In the financial year 2013/14, the Doppelmayr Group recorded annual revenues of EUR 858 million – a rise of almost 8 percent over the previous year. The Doppelmayr Group impressively mastered new markets, new challenges and new projects, consolidating its position as an international player. And once again, new milestones in ropeway technology were attained around the globe in the past year.

Strong partner in winter tourism

Mountain tourism, particularly in the context of winter activities, continues to be the most important market for Doppelmayr and is set to remain so in the future. One example is the large-scale project centered on the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi. The Doppelmayr Group completed 35 ropeways in the three ski resorts of Laura/Psekhako, Rosa Khutor and Alpika Service, which hosted many of the Olympic competitions. These installations include several world record holders such as the tricable ropeway which is not only the world’s longest at 5,386 m but also the fastest of its kind with a speed of 8.5 m/s. A second tricable ropeway in the Olympic region is the first to feature two sections with through travel and can be used for transporting automobiles as well as passengers.

The Doppelmayr Group also achieved a world first in its most important market, Austria. The Piz Val Gronda in Ischgl is the first reversible aerial tramway worldwide to be equipped with seat heating. Another exceptional feature is its elegant design incorporating the unmistakable and eye-catching Ischgl color concept.

Since December 2013, the Auenfeldjet has linked up the ski resorts of Lech Zürs and Warth-Schröcken to form the biggest ski region in Vorarlberg. The bottom station of the Weibermahd combined lift built in 2011 – also by Doppelmayr – has become the mid station of the new lift and provides guests with a direct connection between the two resorts.

New products and highlights around the world

On the other side of the world, a CABLE Liner supplied by Doppelmayr Cable Car GmbH & Co KG went into service. Caracas saw the opening of the first section of its Cabletren Bolivariano. The line is integrated into the network of the metropolitan transport company, Metro de Caracas, and helps to relieve traffic congestion in the Caracas conurbation. The APM system operates up to 17 hours a day with an impressive level of availability and energy efficiency.

Summer tourism is another field of application, which is currently being driven primarily by the Asian region. A detachable gondola lift with 10-passenger cabins brought two entries in the Guinness World Records for Vietnam: As well as being the world’s longest ropeway, the Bana Big Ropeway climbs a greater vertical height than any other installation of its kind. Between boarding and arrival, the lift covers a length of 5,772 meters and a difference in altitude of 1,369 meters.

Current projects

The Doppelmayr Group is currently building the world’s biggest urban ropeway network. Three ropeways with a total length of almost ten kilometers are to link the cities of El Alto and La Paz. The first of these, the Línea Roja, was opened at the end of May 2014 and within 28 days had already recorded one million trips. The subsequent inauguration of the Línea Amarilla by Bolivia’s President Evo Morales was also marked by a popular celebration. Together, these first two lines have already carried seven million passengers.

Another record-setting ropeway is under construction in Ischgl in 2014: With a vertical rise of 1,251 meters, the new Pardatschgrat lift is the tricable gondola with the greatest difference in altitude between top and bottom stations. In Vorarlberg, the Panorama detachable gondola in the Silvretta Montafon ski area and the Sunnegg 6-seater chairlift in Damüls are nearing completion.

Success factor employees

Doppelmayr employees work with dedication and ambition to ensure that common goals can be achieved in close collaboration with customers. New employees were again recruited over the past year to strengthen the Doppelmayr team. Global headcount rose from 2,378 to 2,452. It is also particularly gratifying to note the great interest shown by young people in a career with Doppelmayr. The fall saw 24 new apprentices begin their training. This means that 89 future specialists are currently undertaking apprenticeships at the Doppelmayr site in Wolfurt.

Top performance for a successful future

In spite of uncertain macroeconomic conditions, Doppelmayr expects to see a stable development in sales revenues and a satisfactory operating result for the financial year 2014/2015. The trust placed in the capabilities of the Group by customers around the globe represents a duty, a challenge and an incentive to continue to develop market-oriented technical innovations, to offer top logistical performance and to build simply the best ropeways in the world.

Inquiries:

Mag. Ekkehard Assmann

Head of Marketing and Public Relations
Rickenbacherstrasse 8-10, Postfach 20
6922 Wolfurt/Austria
Tel. +43 (0)5574/604-223, Fax +43 (0)5574/75590
E-mail: ekkehard.assmann@doppelmayr.com

Internet: doppelmayr.com