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Did the Yan Detachable disasters of the '90s cause Riblet not to invest in detachable technology?


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#1 Fixed Grip Quad

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Posted 19 July 2017 - 09:20 PM

I have been thinking about the similarities between Yan and Riblet lately, after all they were similar sized companies both based on the west coast of North America. Could it be that the Engineers at Riblet saw the Yan Detachable disasters, and were discouraged from trying to develop a detachable lift product because they didn't think that they could do it more safely? Also, is there any indication that Riblet Tramway ever considered developing detachable technology?

#2 vons

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Posted 22 July 2017 - 04:22 PM

Riblet had a larger hurtle to jump to go into detachable tech as they would have needed to develop everything from scratch. The equipment that worked with the well with the riblet clips would not work with an external detachable grip. I do not think they made much of an attempt at detachable tech thinking that FG lifts would still have a place.

#3 Kelly

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Posted 23 July 2017 - 06:21 AM

Also, is there any indication that Riblet Tramway ever considered developing detachable technology?
Yes...but it’s more complicated than a single word answer or even a quick wiki post can give. It’s helpful to look at shaping factors such as: technology, engineering philosophy, market share, world and North American economic conditions, ski resort development, skier development and ropeway replacement costs are just a few factors that have shaped the industry.
I slightly disagree with your “west coast” statement, perhaps western United States is a better term as Nevada is one full State away from the coast and Spokane is a heck of a long drive to the ocean...
Riblet’s birth goes back to mining tramways from the 1890s... the majority (if not all) were the detachable carrier type. Mt. Spokane (readers note this is located in Washington State) had a detachable bicable built by Riblet that ran in the 1950s.
It should be noted that Riblet had built tramways in many countries and had at least 200 chairlifts at 50 North American ski areas before Yan entered the market so I am not convinced they were ever the same size.
Yan detachable disasters is perhaps a misnomer – grip failure would be a better term.
Riblet had a solid market share in fixed grip chairlifts, based on past production history I think it was well aware of the costs associated to develope a viable grip and terminal design and that it would far outweigh any long-term profits (see Vons above). This hurdle along with Riblet ownership changes in the 1980s was coupled with market saturation, resort maturity and skier day topping out set the stage of reduced production then eventual closure of the company.
This theme was not unique. it also occurred for many other chairlift builders...The “ski resort industry” had begun to top out.
Even Poma had difficulty selling the first generation detachables (the company received subsidy payment from the French government and as a sales tool, reimbursed owners for the first few years of maintenance) and as we know they were eventually bought by Leitner (many of the same reasons as Riblet) the large Italian manufacturing conglomerate that has a chairlift division.
...and this is just a general overview - Kelly
www.ropetech.org

#4 Fixed Grip Quad

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Posted 23 July 2017 - 11:42 AM

Thanks for the detailed response!





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