26 replies to this topic

[SkiBachelor]

I was reading SAMinfo.com and they state that Partek is now ready to start to bid and making detachable lifts.

From SAM
"Lest there be any doubt, they are delighted to bid on detachables, too."

It sure would be interesting to see this fixed-grip manufacturer to make detachable lifts. I wonder what their first lift would look like.

[iceberg210]

Back to what I said in another topic.

The highspeed lift industry is crowded and if you ask me Partek would be much better served as a fixed grip specialist. Although for them to become a power they would still need to expand their FG operations.

[vancouverguy]

I'd like to see that happen, too.

[Bill]

Partek should have picked up Riblets remaining stock and leased a small building on the west coast and expand into this market.

[Dr Frankenstein]

More info about Partek expansion?

[SkiBachelor]

I don't have it, but since they had a really good year for the size of lift company they are, I guess they figure that they will decide to make detachable lifts.

For the new lifts this year, Doppelmayr CTEC had the major lead with more than 60% installations I believe with Leitner Poma only have 18%. Partek installed 6 lifts this past summer. But overall, lifts were on a decline this year. ASC hasn't installed a chairlift for more than 2 years and Booth Creek didn't purchse any do to a bad snow fall over here in the West. Vail Resorts bought 3, while Intrawest only bought 4 Detachables. But the big gain was in Conveyer lifts or known as Magic Carpets. More than 60 of these things were installed this past summer.

If you want more info, go to saminfo.com and on the tab that's on the left that says, current issue. Click that and then click new lifts for the 2003/2004 season.

[KZ]

Booth hasnt done a lift since 2000

[coskibum]

if you look at my lift news page, it is pretty depressing, only 2 new lifts for colorado this year!

I know we will have at least one next summer at CB and Steamboat might replace BC but that's not for sure.

This post has been edited by coskibum: 13 January 2004 - 08:14 PM

[floridaskier]

Ya, I dont think there were any in Utah, maybe a few Magic Carpets, but besides that only the new Red Hawk/ Sunrise lift @ The Canyons.

[SkiBachelor]

Wait, Red Hawk is now called Sunrise?

[iceberg210]

wait a tick florida skier


It turns out Snowbird bought a highspeed quad to replace Little Cloud (credible source) and just didn't have time to install it

[SkiBachelor]

Wait, where did you find this? I found something about how The Canyons bought a HSQ also and never installed it. I'm guessing the lift that The Canyons bought was probably for Peak 5, but they thought a FG Quad would be better. This was in like 99 or something.

Did Snowbird recently by this or was this? Because maybe they bought the HSQ that the Canyons ordered and then later didn't want?

Now that I think of it, maybe Sugar Bowl bought this lift, because when Sugar Bowl installed their Mt. Lincoln Express two years ago, it was a Stealth 2 terminal design rather than a Stealth 3, which CTEC was then making.

I guess were going pretty off topic now.

[iceberg210]

We are so

"Great Partek Expanding"

Ok that's plenty of topic for this post now here we go...

A friend of mine who knows practicly everyone at Snowbird told me that by the time the finacing went through CTEC couldn't install it in time for the 2003-2004 season so next year...

[KZ]

Very interesting. We got 2 lifts, a hsq and fgq at Heavenly. Next season should be a bit better, squaw may replace newport, northstar may put in that 6, there are talks about a lift at Alpine, Kirkwood already has a hsq planned. Heavenly is supposed to replace their tram, sugar bowl is planning to realign their Crow's Nest chair, and Mt Rose is getting 2 lifts, a fgq and a hss. Looks like a good year.

*A note on the new 6 at rose "Blazing Zepher". A zepher is a light breeze or wind, so that translastes to a Really fast light wind.

[liftmech]

'Blazing Zephyr' must be a marketing choice...

I hope Partek has been doing R&D on a detachable grip already so we don't have another Yan-type accident due to fast-tracked construction. I don't think they'll make much headway in the market, however; with two manufacturers and three designs, there isn't any room left for newcomers. I suppose if they make a good product for cheap, they might sell a few. I think their main obstacle will be convincing established resorts that having two inventories (one for Poma or Doppelmayr or CTEC, and one for Partek) is worth the space and money. There are many resorts who would rather have only one manufacturer, warts and all, than keep two types of parts on hand.

[floridaskier]

iceberg210, on Jan 15 2004, 08:17 PM, said:

It turns out Snowbird bought a highspeed quad to replace Little Cloud (credible source) and just didn't have time to install it

Snowbird? Thats good, the little Cloud lift was falling apart, when did they order it though, Diamond Peak proved to us that they can install a lift in a very short time

[iceberg210]

When the fianancing went through it was already late August to my understanding. Remember also not only is that lift a little hard to get to we also get snow relatively early here in SLC

[floridaskier]

I never thought about that, but how would you get enormous parts of lifts up that skinny 14 mile road to Snowbird? would they use an 18 wheeler on that road? or is there some other way?

[SkiBachelor]

Tyler, don't you remember the pictures that TR posted when they were installed the HSQ in the back bowl? They attached the terminals to The Tram and took them up that way. I wish I saved those pictures that TR took. Those were assome pictures. Does anyone else on the forum maybe have them?

[floridaskier]

Oh ya, I remember those. That would be awesome to watch. B)
I didnt save them though :(