A high-speed transport solution from Sunkid
In Val Thorens – part of the largest ski resort in the world – Sunkid conveyor lifts set the pace
Last summer, the Sunkid France branch was founded to bring increased responsiveness and more effective support to the existing customer base in France. In addition to the headquarters facilities, the branch includes sufficient resources for a strong after-sales department on location. Sunkid France, with the competent sales team built around Michel Jourdan's leadership, already landed a large contract within the first year. In Val Thorens, two "High Speed" Wonder Carpets were installed - at 222m and 192m each. What makes this project unique are the special lift enclosure, a new combination exit design, and most of all, an increased lift speed of 1.2 m/s.
2010-03-24
Val Thorens
Val Thorens chooses Sunkid POWER
The practice area in Val Thorens is available to all guests. Starting in this season, the offerings for beginners have been greatly improved. Two Sunkid conveyor lifts have replaced the previous practice lifts in the beginners' area. For guests, this means easier use, increased comfort, the opportunity to relax during the ascent, and as a result - more fun and enjoyment on the slopes. In addition, the operator, SETAM Val Thorens, benefits from the new solution and its increased capacity (with no waiting times) – and a stark reduction in shut-downs. In December, up to 6500 daily passenger trips were counted on the Sunkid Wonder Carpet. Even in quieter periods, the average passenger load is around 4-5000 people per day. Because, unlike a tow lift, the conveyor lift does not require a turn-around area and safety zones, the available space for the lift can be optimally used to transport passengers. In addition, the conveyor lift solution offers lower personnel costs and often lower initial investment costs.
The Sunkid Gallery Solution
The lift enclosure minimizes maintenance and cleaning requirements for the Sunkid Wonder Carpet. In addition, guests also benefit from the Gallery enclosure during poor weather conditions, riding the lifts protected from wind, rain, snow, and cold. During good weather, guests ride through the Sunkid enclosure with a perfect view of the beautiful panorama on the mountain.
The Sunkid Gallery conveyor lift enclosure in Val Thorens was customized to the needs of local customers, adapted in cooperation with French authorities, and certified for operation. The enclosure includes side doors every 50m (standard is every 1.8m) and the entry and exit stations are also fully covered. Enclosure of the exit station presented a particular challenge during construction, since the station is a newly-developed Combi-Exit.
The Combi-Exit
A New Exit Solution
The Combi-Exit is the newest innovation from Sunkid to complement the existing array of exit solutions. With this new concept, combining side and front exits, passengers can decide to exit the lift to the left, right, or straight ahead. What makes this solution special is that all three exit directions can be used at the same time. The operator can choose at any time to close the front exit with a safety door and lead passengers to only the side exits.
High-Speed
The Wonder Carpet at High Speed
For previous projects, Sunkid was already able to work with authorities to increase transport speeds to 1.2 m/s (standard is 0.6 m/s). This is the first time that this has become possible in France, and SETAM Val Thorens now has the first two Sunkid Wonder Carpets with double the transport speed. A newly-constructed safety switching box in the exit area made this possible. Following completion of the safety certification process by French authorities, the new safety system in Val Thorens was brought into operation at the beginning of the winter season. The increased transport speed now allows passengers to cover long distances in a reasonable time. Particularly in urban applications, this increased speed allows for numerous uses in innovative passenger transport solutions.
The young, innovative Sunkid France team came through with maximum commitment, working together with the customer, SETAM Val Thorens, to create a new lift solution. The numerous advantages of a Sunkid conveyor belt lift were immediately apparent from the first minutes of this season!
Fact Box
Sunkid Conveyor Lifts in Val Thorens
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