept of the new bottom station.
The new ropeway follows the line of the previous installation, but thanks to its modern construction, only requires 11 towers instead of 14, as it makes its way to the top station at 1,024 meters above sea level. A total of 21 new cabins will take guests safely and comfortably to their destination at a speed of six meters per second. In terms of efficiency and environmental friendliness, the Ochsenkopf also relies on the industry-leading technology from LEITNER. The system is powered by a 292 kW LEITNER DirectDrive, which also achieves a high level of ease of maintenance and resource conservation. In the final future expansion phase, four additional cabins will be added, which will make it possible to transport up to 1,200 people per hour. It was also important to the operator to adapt the facility to the needs of the guests during the summer season. This includes the possible adaptation of the cabins with the LEITNER bike rack for two bicycles, which can be easily mounted on the cabin and folded in before being garaged.
Sustainable energy concepts also play a major role in the Fichtelgebirge ski resort.
“At the Ochsenkopf, we focus on sustainable energy generation. We have installed PV panels with a total installed capacity of 200 kWp on the roofs of our station buildings in the valley and on the mountain. This means that when there is sufficient sunlight, the ropeway operates self-sufficiently,” says Dipl.-Ing. Andreas Schreyer, Operations Manager of the Ochsenkopf ropeways.
New Kaiblinggrat ropeway ensures technological generational change
At Hauser Kaibling in Austria, the winter season starts with a new installation from LEITNER. The new CD8C “Kaiblinggrat” replaces a chairlift that is over 30 years old and as such ensures a real technological generational change – including enhanced comfort and increased capacity. From december, the ropeway will transport up to 3,600 people per hour, making it the highest capacity chairlift in Styria. Thanks to its impressive transport capacity, an average continuous main motor output of 704 kW and a travel speed of six meters per second, the new ropeway offers even more skiing pleasure. The 68 LEITNER Premium Chairs EVO, equipped with a bubble and individual footrests, transport guests between the stations in 4.5 minutes. Another new feature is the comfortable entry via conveyor belt with lifting table, which automatically lifts children under 1.25 meters in height by 15 centimeters,enabling comfortable and safe entry.
Test facility for LeitPilot, conversion to a summer gondola lift and a new project
In addition, the new chairlift is also a test facility for the new LEITNER LeitPilot technology, which is used to support it. After completion of the ongoing practical tests, the innovative solution will enable autonomous station operation without staffing resources. A special technical feature is the option of converting the facility into a gondola lift for summer operation. But that's not all: As early as next year, the start of construction work for the new GD10 “Senderbahn” will mark the start of the next project as part of the successful cooperation between the Styrian ski resort and the LEITNER company from Sterzing.
Klaus Hofstätter, Managing Director of Hauser Kaibling Bergbahnen, is looking forward to the technological innovations in the ski resort: “With the investment in two new, high-performance systems, we are not only marking the premiere of our cooperation with LEITNER, but are also focusing on the future of autonomous station operation. We are firmly convinced that LeitPilot will have a significant impact on the industry.”
