Business is booming for chairlift manufacturers. According to the Colorado Sun, 2022 will mark the busiest and most successful season for Leitner Poma, and likely Doppelmayr as well. While the pandemic slowed down orders for a year,  the rising demand in outdoor activities has brought a surge of new lift orders to the two major lift manufacturers: Leitner-Poma, and Doppelmayr. The two are expected to spend over $300 million on United States lift projects in 2022. The companies are dealing with various issues though, such as rising costs (especially steel) and labor shortages (around twenty openings at Leitner Poma).

Here are some of the interesting tidbits from the article:

  • Leitner Poma has collaborated with Onno Wieringa, GM of Alta Ski Area, on the proposed Little Cottonwood gondola. They are also working with Alta on a new chairlift, though its whereabouts are not yet known.
  • Leitner Poma is still working on the two-year project Alpine Meadows/Palisades Tahoe base to base gondola project. The final pieces were just completed at their factory in Colorado. The project is the “equivalent of six lifts.”
  • Vail Resorts 2022 Epic Lift Upgrade projects will cost $320 million. A non-disclosure agreement blocks Leitner Poma from saying what lifts they will be making, but the projects will be split between Doppelmayr and Leitner Poma.
  • Doppelmayr will begin building Steamboat’s Wild Blue gondola, which will become the longest gondola in North America.
  • During the summer of 2020, many resorts delayed or canceled their projects. Mountain Capital Partners decided to spend big on new projects. They got a gondola for Arizona Snowbowl and a six-pack for Nordic Valley. Another big future investment is the Brian Head future expansion, which we will be covering in the future.
  • The news ski resorts in Utah, Wasatch Peaks Ranch, and Mayflower Mountain Resort will be receiving fourteen lifts. The private Wasatch Peaks Ranch will get nine lifts, while Mayflower Resort is aiming for five.
  • Urban transportation remains an important market for these manufacturers. Leitner Poma is working on projects in Oakland, Los Angeles, and Santa Monica.
Nordic Valleys new Nordic Express, produced by Leitner-Poma

Image Credits: Colorado Sun, Nordic Valley, Snowbasin Resort

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