Newsletter


SunKid success in North America goes on

More than 20 years ago SunKid owner Max Bruckschlögl took the bold step across the Pond and expanded into North America. Until 2001 he was head of a branch in New Hampshire but, due to the growing demands of the market, he took the decision to found an independent company, the STAR LIFTS INC. This year was the firm’s most successful to date. In North America and Canada SunKid sold a total of 38 SunKid Wonder Carpet conveyors, 6 Bruckschlögl rope tows and 3 SunKid Rotondo ski carousels. With these results SunKid, together with on-site partner Star Lifts Inc., sustained its position as market leader.

The North American market is an extremely interesting one for SunKid, offering as it does a wide range of new and interesting possibilities for SunKid products. We would like to describe the following three projects in greater detail:

1. Brampton (Toronto, Canada)

A 180m long SunKid Wonder Carpet was installed this year in the city of Brampton, replacing an ancient drag-lift. Surrounded by high-rise buildings, the installation offers a unique ambience for fun in the snow for everyone:

  • skiing
  • snowboarding
  • snow tubing
  • tobogganing
  • … and much, much more

This installation poses a particular technical challenge. Beginning on a 0 % incline, the lift ends on a 28 % slope. On top of that the conveyor has to transport more than 2000 people per hour to the top of the hill. These factors provided the SunKid technicians with an enormous challenge. However, thanks to the experience gained through over 1300 installations they were able come up with a made-to-measure solution for even this project with which both customers and operator alike are delighted. Running at a speed of between 0.7 and 0.8 m/sec., the SunKid conveyor is supervised by an attendant stationed in the exit area.

2. Vail-Breckenridge (Colorado, USA)

March of last year saw SunKid invite the managers of around 20 American ski-regions to Austria to tour various SunKid projects. Among the visitors was Mr John Mauch, one of the technical heads of Vail Resorts. Intrigued by the innovative ideas of the Tyrolean-based company SunKid, he ordered on the spot 7 installations for his resorts in Vail and Breckenridge. Included in the order is the longest covered conveyor in North America.

A 102m long SunKid Wonder Carpet was fitted with the tried-and-tested SunKid ‘Gallery’ conveyor-cover. As well as increasing the attractiveness of the terrain, the conveyor-cover also provides protection from the wind and cold. On top of that it also reduces the amount of maintenance required by the installation. Managers of the Vail ski-regions are already considering equipping all 20 SunKid conveyors installed in Vail Resorts with SunKid conveyor covers.

3. Granit George (New Hampshire, USA)

Snow tubing has been exceptionally popular in North America for years now. This year saw the installation of a very special SunKid Wonder Carpet conveyor in the resort of Granit George on the East Coast. In accordance with the customer’s wishes the conveyor was delivered without footpaths along the sides. The customer instead built these themselves out of wood with an accompanying hand-rail. As well as reducing the cost of the conveyor, this construction method has the additional advantage of not requiring any snow either side of the conveyor.