Snow Experts 04.2011.indd
Transcription
Snow Experts 04.2011.indd
SNOWEXPERTS THE TECHNOALPIN MAGAZINE 1/2011 TECHNOALPIN PUTS POWER INTO FOLGARIA SNOW-MAKING SYSTEM 4 COOLTECH RANGE OF COOLING TOWERS 6 OVERSEAS PROJECTS 7 ENGINEERING AWARD FOR TECHNOALPIN & CORONET PEAK 8 SUCCESS STORY IN KYRGYZSTAN 12 SNOW MADE BY... 9 PROJECTS AROUND THE WORLD 14 PRODUCT-PRESENTATION 2011: ATASSPLUS 10 DID YOU KNOW… 16 T40 & V3: HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY 18 4 Collaboration between Trentino ski resort Carosello Folgaria Ski and TechnoAlpin began in 2003. Since then the snow-making system has been gradually extended in several stages and now all slopes have the TechnoAlpin technology. 10 Even slope coverage all the way from the mountain top to the valley floor from the fall right through to the spring – such is the challenge in snow-making technology. The new version of ATASSplus sets new standards in fully automatic snow generation. Contents 12 Kyrgyzstan may not exactly be known as a skiing nation by the rest of the world but it does indeed have a tradition in alpine skiing. The resort Orlovka has blossomed into an attractive ski resort and is a success story in Kyrgyzstan. TECHNOALPIN PUTS POWER INTO FOLGARIA SNOW-MAKING SYSTEM COOLTECH RANGE OF COOLING TOWERS OVERSEAS PROJECTS ENGINEERING AWARD FOR TECHNOALPIN & CORONET PEAK SNOW MADE BY... PRODUCT-PRESENTATION 2011: ATASSPLUS SUCCESS STORY IN KYRGYZSTAN PROJECTS AROUND THE WORLD DID YOU KNOW… T40 & V3: HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY 4 6 7 8 9 10 12 14 16 18 IMPRINT Publisher: © TechnoAlpin AG/SpA · Via P.-Agostini-Straße 2 · 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 · Responsible for stipulating: Erich Gummerer – Editors: Patrizia Pircher – Design: dv media, Vahrn/Varna – www.designverbindet.it – Printed by: Athesia Druck, Bolzano · Content may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part, including electronically, without the explicit permission of the publisher – As of: April 2011 Everybody is talking about “innovation” at the moment. Everything suddenly has to be innovative, and everybody wants to be innovative – innovation is seen as a cure-all. This sudden commotion about the term innovation is a mystery to us. Has a company ever been successful without being innovative? From its very first day, TechnoAlpin has been a hive of research, invention and development, bringing to market a constant stream of new “innovative” solutions. It doesn’t take a trend to be genuinely innovative, or experts explaining how important innovation The T40 fan gun and the V3 lance made their debut appearance in the spring of 2010. After the first snow season there is positive feedback from all parts of the world. The new products proved their worth in the winter. is. You just need to be innovative – it’s as simple as that. Therefore we will continue to research, invent and develop in order to keep supplying the market with new solutions. Only last year the new T40, V3 and MTS snow guns reached the stage of commercial viability. This year a fully revamped version of ATASSplus comes onto the market. A new range of cooling towers has been designed for optimum water temperature and the new valve technology for optimum water supply. TechnoAlpin stands for innovation right across the board – and has done since 1990. Walter Rieder and Erich Gummerer SNOW EXPERTS EDITORIAL 18 Dear Customers and Readers, 2 3 Folgaria TechnoAlpin going great guns Collaboration between Trentino ski resort Carosello Folgaria Ski and TechnoAlpin began in 2003. Since then the snow-making system has been gradually extended in several stages and now all slopes have the TechnoAlpin technology. The Folgaria ski resort is situated in the southern Dolomites not far from Trento. It extends from 1200 - 2000 meters above sea level. With 100 kilometers of slopes there is something to suit every ski enthusiast. And since 2003, TechnoAlpin has been catering for perfect slope conditions as well. In the first few years until 2008 TechnoAlpin delivered 102 snow guns to Folgaria, with 19x M10, 20x M12, 10x M15, 43x M18, 5x M20 and 5x T60 installed on lifts, towers and arms, or supplied as mobile machines. The reservoir in the Martinella North area was extended to 28,000 m³ uring the same period and the pumping plant of the same name with an output of 3x 200 kW or 120 l/s was built. Eight 132 kW compressors were also supplied. In 2006 TechnoAlpin converted the control system of the existing Costa pumping plant and integrated the plant in the ATASSplus control software system. 243 fan guns and ATASSplus Further upgrades were needed in order to guarantee snow coverage from the beginning of December until April. In 2009 the SNOW EXPERTS FOLGARIA 4 5 system was bolstered by 8x T60, 23x M18 and 3x M12. The biggest expansion to date was in 2010 when 74x T40, 9x T60, 19x M18 and 5x M12 almost doubled the number of snow guns in one foul swoop. Some of the new snow guns have replaced the nonTechnoAlpin snow guns on the Serrada and Ortesino facile slopes. The other snow guns have been installed on the new slopes by the names of Strafexpedition, Bersaglieri and Ribes Rosso. The snow guns, numbering 243 at the last count, are controlled by the latest version of the TechnoAlpin control software, ATASSplus. The new version which is setting new standards, mainly due to the clarity of the user interface, was actually installed in Folgaria before its official launch. The lavish investments in Folgaria have not stopped at snow-making technology. Three new lifts have just been installed to maximize the choice on offer for the ski enthusiast. The high plateau east of Trento is well worth a visit – not just for devotees of alpine skiing. There are also challenging cross-country ski runs which seem to stretch endlessly through the rugged landscape. Further extension contracts The system is scheduled for yet another extension in 2011. A 100,000 m³ reservoir will be established in the ex Base Nato zone. The pumping plant output will be 8x 35 l/s and 1x 20 l/s. A pipe (1x 90 kW) and five pits will optimize the snow coverage of the cross-country ski runs in future. 18 more fan guns will be delivered to Folgaria. www.folgariaski.com Cooltech range of cooling towers Energy conservation thanks to efficient water cooling The temperature of the water is one of the key factors in the process of snow-making. Using water at the ideal temperature improves the performance of the individual snow guns. TechnoAlpin has therefore designed its own cooling towers for use with our snow-making systems. The cooling towers in the “Cooltech” range have a honeycomb-type cooling system which works by redirecting the water. All the components are designed for extreme working conditions and can withstand high pressures. The cooling of the water has a positive impact on the snow output and therefore on the energy consumption of the snow guns. Each snow gun can produce 45% more snow on average if supplied with water at the right temperature. This means 45% more output with little change in energy consumption. Moreover, the snow-making process can begin earlier if a water cooling system is installed. This translates into an enormous commercial advantage for the ski resort. The cooling towers have been in use this year in Gerlitzen (AUT). Two towers, each boasting a throughput of 90 l/s, have been installed in the Carinthia ski resort. The water is delivered to the cooling tower at a temperature of 9.3 °C. The temperature of the water at the output is 2°C – corresponding to a cooling capacity of 2,732 kW per tower. Thanks to the ingenious honeycomb-type system, this cooling capacity can be achieved with very low energy consumption. The two towers consume 90 kW in total which corresponds to 1.6% of the cooling capacity actually achieved. Thanks to the increased snow output, the cooling towers are bringing about a significant reduction in energy consumption in Gerlitzen. Taking account of the total energy consumption of the Gerlitzen system, consisting of snow guns, pumping plants and cooling towers, the higher snow output leads to a cost saving of 25%. SNOW EXPERTS PROJECTS Overseas projects The Canyons “The Canyons Mountain Resort” is Utah’s largest ski resort and one of the largest resorts in North America. Business relations have existed with TechnoAlpin since 2005. Three pumping plants have been built in recent years with outputs of 90 l/s, 60 l/s and 30 l/s. In 2006 the first lance – an A9 – was delivered. The system has gradually been upgraded little by little. The biggest expansion to date was in 2010 when 35x M18 were added, both tower- and arm-mounted models. The system is controlled by the ATASS software in order to guarantee consistent snow conditions. A new reservoir has also been constructed to improve the water supply. This holds 75,000 m³ and took just 75 days to build. Optimum supply of the snow guns is absolutely essential given the high number of downhill runs in “The Canyons Resort”. With 128 slopes, most of them in the intermediate and advanced segments, “The Canyons Resort” offers variety and thrill-packed skiing. All of these slopes are served by 19 ski lift systems. The resort extends from about 2000 m to just over 3000 m above sea level. www.thecanyons.com Nakiska “Nakiska’s snowing”, rang the cry through the corridors at the TechnoAlpin headquarters in mid-September. Nakiska was one of the first ski resorts to start snow-making operations in the fall of 2010, once again demonstrating the strengths of the TechnoAlpin snow guns in borderline temperatures. The early start is necessary, mainly because Nakiska is a popular training venue with a number of national ski teams. TechnoAlpin has been involved in supplying ideal training conditions since 2006. At the beginning the resort mainly relied on fan guns. There were 10 machines to start with - M20 and M18 models. 2008 saw the erection of three pumping plants with a total of 10 pumps, each boasting an output of 20 l/s or 250 kW. The latest addition to the system is a total of 40 lances. 20 manual lances were supplied in 2009 followed by 20 automatic ones in 2010. The system is controlled using the ATASSplus control software. Nakiska ski resort is in the Rocky Mountains 80 kilometers west of Calgary, on the eastern slope of Mount Allan which is 2819 m high. The ski resort was built for the 1988 Winter Olympics which were held in Calgary. Today the resort covers an area extending from 1525 m to 2260 m above sea level. Four chairlifts and two magic carpet lifts are provided for transportation. Snow-making facilities are in place to supply 95% of the 29 ski slopes with snow. www.skinakiska.com 6 7 TechnoAlpin and Coronet Peak win Engineering Award in New Zealand TechnoAlpin and the Coronet Peak (NEZ) ski resort have been jointly awarded the New Zealand Engineering Excellence Award for the “Coronet Peak Ski Area Snow-Making Infrastructure and Reservoirs” project. The project was submitted in the Water, Waste and Amenities category. The winners in each of the categories are automatically entered for the Supreme Award. The project won the individual category and secured the Supreme Award as well. It is particularly pleasing that the prize was awarded in recognition of the efficient water management system in the Coronet Peak resort. Careful stewardship of resources is essential for a company which works with and in the natural landscape. Coronet Peak is located close to Queenstown in the south-west of New Zealand at an altitude of 1287 - 1624 meters. Before the start of modernization work in 2008, the local snow-making system consisted of two reservoirs, very limited water circulation and 61 manual snow guns. Today Coronet Peak has a modern and fully automatic snow-making system. With 124 fan guns and 78 lances, it is the largest system of its kind in the southern hemisphere. 20 kilometers of water pipes, air pipes and electrical cables were also laid to complete the system. Water is taken from five groundwater wells and three surface sources. The water is now stored in five reservoirs (three of which are new) with a total capacity of 252 million liters. The water supply is guaranteed by existing surface sources and through extraction from groundwater wells. Rainwater and snowmelt ensure that the groundwater supply is maintained, with used water flowing back into the ground as meltwater and being used again. Five fully automatic pumping plants and the interaction of all the extraction facilities together create a functioning extraction and refilling cycle. The changes made to the water supply system proved their worth right at the start of the 2010 snow season, with Coronet Peak being one of the first ski areas in the southern hemisphere to start generating snow. Now, following completion of the work, the amount of snow that can be produced has increased by 300 %. The Engineering Excellence Awards were introduced in 2005 and have been divided into two categories right from the start. The Awards Recognising People are given to young engineers in recognition of excellence while the Project and Product Awards go to outstanding projects in engineering. The winner of the Supreme Award is ultimately chosen from the winners of all the Project and Product Awards. The award-winning projects are those which stand out from the others. The awards are now regarded as the most prestigious accolade in New Zealand engineering and are coveted by international companies. www.nzeeawards.org.nz SNOW EXPERTS PEOPLE 8 9 SNOW MADE BY … Claudia Mannheim and Sabine Vieweg … two sisters who run the family ski resort of Beuerberg (GER) together with their parents. Every year the Mannheim family would play the same waiting game – waiting for the snow. They were never really certain whether it would be possible to start operating the ski lift in Beuerberg. In 2008 the family grew tired of waiting and bought a mobile snow gun from TechnoAlpin. Since then the two sisters, Claudia and Sabine, have been making sure that there is snow in Beuerberg. “Our ski resort is small but select. That’s why we only have one fan gun”, said Claudia Mannheim. The job of the two sisters is to position the mobile machine with its autonomous pump in the right place and to lay the power and water lines. The two sisters naturally drifted into what has traditionally been a man’s job. “We come from a ski-mad family – our parents established the ski lift in Beuerberg. It’s our second home. We have always loved being here and working here”, continued Claudia Mannheim. “We grew up with the ski lift”, added her sister Sabine, “our family was always obsessed with the snow, waiting and wondering whether there would be enough to use the slope. We used to shovel snow all day long in those days, moving it by hand to the places where there wasn’t enough. It was really hard work. So it’s a real blessing to have the security that TechnoAlpin brings of knowing for sure that there will be snow”. The appeal of working outside in the fresh air and the unique atmosphere on the slope at night are what Claudia and Sabine love best. The Beuerberg ski lift is situated to the south of Munich near the Starnberger See lake and was established in 1970 by Otto and Inge Mannheim. Their two daughters Claudia and Sabine used to ski down the slope every day when they were children. Today they are responsible for the snow coverage and also run the ski school there. www.skilift-beuerberg.de Product-Presentation 2011 Intelligent snow-making technology - simple and efficient New version of ATASSplus sets new standards Even slope coverage all the way from the mountain top to the valley floor from the fall right through to the spring – such is the challenge in snow-making technology. A guarantee of careful stewardship of resources is also imperative. TechnoAlpin attempted to meet these requirements years ago with the market launch of its ATASSplus control software. The in-house software department is always busy working on improvements and further developments to the software. A completely new version of ATASSplus came out this spring. The new ATASSplus is simpler to use and faster then previous versions. The entire system can be controlled with a few clicks of the mouse. The system boasts a number of new features which simplify the operation of the system, such as a new start-stop assistant and help facilities to provide support in case of malfunctions. There are fundamental changes to the user interface of the program. The machines are shown in a chart pane and can be operated from this view. The charts now have infinite zooming and repositioning capability. Any changes to data are relayed in what virtually amounts to realtime, giving the user access to the latest information at all times. Control at a glance All the machines can be operated via the device manager. It is possible to select and manage more than one machine at the same time. Other new features include the simplified search facility for specific machines and the filter option. This means that a clear overview can be maintained even with large systems. ATASSplus also supports the analysis of all data. Temperature sequences, water consumption and operating hours can easily be monitored and analyzed. It is also possible with ATASSplus for several users to work on the system at the same time. As such, the different operators in the various stations can respond as required in their particular circumstances – without delay. Each computer can be used autonomously. This saves valuable time. The system has a communication functionality which is integrated in the interface and allows simple configuration and individual adjustment of profiles at any time. ATASSplus sends personalized SMS messages via this function. The members of the snow-making team can therefore respond on the spot and save valuable time. Only fully automated systems allow simple and efficient exploitation of the increasingly shorter snow-generation windows – when the temperature is at its optimum – or instant responses to relevant parameter changes. The ATASSplus software collects data from snow guns and meteo 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 consumption of resources can thus be monitored and evaluated with maximum accuracy, optimizing operating costs and guaranteeing consistent snow quality down the entire length of the slope. As such, ATASSplus is far more than a mere means of automatic snow-making. The latest version is an intelligent system combining sophisticated engineering with simple operation. Always up to speed with the latest developments The TechnoAlpin software department is permanently engaged in making improvements to ATASSplus. The new version is a big step forward, and further updates are already in the pipeline. By entering into an update contract, customers can make sure that they always have the latest version of the software. Any further developments will then automatically be fed into their system. Customers who have already installed a version of ATASSplus will automatically receive the new version of ATASSplus if they take out an update contract. SNOW EXPERTS THE NEW ATASSPLUS Intelligent snow-making with ATASSplus 10 11 Success story In the beginning was a vision Success story in Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan may not exactly be known as a skiing nation by the rest of the world but it does indeed have a tradition in alpine skiing. The training facilities in the state north-east of China were popular in the Soviet era with many athletes. For 40 years the country has had the ski resort of Orlovka, located about 100 km south-east of the capital Bishkek. In 2006 the owner Vladimir Kuzmin applied to the European Development Bank for funds to give the resort a makeover. Hans-Peter Pleisch from Davos, who had years of experience in running Swiss mountain railways, was asked to process the application. Despite his positive assessment, the application was turned down in the fall of 2006. Pleisch decided to put his own hand in and invest in Orlovka with Kyrgyz businessman Alimjan Tashmatov. Together with Vladimir Kuzmin they set up Jet Ski GmbH which is the owner of the ski resort to this day. The aim of the company is to develop Orlovka into a winter sports resort of European standard. This includes lift systems, slopes, accommodation, restaurants and sports facilities. Cost-efficient modernization The three visionaries have made great progress with the modernization of the resort in the past few years. One strategy adopted in Orlovka is to buy used machines and systems from Central Europe. A two-seater chairlift was acquired from Flumserberg AG (SUI) in 2006, for example. The ski resort now has two chairlifts, one T-bar lift and one baby lift. The slopes are prepared with two Kässbohrer SNOW EXPERTS SUCCESS STORY 12 13 snowcats. They even bought a Kässbohrer pipe shaper to build a half-pipe. Guaranteed snow thanks to TechnoAlpin The climate in Kyrgyzstan is dominated by hot summers and cold winters. It is very dry all year round in the mountainous country. So the resort managers in Orlovka could not rely on natural snowfall. In terms of snow-making technology, therefore, they have found a reliable partner in TechnoAlpin. The first snow-making system was built in 2006 with 1200 m of pipelines and seven snow guns. The system was expanded in 2009 by another 1800 m, and six more snow guns were purchased. Investments were also made in the infrastructure. The car park and access road were extended, the restaurant was refurbished and an open-air bar opened. There are ski hire facilities which are very well kitted out with used ski and snowboard equipment from Switzerland. There are 300 pairs of skis and 80 snowboards altogether plus accessories. A shop selling sports equipment has been built, the existing sauna and swimming pool have been refurbished, and accommodation has been constructed for staff and tourists. Moving on up The ski resort now has nine slopes of varying degrees of difficulty. Night-time skiing has also been possible since lighting was erected in 2009. Orlovka boasts a toboggan run and the first half-pipe in Central Asia. A racing school for children aged between 6 and 12 was opened in 2010, offering professional childcare facilities all year round. Orlovka has blossomed into an attractive ski resort in just four years. The resort is open from the beginning of December until the middle of March thanks to the snow-making system. The number of overnight guests is increasing due to the improvement in the accommodation and infrastructure. Jet Ski GmbH already employs 50 people year round. The region also benefits from the economic value added by the resort. Meanwhile the operators are already making further plans. Another two-seater chairlift and two rope tows are in the pipeline. Plans are also on the table for a mountaintop restaurant, a new hotel, shops and apartments. As they hatch their plans for the future, the visionaries are not limiting their sights to Orlovka. They want a company which builds chairlifts and the transfer of expertise in Kyrgyzstan. www.orlovka.kg/en Projects around the world Darbandsar Iran as a nation is not famous around the globe for its skiing. However, skiing is becoming increasingly popular there. Conditions in the high mountain ranges are ideal. There are now more than 15 ski resorts in Iran which are adapting more and more to the techni- Ruhpolding cal standards found in the West. For example, the first fully automatic snow-making system arrived in Iran in 2010 - in Darbandsar to be precise - 60 kilometers north-east of the capital Teheran. The design and installation of the turnkey system was all TechnoAlpin’s work. The company supplied a pumping plant, cast iron pipes and seven of the new T40s. The entire system is fully automatic and is controlled by the ATASSplus software. Darbandsar Ski Area is the newest ski resort in Iran and has been in operation since 1982. The lowest point in the ski resort is 2600 m and the highest point is 3050 m. The ski season runs from the beginning of December right through to late April. The logistics posed a major challenge in building the system. All TechnoAlpin snow guns are made at the company’s main base in Bolzano and are delivered from there all over the world. The consignment had to be transported 4,997 kilometers to get to Iran, passing through nine countries on the way. The Biathlon World Championships will be held in the Chiemgau Arena Ruhpolding (GER) in 2012. A total of 16 million euro has been invested in preparation for the big event. The competition routes have been improved and new bridges and tunnels have been constructed. The Arena’s snow-making system has also been extended. The work called for the expertise of TechnoAlpin. There are 13 fan guns (2x T60 arm-mounted, 2x T60 tower-mounted, 3x T60 mobile, 4x T40 mobile, 2x M20 mobile) snow-making for the future world champions. The water to make the snow comes from a 50-meter-deep groundwater well. Three cooling towers bring the water to the perfect temperature to make the snow. The system’s pumping plant has an output of 74 l/s. In the “Brücke” engineering room TechnoAlpin is also installing a pressure booster station for the Arena’s drinking water. A depot has been set up in Ruhpolding where the man-made snow is stored in the summer in order to be as well prepared as possible for the start of the season. A new main service building has also been built. The new stadium has capacity for 30,000 visitors. The new Arena passed its first test at the World Cup races in January 2011 in what proved to be a successful “dry run” for the World Championships which are due to start on 29.02.2012. www.biathlon-ruhpolding.de The ski resort of Kopaonik in the south of Serbia first blossomed back in the 1980s. The political turmoil of the 1990s kept foreign visitors away, however, and gradually sapped the popularity of the ski resort. As a result of the conflicts Serbia was cut off from the coastline and turned its attention and its investment to Alpine tourism. The ski resort of Kopaonik attracted particular interest. The state-owned “Skijalista Srbije” (Ski Resorts of Serbia) is the owner of the resort today and has carried out extensive modernization work. Hotel accommodation and lifts were included in the refurbishment program and a snow-making system was installed. The first section of the snow-making system was put into operation in 2008. Further extensions followed. Today Kopaonik boasts one of Tauplitz Tauplitz (AUT) has also seen heavy investment this year in snowmaking technology. The existing snow-making system was upgraded with the addition of a total of 31 fan guns and 38 lances. The 31 fan guns include 14 of the new T40 model mounted on 3.5 m towers. Snow will also be guaranteed in future by nine of the topof-the-range T60 snow guns, also mounted on 3.5 m towers. All have a central air supply system. Eight more fan guns of the mobile variety were also supplied for added flexibility. 38 V3 lances with central air complete the arsenal of snow guns. A new reservoir with a capacity of 77,500 m³ was built to guarantee an optimum supply of water. TechnoAlpin installed a pump station with an output of 3 x 70 l/sec and a pressure booster station. www.skijalistasrbije.rs The water pressure and also the temperature of the water are key factors in snow-making technology, therefore a cooling tower from the new Cooltech range was also installed in Tauplitz. The new system in Tauplitz is a fully automatic system which is controlled by the ATASSplus software. Fully developed by TechnoAlpin, the software adds a touch of clever sophistication to snow management. The ski resort in Tauplitz extends from 896 m to 1965 m above sea level. There are 42 kilometers of slope for the ski enthusiasts. The resort is particularly good in terms of offering various alternatives and has something to suit everyone. Another unique feature of the resort is its mountain village “Tauplitzalm-Dorf”. The village is situated 1650 m above sea level and offers accommodation for 1000 people. Cozy traditional chalets and charming restaurants make the atmosphere really special. Moreover, the “Alm” or mountain pasture is a car-free zone in the winter. Snowcats and Ski-Doo sleds are used as public transport. www.dietauplitz.com SNOW EXPERTS AROUND THE WORLD Kopaonik the largest TechnoAlpin systems in the Balkans comprising: • 57 fixed snow guns (19x M18, 35x T40, 3x T60) • 212 lances with central air (43x A9, 18x A30, 151x V3) • 10 mobile snow guns (1x M18, 6x T40, 3x T60) with 45 mobile supply connections. The snow guns are supplied by two pumping plants with a total output of 150 l/s and four compressor plants. Over 18,000 m of cast iron pipeline and over 20,000 m of electric cable were laid in 2010 alone. Kopaonik now enjoys prominence as the main ski resort of Serbia, due in part to its guaranteed supply of snow. Further extensions are planned, the main priority being the guaranteed supply of water. 14 15 Did you know… …that lances needn’t always be fixed installations? TechnoAlpin also makes lances on mobile undercarriages. These are particularly suitable for demonstrations. Mobile lances are also useful for finding out the optimum lance position. The lances can be positioned and tried out in different locations. This helps to determine whether the lance is in the right position. …that TechnoAlpin has now earned the trust of over 1,000 customers since this year began? In the last 20 years the customer base has grown steadily to the point where there are now over 1,000 customers in 42 countries relying on the experience of TechnoAlpin. “The fact that so many customers worldwide place their trust in us is a great honor and naturally makes us proud”, said Managing Director Erich Gummerer. “But the confidence of our customers also means a great deal of responsibility for us. It is our duty and our wish to live up to this responsibility at all times”, added Gummerer. …that TechnoAlpin Austria GmbH has been sponsoring the professional Austrian skier Michael Walchhofer since December 2010? “Skiing is our capital. We had therefore been supporting various skiing events and sports groups for years. But we wanted to make our mark in professional sport too”, explained Martin Eppacher of TechnoAlpin Austria. “Michael Walchhofer grew up in a skiing area. So he knows how important snow-making technology is for adding value to entire regions”. Walchhofer too considers TechnoAlpin Austria GmbH to be an ideal partner. “We are dependent on snow-making technology, both in the events and for our training”, he continued, “and TechnoAlpin ensures that conditions are ideal and, more importantly, that conditions are consistent on many World Cup slopes and training runs”. The skier from Zauchensee has proved on several occasions how at home he feels on TechnoAlpin snow. SNOW EXPERTS DID YOU KNOW... 16 17 …that TechnoAlpin snow guns needn’t always be yellow? In the Alta Ski Resort in Utah (USA) the snow guns should be inconspicuous and attract as little attention as possible. Whereas the bright Signal Yellow is welcomed in other ski resorts for safety reasons, it was more important for the snow guns in Utah to blend in with the scenery. Fan guns and lances were therefore supplied in black. There has also been a fan gun in NATO Green since 2010. …that the ski resort of Trysilfjell in Norway set a new snow record in the winter of 2010/2011? 1.5 million m³ of snow were generated in 1200 hours. This took 35 fan guns and over 100 lances working at full power. The pumping capacity in Trysilfjell is 400 l/s. Trysil is in south-east Norway. There are 66 different slopes and 71 kilometers of slopes to inspire the ski enthusiasts. Incidentally, the population density in Trysil is two inhabitants per km². 1st birthday Snow gun T40 and Lance V3 Happy first birthday The T40 fan gun and the V3 lance made their debut appearance in the spring of 2010. After the first snow season there is positive feedback from all parts of the world. The new products proved their worth in the winter. Reinhard Schmid, snow operations manager, Belalp Bahnen AG (SUI) “We were originally testing an A9 and an A30 lance and finally decided on the then unknown V3 lance. And we were pleasantly surprised. We saw an increase in water throughput and a decrease in air consumption. Aside from the expected snow quality, the 42 V3 lances also produced a huge amount of snow with a considerable projection range and wide spray angle - ideal for our slopes which are 40 - 60 m wide on average. I also love the slim and practical lance stand which I can simply take down for the summer and store in the pit. Bravo TechnoAlpin! Keep on researching and developing your innovative products”. Remo Gwerder, senior systems operator, Sattel-Hochstuckli AG (SUI) “The T40 produces excellent quality snow, even at borderline temperatures at 800 - 1500 meters above sea level. It is a very userfriendly machine and impressively easy to maneuver with its versatile undercarriage. The V3 also produces snow of a high quality in borderline temperatures. It has the same air consumption as the A9 but manages a much higher snow output. It is easy to control which has yielded very good results in terms of both quality and quantity. We have had lots of positive feedback about our slopes and toboggan run this season. We are entirely satisfied and, more importantly, so are our guests!” SNOW EXPERTS 1ST BIRTHDAY T40&V3 Wegard Matsson, snow operations manager, Trysilfjell (NOR) “The T40 has been a great investment for us here in Trysilfjell. It produces excellent snow in borderline temperatures and is impressively easy to handle and operate. The T40 did its first 500 hours of service without any problems. One point of criticism we would raise is the position of the display. In its current position it is easy for our skiers to start the snow guns. Some sort of encryption, perhaps a code, would be ideal”. ** 18 19 Rune Slåsletten, Hafjell Alpinsenter AS (SWE) “The T40 mobile is easy to work with and its strong performance in borderline temperatures is impressive. We also have an armmounted T40 which works equally well in cold temperatures and borderline temperatures. I have also been impressed with the V3 snow lance. We haven’t had any problems with ice build-up this year, not even in cold temperatures”. Bernard Baronnat, Praz Sur Arly (FRA) Romuald Reydet, Megève le Jaillet (FRA) “The T40 has a modern design and is compact and powerful at the same time. It is easy to service with the openings on the sides. I am also impressed by the control panel which is mounted at eye level. The main difference in the V3 compared to its predecessors is the new compressor which manages with an output of 4kW. Both snow guns live up to the good reputation of TechnoAlpin in terms of snow quality and performance in borderline temperatures. The T40 produces snow at 2.0 °C wet bulb, the V3 at 2.5 °C.” “We are making snow with the A9, the A30 and now also the V3. We have noticed a steady improvement in the snow quality over the years. We tripled our snow production this winter. Also, with the efficient use of resources we are not expecting any nasty surprises when we do the cost sheet. Lots of customers have commented on the excellent slope conditions this year. The snow quality is definitely the greatest advantage of the V3. And if our customers are satisfied then they’ll come again”. Vincent Lhomme, Métabief (FRA) “The T40 is compact and light which makes it very easy to transport. What we liked best about the V3 was the valve on the outside. There were no problems putting the system into operation. We connected the Hydromat valve to our network, hooked up the electrics and off we went. The new Bluetooth control also makes it easy to operate”. ** There is a control panel encoding facility in combination with ATASSplus. Alain De Cian Albert Messner A. Rachetti Alex Seebacher Alexander Borgia Alexander Ellecosta Alexander Fleischmann Alexander Klapfer Alexander Mair Alexander Leitner A. Kompatscher Anja Berents Anton Puff Armin Grasberger Arnold Antoni Astrid Torggler Benjamin Pötz Birgit Spitaler Christian Bonini Daniel Widmann Daniela Stelzer Daniele Neri Dominik Psenner Elisabeth Kofler Elmar Kanestrin Elmar Kaufmann Elmar Rainer F. Zambaldi Franz Thaler Frederik Danielsson Georg Reiterer G. Reichegger Gerhard Höller G. Cassiolari Horst Schmid Irene Pancheri Ivan Gross Johann Kaufmann J. Untermarzoner Jonas Mantinger Manfred Winkler Manuel Domanegg Manuel Furlotti Manuel Nössing M. Planötscher Martin Noggler Martin Verant Matej Budaj Matteo Paterno Andrea Cavatton Andrea Valmorbida Andreas Gutgsell A. Schwingshackl Christian De Brida Christian Jocher Christoph Fischer Dagmar Geis Daniel Heiss Daniel Lantschner Daniel Neulichedl Elmar Walder Erich Gummerer Erika Marchio Erika Unterweger Federico Tricotti Florian Holzer Florian Schwalt Florian Villgrattner Giorgio Ghezzi Hannes Pichler Hannes Simonini H. Hochwieser Heidi Vonmetz Heinz Viehweider Herbert Plattner H. Hochkofl er Hermann Nock Jozef Durˇcák Juris Panzani K. Terrabona Kathrin Pfeifhofer Katja Obkircher Klaus Bacher Lasse Nordström Luca Toffoli Manfred Livi Manfred Scherer Marco Moratti Marion Margesin Markus Fischnaller M. Mahlknecht Markus Pfeifer Martin Eppacher M. Gamberoni Martin Hofer Martin Lorefi ce Martin Margesin M. Centofanti Mauro Ficara Mauro Freno Max Vieider Meinhard Rassler Michael Prantl Othmar Kanton Patrizia Pircher Paolo Alberti Paolo Bagozzi Paolo Nardone Patrick Peintner P. Platzgummer Peter Mittermaier Peter Rottensteiner Peter Unterholzer Roberto Begliatti R. D‘Agostino Rudolf Prantl Sarah Winkler Sergej Ragosin Siegfried Göller Siegfried Rieder Stefan Egger Thomas Faller Thomas Lunger Thomas Möltner Thomas Nocker Thomas Pichler T. Strumpfl ohner Albert Gomig Bianca Zanona David Dietrich Georg Zeller Hannes Resch Ivana Kempf Marco Albiez M. Zurbriggen Patrick Varonier Didier Blanchard Franck Tiffreau Henri Philip Jan Podmanicky Jaroslav Kral Eric Campbell M. Hawlin Alexander Pixner Martin Coser Philippe Ronin Andreas Weiss Michael Smaniotto Michael Wieser Michele Marsonet Mirko Brunner Monika Hornikova Pierpaolo Salusso Ralph Anranter Richard Reifer Roberts Herbst Robert Maoret Thomas Burger Thomas Damian Stefan Malfer Stefan Reinstadler Stefano Bruscagin Stefano D‘Amicis Stefano Locatelli Stephan Psenner Thomas Unterholzer Ulrike Oberrauch U. Marchesan Verena Pattis Walter Rieder Walter Weger Wolfgang Hanni Wolfgang Lechner Wolfgang Psenner A. Aichhorn H. Grünbacher Jürgen Kremser Manuel Schöpf Markus Goller Martin Ganzer Martin Zeiser R. Kramberger Brice Lacorre Damir Casu D. Schatt-Orecchini Florian Grimm Remo Bulgheroni Stefan Gisler Thomas Kempf Alexander Reindl Bernhard Maier Gerti Zandt Manfred Huber Thomas Förster Ulrich Gall Aurelien Vaginay Bernard Ligori Corinne Vascon Jérôme Vaudelin Mathieu Verriere Michael Payan Michel Gallois Valérie Vacher Jan Danielewski Alena Mihova Anna Fablova A. Turiakova Branislav Kukula Igor Schmidt Jan Duchlansky Jan Lietavec Jozef Jablonicky L. Podmanicky Lowy Ladislav Marek Vesely Martin Klimik Martin Merka Milos Slosiar Radoslav Martonik Roman Hotera Zuzana Zidekova Ben Siefert C. Hemming David Kennedy Dennis Kinsella Geir Vik Jesse Collins Kevin Jennings Paul A.H. Lambert Sean McKinnon Steve Daly Peter Söderholm Veikko Mantila A. Olsson Erik Reinholdsson Jan Mangborg Jan-Erik Nilsson Magnus Hedlund Martin Bergström Sebastian Jalkmar Jong Woo Won Kwan Hee Won Tae Ha Kim Chris van den Berg Lue Shengming Xing Xin Hideki Urano Toshiyuki Sakai Hanspeter Pleisch George Noulikas Nikos Tzimogiannis A. Mechkov Asya Mechkova Martin Popov S. Mechkova Stefka Miteva Ilker Cumbul Stefan Ties Ali Rahimi A. Rodriguez Ángel Jaraiz Cristina Osado Oscar Fernandez Raul Garcia Rosa López L. Radovanovich Slawa Kalugin Petre Popa Serban Sovaiala Caba Gere Gregor Vehovec Anton Faltynsky Katarina Murakhovska Serge Sirotko Thomas Peintner Paul A.H. Lambert Santiago Hardt Cristian Chilea W W W.T E C H N OA L P I N .C O M