17 replies to this topic

[Benbosnow]

Hi! I'm twelve years old! My user name is Benbosnow! Because i want to be a machic do i need to have special traing for each type of lifts? Any help would be great! (sorry about the spelling mastickes!

[liftmech]

First you need to be at least six years older. Then you need to work as a lift operator, although it's not a requirement. There is no special training for each type of lift; what you end up doing is spending several years helping more experienced mechanics until you learn the ropes on a fixed grip. After you've worked on fixed grips for several years and have gotten some skills, you may be able to work on a detachable. I operated lifts for three years before I became a mechanic, and then I worked on fixed grips for six before I got a detachable. I'm now beginning my eighth full year as a mechanic, but only my second on the Flyer.
There are some specialised skills that you may pick up along the way that will require some actual schooling, including but not limited to: welding, NDT or non-destructive testing, and electrical skills. In addition, ski areas routinely send their lift types to trade conferences such as Rocky Mountain Lift Associaltion or Canadian Ski Areas Conference.

[Patrick Sullivan]

He he...that brings back memories....when I was 6 I wrote to Doppelmayr in Golden, CO...I got sent a hat, a 1993 World Book, 2 pens some sunglasses and the name of a contact there. She was very helpful...of course at that time I wanted to design them...turns out I stink at drafting...not too bad on CAD though... Then I took a small engines class @ school....that changed everything...so has auto tech class, & F.I.R.S.T robotics club. I'll be a senior next year, my last year, I'm taking welding. I think while I'm going for my automotive career, I'm going to take up life as a liftie...I'm already accustomed to 80/90 gear lube...

I'd get involved in any class you can in high school that has anything to do with any part of lifts.

Go for it!!!

[snowboardguy]

I want any job I can get on the snow! Lift Mechanic is on my list. I talked to a couple at Squaw and Northdtar this summer.

[Benbosnow]

Thanks guys! Do u reakon i should write to them?

[Patrick Sullivan]

Write to who? Doppelmayr or Poma themselves....maybe...but I think if ya e-mailed your fave area that might be a good route...I wrote to Doppelmayr because that was the only company I knew of and liked....I was 6....If I had the guts I'd write to Dopp in Wolfurt right now....in german even...

I remember I called my contact in golden once...Kathy Pearson. I don't know if she still works for dopp/ctec...I had her e-mail addy....but it only worked twice for some odd reason.
Like I said...Go for it.

[Bill]

The contact I use at Doppelmayr is Caryn. She is really helpful, but she will tell you that if you want any worldbooks, to visit my site. :) Thats an agreement between us after they received numerous requests from people on my board.

- Bill

[snowboardguy]

so speaking of world books. I would like one

[Bill]

http://www.skilifts....?showtopic=1421

[Lendog]

I too have been thinking about a little career change. I've been a Electrical Generator Technician for the past 12 years. I started in the Air Force, then got out and have worked for GenerCrap I mean Generac, Cummins and now Johnson Controls over here in Kuwait. I have the background in electromechanical and controls and figure the transition shouldn't be too painful. I'm used to extreme working environments from mountain tops to 140 degree heat.
Once I decide to stop being a contract-whore, I'm going to move to the place I bought up on hood in Oregon. I can always go back to my job at Cummins, but the drive to Portland would get old.
What do you guys think I need to do to get my foot in the door, since I already have a background in a similar field, well somewhat similar, my engines turn an alternator and your motors turn a cable. I'm mechanical energy to electrical energy, and your electrical energy to mechanical energy.
--CHEERS
And yes the desert sucks, but the money is good.

http://www.rms-lc.com
http://www.afcap.com...ployment03.html

[SkiBachelor]

Hey Lendog, welcome to the forum. What resort(s) where you thinking about working for when you move up to the mount hood area? I'm sure that Timberline and Meadows LCC both pay well, but if you decided to go work for Meadows, I thought I would just warn you. My dad's friend was a ski coach for Meadows for a few years but quit because he could no longer stand the management because they were jerks and thought they were better than everyone and never wanted to help out with anything. I'm not sure how it treats its mechanics and stuff, but I thought I would just give you the heads up.

[Lendog]

Yep, I know people that have worked at meadows, and they said it's way to corporate. They don't take care of their employees very well. But, that's just from seasonal employees, so you never know when it comes to year round full-time folks. I'll work wherever though, I'm used to having bad management (government).
This is still a thought in my head, it won't be for a couple years from now. I have to milk this overseas contract stuff for a little longer, you can't beat it really.
Next time I go back, I'm going to keep my eyes open for the lift techs and pick their brain a bit. I'll be in Portland in 2 more weeks, they need some serious snow NOW!!!!

[liftmech]

Lendog- I would think that your experience in the electrical field (pun intended) would definitely give you an edge. How are you with PLCs and relay logic? Aside from motors/drives, that is what you would be working on the most. Most lifts use a 24 VDC control system to tell the 480 VAC drive (or diesel engine) what to do.

[Zage]

I was looking into beeing a gondola maintenence helper at Sunshine Village the mechanics there were very impresed by my knowledge. :D

[ChrisUK]

Hey Guys,

well im not 12, but im still thinking about working within the lift area. At the moment im a designer for overhead power lines and so am used to calculating sag, ice loading, tower loads, steelwork grading and inspection, earthing systems, etc.
What i am trying to figure out is, within the Lift industry is this level of design completed by the construction companys or the material designers or are they resort specific? and if anyone knows of any companies that deal with this then some names would be really helpfull. Im not fussy about where in the world they companies are as long as english is ok as a first language.
Cheers for the help! Chris.

[Jonni]

I believe that it depends. I have heard of some ski areas doing some of their designing in house only employing a drafting company to draw up the plans and engineers to approve the designs, but there are also a few design companies out there that do that sort of work. One that I know of relatively well is the SE Group http://www.segroup.com. I know that their portfolio is quite large and they have been in the business for about 50 years or so.

[aug]

ChrisUK, on Dec 17 2008, 02:47 AM, said:

Hey Guys,

well im not 12, but im still thinking about working within the lift area. At the moment im a designer for overhead power lines and so am used to calculating sag, ice loading, tower loads, steelwork grading and inspection, earthing systems, etc.
What i am trying to figure out is, within the Lift industry is this level of design completed by the construction companys or the material designers or are they resort specific? and if anyone knows of any companies that deal with this then some names would be really helpfull. Im not fussy about where in the world they companies are as long as english is ok as a first language.
Cheers for the help! Chris.

This level of engineering takes place at the manufacturer or with the design engineer. The project engineer would also review these calcs.

[Kelly]

… and to add what Aug said – you should be aware that the ropeway manufacturing market has been consolidated in the last years, with the exception of some small European lift builders, at this time there are only 2 major manufacturers world wide.

Leitner an Italian group
http://www.leitner-lifts.com/
North American representative
http://www.leitner-poma.com/


Doppelmayr an Austrian group
http://www.doppelmayr.com/
North American representative
http://www.doppelmay...?lid=2&setprj=3