magazine - TechnoAlpin

1- 05
MAGAZINE
For the last 15 years:
Always one
step ahead
Simply perfect
The new A9 lance
A champion is
made, not born
Bormio 2005: perfect conditions,
even without natural snow
Deeply rooted yet flexible
Both feet have to be firmly planted on
the ground to be able to raise your arms
to the sky: 15 years of TechnoAlpin
Without borders
The home court advantage in
every corner of the planet
Cover picture: The revolutionary head of the A9
TechnoAlpin AG/Spa - Kopernikusstraße 6 A - I-39100 Bozen / Via Copernico, 6 A - I-39100 Bolzano - Tel. +39 (0471) 550 550 - Fax +39
(0471) 200 441 - [email protected]
Austria GmbH - Stadlweg 25 - A-6020 Innsbruck - Tel. +43 (0512) 341 501 - Fax +43 (0512) 341 501-4
[email protected]
Deutschland GmbH - Unterfeldring 27 - D-85256 Pasenbach - Tel. +49 (08139) 995 225 - Fax +49 (08139) 995 226
[email protected]
Schweiz AG - Aschoren - Postfach 43 - CH-6454 Flüelen - Tel. +41 (0)41 874 50 00 - Fax +41 (0) 41 874 50 05 - [email protected]
France S.A.R.L. - 46 A Chemin du Moulin Carron - F-69570 Dardilly / Lyon - Tel. +33 (0) 437 497 959 - Fax +33 (0) 437 490 022
[email protected]
Canada, Snow Experts Inc. - Box 42 Pemberton BC - Canada VON 2LO - Tel. +1 (604) 219 8240 - Fax +1 (604) 894 9450
[email protected]
USA Inc. - 2065 Mahre Dr. - Park City - Utah 84098 - Tel. +1 (435) 649 6610 - Fax +1 (435) 649 7572 - [email protected]
East Europe s.r.o. - Riečna 31 - 01004 Zilina - Slowakische Republik - Tel. +421 (41) 700 2644-5 - Fax +421 (41) 700 2646 - [email protected]
Alex - Sofia - Bulgaria - Casli SA - División Nieve - Madrid - Spain - Glassey s/a - Martigny - Switzerland - Hae in Commerce Co., Inc. - Seoul - Korea
Monte N. Nulikas & Co. - Veria - Greece - Kessu OY - Helsinki - Finland - Skiare Pty Ltd - Brisbane - Australia - Snowtech AB - Sunne - Sweden
TechnoAlpin - Brasov - Romania - TechnoAlpin Liaison Office - Tokyo - Japan - Tehnounion - Ljubljana - Slovenia - TechnoAlpin Russia - Moscow - Russia
COLOPHON: Host: © TechnoAlpin AG/Spa · Via Copernico / Kopernikusstr. 6 A · 39100 Bolzano/Bozen · Alto Adige/Südtirol/South Tyrol · Italia/Italien/Italy
Tel. +39 0471 550 550 · Fax +39 0471 200 441 · [email protected] · www.technoalpin.com · Concept and content: Dott.ssa Irmi Prader · Editing: TechnoAlpin
Graphic design: dv media, Bressanone · Print: Satzzentrum, Bressanone · Reprints permitted provided the source is indicated and with prior approval by the host.
CONTENTS
TECHNOLOGY
PRACTICE
LIFE
15 YEARS
WORLDWIDE
The new A9 Perfect technology for your progress
Adapting instead of replacing The XE valve with countless combinations
Efficiency = M12 system Combinding resources
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World Ski Championships Bormio 2005 Superb performance
Looking at autumn End of season operations
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World Ski Championships Bormio 2005 The main event of the season
Meeting friends TechnoAlpin‘s trade show calendar 2005
Knowledge makes the difference Technical training and site visits
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Down-to-earth and flexibility The snow experts‘ keys to success
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Home court advantage!
Always at your service! TechnoAlpin‘s international team
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Continuity and progress
Always look to the future to leave a mark upon the world.
If in the last 15 years TechnoAlpin has become the world market leader in the snowmaking, this is thanks to the
trust which you, friends and customers, have placed in the snow experts and their technology. This means a lot
to us and is stimulating us to continue with enthusiasm every day.
The last year, we have worked very hard to develop new solutions able to offer more advantages in terms of
efficiency, price, snow quality and quantity. Our efforts have resulted in the development of the new A9V snow
lance, XE valve and M12, which are described at page 4 onwards.
Leaving a mark upon the world, being one step ahead of others and managing to maintain this lead in the future:
these factors are all closely related to the depth and flexibility of the company. This is why we like to remember
the beginning and the present through a photo album remembering, in particular, the event that took place last
winter: the Alpine World Ski Championships, organised by FIS in Bormio, where TechnoAlpin were the official supplier. Eng. Canclini, the technical and snowmaking director, will take us on a “behind-the-scenes” tour.
A strong territorial tie and the will to always look ahead are values also shared by our staff. Indeed, it is our staff
who make the difference, who help us shaping our and your success. We are pleased to introduce the people
and organisation behind TechnoAlpin.
Your trust is our motivation for the future!
TechnoAlpin‘s management board
Erich Gummerer
Walter Rieder
Georg Eisath
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TECHNOLOGY
Photo: A9 lance head · A9 in the Dolomites and Bormio
Simply perfect!
TechnoAlpin’s state-of-the-art A9 snow lance is capable of operating at extreme temperatures
and withstanding highly variable wind conditions, as well as producing excellent snow quality.
Just like great athletes have to keep training to
achieve top results, the TechnoAlpin engineers are
continually striving to improve the snow lances. The
A9 aims to gain the number one ranking in its market
place.
The most obvious feature of the A9 is its rounded
head, which is a one-piece aluminium casting, containing 8 fixed water nozzles, 6 adjustable water
nozzles and nucleators. “The essentials are invisible to
the eye”. With this quote from Saint-Exupery we can
also describe the outstanding feature inside the lance
head: a special antifreeze system that protects it even
in extreme conditions.
The innovative nozzles feature greater with wind
resistance and coverage area. Furthermore, the new
nozzles feature increased throw that has positive effect on the crystallisation process, and therefore on
the improved snow quality
Even the mechanical structure confirms unambiguously the overall high quality of the A9: the lance pipe
is made of aluminium, and the pluiting has been raised
higher to improve the integration of the control panel
and devices on the structure. Space requirements have
been reduced, making the A9 even more compact.
Because of this the A9 offers greater wind and
freezing resistance, increased throw range, enhanced
snow quality, ideal control of the snow coverage area,
overall weight reduction and excellent operation.
Ernst Thurnes, Serfaus (AUT) ski area manager
comments: “I’ve been using ten A9 units for 3 months
and I’m very satisfied. They don’t freeze and I can
assure you that this is a totally new feature for a snow
lance, considering the extremely variable wind conditions and very cold water (33° F). Furthermore, the
snow quality is exceptional. It’s a very successful product. I can assure you, because I’ve tried many other
products.
TECHNOLOGY
Photo: The XE valve blends in with its surrounding environment with the ease of a chameleon.
The adaptable world champion!
Flexible with an excellent quality/price ratio! These are some of the unbeatable features of Techno
Alpin‘s newest generation of connection points: the XE valve.
The XE valve has been designed to provide a modular
system with a great price, capable of adapting to customers needs and integrated in existing solutions.
The result is a easy to handle and compact valve, which
can be opened and closed manually or electrically. The
most important advantage, however, is the possibility to
change from one operating mode to another at any time,
without having to modify the valve.
Small ski areas usually start off with a few mobile units
(manual or automatic) and the manual XE valves. Later the
installation is gradually extended, automated or replaced
by fixed snow guns. An XE motor can be attached to the
XE valve easily and quickly without having to make any
modification, or if the installation is using the E motor, it can
be connected to the valve as well. The XE motor valve, for
stationary installation inside the shelter, offers the highest
level of automation currently available.
Construction:
The XE valve body consists of the proven conical closure
and seat system, water inlet and outlet and a fine thread
spindle, delivering precise water flow adjustments. The val-
ve can be activated outside the shelter with a value extension. The spindle is provided with an adapter plate that
serves as support and guide for the drive unit.
The XE valve can be operated in three modes: manually, by
locking the lever in the up position, electrically, by means of
the E motor, or using the new light XE motor.
XE valve with XE motor: light, flexible and versitile
The XE motor is the evolution of the E motor, offering a
light structure, ease of use and functionality. The structural
elements have been assembled with a special technique
that has reduced the weight by more than the half.
The XE valve with fixed XE motor and camlock fitting can
be transferred from one shelter to another and used to
adjust water pressure. In this case, the connection need an
isolation valve.
The complete XE valve may be used for a few mobile
units with many connection points.
For fixed installations, we recomand that each shelter is
equipped with the XE valve, which can be activated by the
existing E motor or XE motor.
TechnoAlpin’s XE valve represents an important improvement in terms of flexibility, simplicity and cost.
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TECHNOLOGY
Photo: M12 automatic
Efficiency = M12 system
Efficiency = performance / input. The M12 system, the latest star in the M class family, maximises
this ratio, due to its central air supply and centralised controls.
In terms of turbine structure, the M12 system fits
perfectly in the M class range.
The reliable and tested TechnoAlpin technologies,
such as the Quadrijet nozzles, special nozzle ring, external turbine motor, etc. are all present in the M12
system. The M12 system has been designed for the
mounting on all common tower and arm constructions.
The M12 is also available as automatic or manual
version, on tower, on arm or as mobile version.
M12 technical data
Total height
Working height
Weight snow generator
Fan engine
Min. water pressure
Max. water pressure
Fixed nozzles
Variable nozzles
Nucleators
5,25 m (207’’)
4,5 m (177’’)
450 kg (990 lb)
9 kW
8 bar (120 PSI)
40/50 bar (600/750 PSI)
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4
Technical data referring to model M12 system on 3 m (10 ’ - lift).
Our primary goal in all our work is to enhance
efficiency. There are two ways to achieve it: either
increasing performance using the same input, or reducing the input while maintaining the same performance. With the M12, TechnoAlpin offers a completely new solution, which does not sacrifice performance
or quality of materials, but redistributes the existing
resources, thus drastically reducing costs. These resources are air and controls.
The M12 system features centralised air supply;
therefore, the machine does not require a stand-alone
compressor. Furthermore, the machine is controlled
by a centralised control unit, so the snow generator
does not require another control panel.
With the new M12 system, TechnoAlpin has focused on the mixed installation segment, in order to meet
the needs of customers who require a small, compact
fan gun that can be used where the snow lance is
not enough, where wind conditions limit the use of
snow lances and where huge guns on tower are not
necessary. The M12 system can be easily integrated in
a centralised lance installation or used alone.
PRACTICE
Photo: Eng. Canalini, “...whereas the guarantee of the snow is of fundamental importance for the success of the event.”
Bormio 2005
a challenge won brilliantly
Bormio 2005 will be remembered as THE World Championships without a single flake of natural
snow. Eng. Pasquale Canclini, technical director and slope manager at Bormio, tells us how this
problem was overcome and hew the races were held in the best conditions possible.
A month after the World Championships in Bormio, in
retrospect, what do you think of it?
P.C.: A lot has been said and written on the organisational aspects. But what we remember are the exciting
races held on perfect runs, even though there wasn‘t a
single flake of natural snow. This confirms what I‘ve always believed: the essential element in an event of this
level is the guarantee of snow. If, for example, a ski lift
stops, a helicopter can take the athletes to the start gate.
But if there are flowers in bloom on the run, there will not
be a ski race.
What was the hardest challenge to face in these Championships?
P.C.: The preparation works were a very difficult challenge. The paste was frenetic as we had very little time
to prepare a snowmaking installation of extraordinary
dimensions. Then, last fall Mother Nature brought us face
to face with the most difficult challenge: extreme warm
temperatures throughout December and the big moment
was nearing soon. However, we never doubted for a minute that we would have managed to prepare the runs
perfectly.
On the contrary! On 29th December 2004, about a
month before the beginning of the Championships, with
the Men‘s World Cup race, we showed the world for the
first time what my snowmaking team and our TechnoAlpin installation are capable of: we produced 100,000 m3
(3,6 million cubic feet) of snow in less than 48 hours with
a wet bulb temperature of -2° FK (28° F)!
What investments were made for the World Championship?
P.C.: Bormio has been working with snowmaking installations since 1982. The first high pressure snowmaking
line (1 km, 1.600 feet) was installed by Larchmont. In
1984, a high-pressure Valteco system was installed along
the Stelvio course, for the World Championships for the
following year. In 1988, Lenko machines were used, and
between 1990 and 2000, the pipeline was extended and
the pumping capacitiy was increased.
In 2000, when Bormio was chosen for the World
Championships in 2005, the SIB (Società Impianti di Bormio - Bormio Installation Company) announced an investment of 30,000,000 Euro (38.615.000 US Dollar) in this
ski area, 8,000,000 Euro (10.240.000 US Dollar) of which
were for the snowmaking system.
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Photo: Perfect snow conditions,
and not only on the race slopes.
The next step was to “entrust” this huge sum to the best
snowmaking experts in the market. To be sure of our choice
we conducted numerous tests for two entire seasons. We
based our choice on the following criteria: a mixed installation, with guns capable of operating at extreme warm
temperatures, a reliable and flexible structure and excellent customer service capable of taking rapid action, all
this provided by a leading company. We tested the snow
generators of Lenko, Nivis, Snowstar, Sufag, TechnoAlpin,
Wacht and York, taking into account operating capabilities at extreme temperatures, water capacity, snow quality,
weight and sun resistance. Results showed that only TechnoAlpin installations were capable of constantly producing
high quality snow, even at +2° C (34° F).
We therefore immediately started to extend the installation with the help of TechnoAlpin. A comparison between the previous and present performance:
Pumping capacity
Water tanks
Pipeline
Compr. air network
Connection points
Snow generators
1982
30 l/sec
2005
120 l/sec
(475 GPM)
(1.900 GPM)
1.700 m3
13.000 m3
(61.200 cubic feet)
(468.000 cubic feet)
1 km (3.400’)
1 km (3.400’)
20
16
25 km (85.000’)
20 km (68.000’)
300
160
Do you think that this expansion has been repaid?
P.C.: Absolutely (and laughs as he says it). When the
installation was completed, I thought that the installation
was exaggerated with respect to the needs and that we
would never have used its potential completely. But I was
wrong! Today I‘m fully satisfied with this installation. We
would never have managed without it.
For the World Cup at the end of December we produced approximately 100,000 m3 (3,6 million cubic feet)
of snow in 48 hours, and then 300,000 m3 (10,8 million cubic feet) for the World Championships, working at extreme warm temperatures for about 70% of the time. But a
perfect Stelvio course was not enough for us, we wanted
to offer optimal snow conditions to our guests too.
So we prepared the other runs with other 300,000 m3
(10,8 million cubic feet) of snow, and they are still now
(March, 11th 2005, Editor‘s Note) in perfect conditions. All
this considering that Bormio was the Italian ski area with the
least snow, according to the website www.skiinfo.it. Throughout the winter season, we didn‘t receive more than 50 cm
(20’’) of natural snow at 2,000 m (6.600 feet) of altitude.
What was FIS‘s opinion ?
P.C.: The FIS representatives were very pleased with
the snow conditions of the Stelvio course. I wish to thank
all my snowmaking technicians, a great team with 23 (!!)
years of experience in the field, together with TechnoAlpin, they did an excellent job!
What advice can you give after the experience of the
World Championships?
P.C.: An event of this scale is the combination of many factors. However, many of these factors are secondary, whereas
the guarantee of snow is of fundamental importance for the
success of the event. My advice is to choose the right snowmaking partner. In this case, “right” means reliable from every
point of view and able to ensure an excellent and punctual
service. With TechnoAlpin, I made the right choice.
Photo: End of season operations (Davos-Jacobshorn, SUI)
Plunge into summer
What do a diver and a snow-making manager have in common? For both, the performance ends
with a brilliant splash. Completing the end-of-season operations with care and precision means
saving precious time in the fall.
The snowmaking season is over and the first installations are being prepared for the summer break. If
spring operations are performed with care, the new
winter season will start-up more smoothly.
The snow experts‘ Customer Care department recommends the following operations.
General operations:
Disconnect all parts from the power supply to avoid
damage caused by lightning. Switching off, however,
is not sufficient: disconnect all plugs and cables, including the ground connection.
Pump station:
• Disconnect all analog and digital inputs and out
puts, including the control panel
• Switch off and disconnect the following components:
pressure transmitter, current meter, flowmeter, soft
starts, converters, amplifier, automatic switch,
safety switch...
• Disconnect the ground conductors
• Perform maintenance on the pump station as
described in the manual
Pipelines and Hydrants:
• Disconnect all repeaters, hydromats and
heating system
Snow generators:
• Clean dirty nozzles (tip: use vinegar
to remove lime deposits!)
• Check nucleators
• Clean water and air filters
• Check the heating system
• Check for water leakage
• Verify the integrity and noise levels of all
mechanical moving parts
• Perform pressure tests on water hoses
• Dry and coil up water hoses
• Cover fixed installations with green covers
Our Customer Care team is at your service for any
information you may require.
Customer Care Hotline +39 0471 550534
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growag
Mit Sicherheit aus guten Händen
GROWAG, A TEXTILE COMPANY WITH TRADITION.
Few companies deal with woven products outside the textile
industry. Growag Feuerwehrtechnik AG of Grosswangen (Switzerland), founded back in 1886, took immediate advantage of
this factor, leaving the competition “in the dust”.
The textile department, the heart of the company
Thousands of kilometres of white thread are processed in the twisting
and weaving areas, where the yarns are twisted and knotted. Everything literally hangs by a very fine thread. First of all, the thread is fed
into the twisting loom where it is twisted with 2 to 12 other threads.
Then the reels of thread are sent to the weaving area where they are
fitted on one of the five looms. Each of these machines is capable of
producing up to 100 metres (335 feet) of tubular fabric per day, with
different diameter and quality.
This translates into an approximate annual production of over
300,000 metres (630 miles). Depending on the use (fire fighting,
snowmaking or other industrial applications), the end product is
vulcanized in the rubbing area (binding under steam pressure).
One thousand and one uses
From fire fighting to snowmaking, industry to agriculture and
the army, the uses for Growag hoses are virtually endless. For
example, Growag hoses have also been used for the Ariane IV
and V launchers.
In good hands
Reliability is an essential condition in the snowmaking sector.
Our snow hoses feature a maximum operating pressure of 64 bar
(928 PSI, official test data). Growag hoses and a TechnoAlpin
installation: a perfect solution ensuring maximum safety.
LIFE
Photo above: Swiss horn players in Bormio
(in the picture, Bormio 3000)
Photos on the left: Delegation from Bansko · The entrance
to the World Championships stadium · Group photo of our
friends from Americans and Greece · Our friends from Spain
TechnoAlpin at the
World Championships in Bormio –
Some highlights
• TechnoAlpin invited about 200 customers from Italy, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, USA, Canada,
Sweden, Norway, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia,
Croatia and Greece, who spent a few exciting
days in Bormio and South Tyrol.
• TechnoAlpin snow was used for 11 out of 19 World
Championship events.
• 160 TechnoAlpin snow generators produced
700.000 m3 (25,2 million cubic feet) of snow, ensuring perfect snow conditions on the “Stelvio” course
and all over the ski area.
• Gold medal winner Bode Miller celebrated the victory with a group of South Tyrolean TechnoAlpin
customers.
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TechnoAlpin
trade shows, 2005
“Winter is not a season,
it‘s an occupation.”
Sinclair Lewis, Nobel Prize in Literature
1 INTERALPIN, Innsbruck, April 6th - 8th
Come and visit us! We are in Hall 2 A,
Stand 2A 00.
2 NSAA Scottsdale / Arizona: May 19th - 22nd
3 Ski & Board Salon, Moscow: November 3rd - 5th
March 2005: Visitors from China, Iran, USA, Canada,
France, Spain and Russia are updated on the latest
snowmaking technology in the TechnoAlpin Headquarter.
December 2004: TechnoAlpin & Kässbohrer:
technical training days on
Mount Arber in Germany
130 installation managers, snowmaking and slope managers participated in a “field” information meeting at
the beginning of December. The meeting addressed
the following: snow quality in all fields of application
(speaker: Georg Eisath, President of TechnoAlpin), new
directives related to cablecar transport (speaker: Günter Troy, Doppelmayr sales manager for Germany),
safety at work in the snowmaking sector (speaker: Arno
Schweiger, safety at work expert), PistenBully application fields (speaker: Wolfgang Lutz, Kässbohrer area
sales manager) and fun park planning and building
(speaker: Reto Sporrer, Lionhead Consulting).
TechnoAlpin: official technological partner with the “German Ski Federation”. From this year, two fully automatic, mobile M20 propeller-driven machines support the Deutscher Skiverband (German Ski Federation) in the World Cup and training of young athletes. The
German National Alpine team with Georg Eisath (President of TechnoAlpin) and Harry Gall (CEO of TechnoAlpin Germany) during
delivery at Ingolstadt.
A unique image for
Techno Alpin‘s international sales team
TechnoAlpin‘s uniqueness and strength lie not only in
its new products but also in its image, by using the
same ski clothing all over the world.
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March 2005, Saalbach-Hinterglemm (AUT): 40 Italian customers enthusiastic about the location of the World Championships 1991.
Highly successful debut of the World Cup
Sljeme, 20th January 2005:
Žiljak Drago, manager of the Sljeme ski area, is fully satisfied with the results: “The slope was very compact,
but not icy, and according to the FIS, it could have withstood many more races. Notwithstanding the extreme
weather conditions in December and at the beginning of January, with a temperature of -1° C (29° F) and air
humidity of 60 - 70% (!), thanks to our TechnoAlpin installation (21 mobile M18s, 12 snow lances, pump station
with a rate of 70 l/sec (1.106 GPM), ATASS management system), we managed to produce top quality snow.
Our first World Cup slalom was a great success!”
15 YEARS
TechnoAlpin: 15 years
of growing success!
TechnoAlpin has marked 15 years of growing success in the technical snow-making market worldwide. In this interview, Georg Eisath, TechnoAlpin’s President and founder, tells us how a small
South Tyrolean company managed to become a leader in the international snow-making field.
And that’s how it all started...
G.E.: As managers of the Obereggen ski area, Walter
Rieder and I weren’t at all satisfied with the existing technical snow-making solutions. That’s why, in 1983, we decided to work on the development and production of snow
generators. The years between 1988 and 1990 were decisive, as they were years with very little snow: we were
under pressure by our customers and no longer able to
satisfy all the requirements. Already at that time, we offered a complete range of products, from snow-making systems, complete with accessories, to shelters, hydrants, and
pump stations. However, due to the growing demand, we
had to face the decision: to be a professional company
or continue along the same path as before. We chose
the first solution and that’s how TechnoAlpin started...
The “TechnoAlpin” brand
G.E.: The company’s name is a combination of terms
that Walter Rieder and I chose to define the most important aspects of our work: technology, mountains and the
Alps. TechnoAlpin is the combination we liked most.
The key role of our staff in the process from a local company to world leader in the sector
G.E.: The main goals have remained the same: 1) to
create an organisation that is able to offer stability and
flexibility at the same time; 2) to increase turnover and
make TechnoAlpin known worldwide.
Our staff is and has always been the backbone of
the company. We have always focused on highly qualified, flexible young staff (45% is under 30), who has
contributed significantly to the success of our company
worldwide.
Another decisive factor positively influencing sales has
been the successful combination of reliable products and
first-class service, from the planning phase to after-sales
service.
The growing demand in the world market has constituted a most important challenge for all of us: our goal
was to expand towards international markets while simultaneously consolidating the company’s position at a local
level, that is without ignoring important commercial areas
such as Austria, Switzerland, France, Germany or North
America. We took on the challenge and considering the
results, I can only say that we won it, too!
Down-to-earth: the real strength of the snow experts
G.E.: Unlike other companies in our field that, thanks
to improvisation and sales skills, rapidly appeared in the
market and just as rapidly disappeared, our company
has consolidated its position in the market and stands out
for its natural, “down-to earth” character. Our motto is
safety: we offer tested technologies and excellent service. By choosing us, customers can rely on a company
that will continue to provide the best support even in ten
years’ time. “Stability” is achieved by taking small, wellconsidered steps rather than a giant, risky leap: in our
team, which works on a worldwide basis with excellent
results, there is no place for lack of professionalism and
approximation.
Complete installations: the next challenge in the technical
snow-making market
G.E.: In the last few years, the technical snow-making
market has gained a major role, becoming even more
important than the ropeway-market. The entire snowmaking sector is dominated by four major companies.
Competition, therefore, is very strong. The most critical
aspects are no doubt automation and the construction of
complete turnkey installations.
Alpine ski races will continue to push the technical
snowmaking sector, as we have already seen in the last
ten years. That’s why I think it’s time to start talking about it.
M90, Cortina, Valzoldana, Falcade: Georg Eisath’s winning cards.
G.E.: From my personal point of view, the best “piece”
of the entire range is the Latemar M90. It’s the first major
evolution that achieved great success. I remember very
well the first projects we completed in 1988-1990, such
as Cortina, Valzoldana and Falcade: they were huge installations, provided with advanced technologies, which
already had automatic controls for the pump stations.
An automotive comparison: TechnoAlpin and VW Golf
G.E.: If I were to compare our company to a car,
I would no doubt choose a VW Golf: it may be a bit
“conservative” but it’s surely stable and reliable, equipped with tested technology and adaptable to all needs.
Of course, it’s nice to drive a Ferrari, but only on the interstate, because it’s in no way suitable for mountain roads.
I prefer a Golf: it may not be very fast, but it will always
take you safely and reliably to your destination. Indeed, I
like the “classification” of TechnoAlpin between the Golfs
very much, and I wouldn’t change it for anything in the
world. However, I must admit that also the Audi slogan
“Vorsprung durch Technik”, that is “Progress through technology”, fits very well with TechnoAlpin’s philosophy.
Great admiration for all those who work with enthusiasm
G.E.: What’s important for me is not the company
itself but the people who work in it. I’m interested in the
men and women who work hard and produce results.
Managers who go up the ladder only thanks to external
or political help, are not for me. Thank God, today I can
take my hat off to many good workers.
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15 YEARS: IMMAGES
From around
the world
Photos on the left:
· 1991 the first TechnoAlpin
snow generator in Chile
· 1992 technical snow
for Greece
· 1991 great interest in the legendary M90 even in Slovakia
Photos above: 1988 WI.TE on the Pisten-Bully
1997 baby automatic on tower
1998 expansion to New Zealand
1991 Happy Finns
1999 Japan, a good buy
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WORLDWIDE
Photo: TechnoAlpin establishments and partners (see page 2 for the addresses)
Home court advantage
all over the planet!
In Italy, Scandinavia, USA, Canada, Russia, China or Australia: with TechnoAlpin every customer
always feels at home! Thanks to TechnoAlpin‘s widespread organisation in every corner of the
world, our professional Customer Care service knows no boundaries.
On the way to the heights of world success, TechnoAlpin has left traces in every continent with over
500 customers worldwide. Relying on TechnoAlpin
means trusting our technical solutions and, above all,
the people, the organisational structure and company
solidity.
Project management, production and logistics, installation start-up, after-sales service, spare part supply: all these departments are a tangible demonstration
of our dedication to our customers. TechnoAlpin has
created a worldwide organisation to make every customer always feel at home.
of TechnoAlpin branch offices: in Switzerland, for example, our branch office is located in the middle of
the country so that customers can reach us in less than
three hours by car.
All branch offices work in close contact with the
TechnoAlpin headquarters in Bolzano, which serves
as main service centre. Operations that require international coordination and allow us to offer efficient
services at favourable prices are managed at the
corporate site in Bolzano: research and development,
purchases, production, software programming, planning, working out offers and marketing.
20 branch offices worldwide
TechnoAlpin is in every corner of the world with 20
branch offices, each of which has its own managers,
sales team, technical staff and spare part warehouse.
This is the only way to ensure a highly professional,
fast and efficient Customer Care service. Logistics has
been a key factor in choosing the physical location
From Bolzano to every corner of the world in only
4 days
Approximately 6,000 different items are available in
the Bolzano and Pineta di Laives warehouses. Every
component of every TechnoAlpin snowmaking installation is available as a spare part. This enables us to
ensure that any component sent by courier is deliver-
Photo: Karlheinz, our Service technician in New Zealand
Photo: The TechnoAlpin warehouse at Pineta di Laives (BZ)
ed to the customer in less than 4 days, so we waste as
few snowmaking days as possible. The Bolzano warehouse stocks all the small parts, whereas the Pineta di
Laives warehouse stocks fittings, pumps, Alpinal pipes,
valves, flanges, shelters, cooling towers, control panels, data cables, aluminium cables, etc.
At your service 24 hours a day
For TechnoAlpin, delivering a professional customer
care service means providing precisely what the customer needs when the customer needs it. We know
that each missed hour of snowmaking translates into
lower turnover. For this reason, TechnoAlpin‘s Customer Care service is available 24 hours a day. You will
always find someone who can coordinate operations,
even at international level, by calling the Bolzano number 0039 0471 550 534. Of course, the local branch
office should be contacted first.
The ATASS (Automatic TechnoAlpin Snowmaking
System) management software allows us to save time:
with the consent of the customer, the Bolzano software
department can operate in any part of the world and
on any installation, performing updates or carrying out
preliminary error analyses before sending a technician
to the site. Another way to save precious time.
Directly at your site!
For TechnoAlpin, offering an efficient Customer Care
service means saving time and making communication
as direct as possible, even with the top management
floors.
The founders and owners of TechnoAlpin, Georg Eisath, Walter Rieder and Erich Gummerer, are
in charge of the installation construction, technology
and management sector: they work side by side and
are always at the disposal of customers and staff.
Open doors
In spring, about 300 customers and potential customers visited the company‘s headquarter in Bolzano
and had the opportunity to see the production processes first hand, as well as the latest developments
for 2005. TechnoAlpin is thrilled with the high interest
shown for the initiative.
18
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Alain De Cian
Alexander Comploj
Alexander Stangl
Anja Berents
Arno Hafner
Astrid Torggler
Christine Wunsch
Dagmar Geis
Daniele Neri
Erich Gummerer
Erika Unterweger
Georg Eisath
Gerald Reichegger
Giorgia Cassiolari
Gregor Lochmann
Hannes Thurner
Hansi Kaufmann
Heidi Vonmetz
Heinz Viehweider
Irmi Prader
Ivan Gross
Joachim Stuefer
Juri Menegot
Juris Panzani
Karlheinz Terrabona
Klaus Bacher
Lukas Schmittner
Manfred Scherer
Marco Benvenuto
Marco Moratti
Marion Barbieri
Markus Mahlknecht
Markus Pfeifer
Martin Coser
Martin Eppacher
Martin Gamberoni
Martin Hofer
Martin Margesin
Mauro Freno
Michael Lentsch
Paolo Nardone
Patrick Peintner
Peter Rottensteiner
Philipp Schenk
Philippe Ronin
René Schiess
Robert Moaret
Robert Reider
Roberto Begliatti
Sigi Rieder
Sigrid Gummerer
Stefan Egger
Stefan Malfer
Stefan Mutschlechner Stefano Bruscagin
Stefano Cianchi
Stefano Locatelli
Thomas Möltner
Thomas Pichler
Thomas Burger
Thomas Lunger
Thomas Lutz
Umberto Marchesan Valentin Profanter
Walter Rieder
Walter Weger
Wolfgang Hanni
Wolfgang Lechner
Eberhard Gall
Manfred Huber
Ralf Behrends
Sandra Daniel
Ulrich Gall
Reto Saner
Sarah Gisler
Sascha Zgraggen
Christophe Moullin
Geir Vik
Nikki Clifford
Kirsten Kotvall
Andreas Dorfmann Christoph Brand
Franck Fontaine
Franck Tiffreau
Russell Schwartz
Markus Egger
Robert Kramberger
Alexander Reindl Annelise Kneidl
Kurt Bissig
Markus Zgraggen
Martin Kuhn
Melanie Zurbriggen
Remo Bulgheroni
Jean-Luc Rouillet
Laurent Magnette
Michael Payan
Séverine Lopez
Valérie Vacher
Katarína Jesenska
Martin Merka
Miro Patras
Rudo Machácek
Rosa López
Glassey Albert Glassey Skiare Thomas Peintner Snowtech Christer Jansson Christian Andersson
Serban Sovaiala
Tokyo Kiyohiro Kawakami Tehnounion Gregor Vehovec
Frantisek Jany Jan Duchlansky Ján Lietavec
Casli Ángel Jaraiz
Blas Olmos
Christina Gonzáles
Jesús C. Peso
Juan Francisco C. Peso Raul Garcia
Curt Boström
Jan Mangborg
Krister Blomander
Lasse Nordström
Niklas Blomander
Brasov Petre Popa
Brian Tito Alex
ALEX Akexander Mechkov Stanislava Mechkova Stefka Miteva