21 replies to this topic

[JSteigs]

There are a few articles stating that Bartholet Maschinenbau (BMF), the Swiss ski lift manufacturer, was contacted to build a lift for North Korea's new ski area. The Swiss government has said that this violates sanctions against the country buying luxury items. Some articles have stated that French and Austrian companies have already declined the work.

http://www.theguardi...rts-north-korea

[floridaskier]

Probably nobody else who can do it. Are there any Chinese companies building lifts that we haven't heard about?

[SkiLiftsRock]

What did they plan to have for guest luxury on this new lift? Padded seats? or the fact of not having to hike yourself up the hill to ski down?

[Lift Dinosaur]

floridaskier, on 20 August 2013 - 05:29 PM, said:

Probably nobody else who can do it. Are there any Chinese companies building lifts that we haven't heard about?

I heard stories out of Europe about 7 or 8 years ago where the Chinese had been caught manufacturing knock-off Doppelmayr Fixed Grips. Never heard anything about them copying the detachables. With the French, Austrians and Italians (blocking yachts according to the article) refusing to supply, they might end up with a luxury rope tow! Dino

[iceberg210]

I had heard of a lift manufacture in Turkey at one point, don't know if they are still around, maybe they'll find and use them...

Luxury rope tow! I like that, silk rope? Gold handles? :p

[vons]

The turkish company is STM http://www.stmteleferik.com.tr/

[floridaskier]

Surprised we haven't seen STM on here before, I didn't know there was anyone else making detachables these days

[vons]

LST and STM appear to have a license to use the Felix Wopfner grip in its original configuration, both also use the same line equipment. The terminal design between the two is completely different.

The grip, LST's terminal during construction.

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[Peter]

Looks like Kim Jong Un found a 1960's Stadeli double chair with lattice towers. I'm guessing it came from Europe instead of the US or Canada; I can't think of any recently removed lifts like this in North America.

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[teachme]

In the Beijing hills there is a park with a Chinese designed and build double fixed grip. Was built 30 years ago, but still in operation a few years ago so they do have the technology.

EDIT: here is a youtube video of it. Not sure though if this is a new replacement or not. http://www.youtube.c...h?v=5aSCDi6v0RE

IN 2004 the plaque stated it was built in 70s and took 3 years before it became operational due to engineering issues.

This post has been edited by teachme: 31 December 2013 - 03:12 PM

[rodo_af]

I posted a report of this double chair :
http://www.remontees...rtage-4449.html



:)

This post has been edited by rodo_af: 31 December 2013 - 06:58 PM

[RibStaThiok]

anyone want to translate that to English?

[Peter]

North Korea has posted a video of its new ski resort. Looks like quite the lift line for the double chair! Note the Doppelmayr quad pictured at the beginning that is clearly not actually there.
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=9lSZbUaEOvY

Also a mystery how North Korea ended up with Bombardier sleds, Areco fan guns, Pisten Bully & Prinoth cats
http://www.telegraph...-sanctions.html

[ss20]

Love the neon! Funny how, like you said, they were able to find top-notch equipment, yet their gear is twenty years old.

[Razvan]

I bet the SkiDoos, snow guns and groomers are bristling with antennas and were imported via an offshore operated by, well, these guys:

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=yk9owFhLcBQ

[Peter]

Ski Magazine has an interesting article this month written by two Americans who skied in North Korea last February. Few locals can ski so they had everything but the bunny slopes to themselves. From the pictures and trail map, it looks like Masik Pass now has a Stadeli double, Doppelmayr platter, and a series of 3 new chairlifts that form a 45 minute ride to the summit. They look to me to be Chinese Doppelmayr knockoffs as Dino suggested above.

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Quad #1 out of the base area:
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Things I noticed:
The drive control pedestal has only 4 buttons. The box looks like European Doppelmayr but everything is just a little off.
They have (Chinese) RFID gates!
The top has no shack at all, just a pedestal. I guess sadly it does not matter how cold the operator is.

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Note the dangling orange wires on the towers.
There are no chair numbers and no Doppelmayr logos anywhere.

Summit double
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Again no shack at the top.
No anemometers and no stop gates.
All the super tall tripod towers had to have been built custom instead of coming used from somewhere. Everything looks new to me. There are plenty of authentic Doppelmayr lifts in China; it seems the Chinese copied those to make 3 new lifts for North Korea. Gotta wonder how Wolfurt feels about selling China new lifts and spare parts knowing where they may end up.

[SkiBachelor]

To my knowledge, in the Chinese culture it's considered a great honor to copy/recreate something of someone you admire which is why they produce so many knock-offs.

Kelly Canyon, Idaho has a knock-off Riblet so it's been done here in the U.S. as well.

[Yooper Skier]

Photo 11 shows no bullwheel halo, although the pedestals are there. Hmm...

[Lift Dinosaur]

SkiBachelor, on 02 November 2014 - 07:26 PM, said:

Kelly Canyon, Idaho has a knock-off Riblet so it's been done here in the U.S. as well.

Which lift at Kelly Canyon? Are you sure it wasn't an old Riblet that was "re-engineered"?
Dino

[RibStaThiok]

This one.

http://www.skilifts....onymountain.htm