18 replies to this topic

[iceberg210]

As Ski Bachelor (might not be right spelling sorry) said in another post that this would be a great topic it was just off topic over there so.

I personally think you could do it but as always the $$$$ i$$ue i$ a problem if you get the drift.

[SkiBachelor]

Yea, it would be nice for Yan to come back to life, however is there really that demand for another lift manufacturer? All the companies are merging because ski resorts have stopped expanding, so there is getting to be a less and less demand for chairlifts.

[iceberg210]

True but at the same time if there were another manufacture that specified in FG, there is a HUGE market for replacement FG with all the old RIblet, Yan and others out there i think a FG manufacture would thrive

[SkiBachelor]

There is already a company like that called aerial engineering, which is also in Spokane, same town as Riblet. However, Doppelmayr CTEC and Leitner POMA can do the same job and probably cheaper.

Aerial Engineering is going to start making spare parts for Riblet and Yan is still making replacement parts for their lifts, although I don't don't they are using the same name.

[KZ]

If YAN just came back for the fixed grip lifts, they would probably do semi decent. With their old designs, the chairs could be built for cheap, and apparently they are maintenince friendly. I am guessing that some replacements could be done cheaper then DoppCTEC or Poma. Mammoth will really need to be replacing most all their fgs in the next 20 years, probably sooner, so thats quite the market. Squaw is getting close with many of their lifts as well. Dont forget Alpine, Boreal, Heavenly, Sierra, and Bear and Dodge. That is nearly 100 lifts alone.

Does anyone know if Doppelmayr or Poma gained possesion of their patents, or does Yanek himself still own them? All they would need is a new chair design.

[Dr Frankenstein]

Does anyone knows why Samson closed?

[Eric]

Is it because there was an accident on one of their lift.

[iceberg210]

What was the accident and where was it?

[Kelly]

Other considerations for YAN's revival:
Inability to secure insurance.
Yan's partner (and mechanical engineer) left and formed a new company before accident.
For more on flat skier visits see saminfo.com - current issue - 2003 lift survey.
Ryan B

[liftmech]

There could be a market for a manufacturer specialising in fixed grips, but it would take time and patience to build such a company. With Partek being the only US-based manufacturer doing this, and them not building many lifts, it could happen. Aerial Engineering, if they wish, could step into the Riblet parts business. But that still leaves the many Hall, Yan, and other orphan lifts out there. I believe Doppelmayr has the Thiokol and Hall parts due to their partnership with CTEC.

[SkiBachelor]

Well I think there was still a demand for Riblet lifts, because I know of at least three chairlifts that could have been purchased the year they closed and both these two resorts tried really hard to have Riblet lifts rather than Doppelmayr CTEC. It would be cool though if Aerial Engineering does start making more Riblet lifts, but I don't think it would happen.

[SkiBachelor]

Ryan, what was the company that Yan's partner formed and was it a aeiral lift manufacturer?

[SkiBachelor]

Bill and I will look into that, thanks.

[floridaskier]

I dont think ski resorts would trust Yan for a new lift, even though their FG's were pretty safe, with one accident (Keystone 1985 Teller/ruby- replaced with Poma HSS- 1 dead, 49 injured- bullwheel fell off)

[liftmech]

I think Yan could still build a few lifts if he wanted. He had some great ideas and designs; unfortunately he also spent very little time in R&D, causing problems down the line. He learned from his mistakes, for the most part, and I think there are a few areas out there who would still buy lifts from him.
My speculation about Riblet is not that no-one would buy their ifts. Having dealt with them in their final years of business, I found that it was hard to get ahold of them for simple operational questions and finding out where lift parts were (when we were building one). It seemed to us that they didn't have their heart in the business anymore, and were just marking time. We were very happy with C-2 when we got it done- the design was great and the innovations that Frank Judge (Riblet's resident electrical/hydraulic engineer) had done were top-notch. Unfortunately, Riblet just didn't seem to be as gung-ho about lifts as we were.

[SkiBachelor]

That's why I think if they were ran by aerial engineering, it would improve the company a lot.

[liftmech]

It's hard to say. Being as AE is run and owned by a former Riblet engineer, it could work well. He (Jim Ellis) might also want no part of the company since he left it in the first place. Who knows? It would be nice to see someone pick it up- those are good, inexpensive lifts that run like champs.

[iceberg210]

From what i've heard from mechanics at brighton is that the three Riblet lifts haven't had a breakdown for five years now strait.

[Emax]

Rebirth of Yan?
The man has assured me that once was enough.
His engineering genius continues - but on a different playing field.