In Zermatt, Demag Cranes & Components has implemented a solution for the highest crane application in Europe. The application was designed for preventive maintenance work to be carried out on an innovative snow-making installation.
To ensure that ski holidays can be enjoyed all the year round, the Swiss Bergbahnen Zermatt AG company has been using a new snow-making installa-tion between the Trockener Steg station and the Theodul glacier since 2008. Regardless of the temperature, the “Snowmaker” supplied by the Israeli company IDE Technologies Ltd. produces some 1,000 m³ of artificial snow every day, in high quality and without any chemical additives for low energy costs and only little work.

To support the maintenance work on the “Snowmaker”, the machine house at Trockener Steg station was fitted out with a crane installation supplied by Demag Cranes & Components. An EKKE single-girder overhead travelling crane, which can safely handle loads weighing up to 10 t, operates at a height of 12.3 m on a crane runway that is 14.8 m long. Its span measures 10,800 mm. The box-section girder of the overhead travelling crane design offers maximum stability for a low deadweight and, therefore, a minimum load on the crane runway. The out-standing crane geometry provides for excellent travel characteristics.

The loads are handled by a DR-Pro rope hoist. This hoist unit has been devel-oped for optimum operation on cranes and offers increased efficiency thanks to its extended service life and improved handling rates. Infinitely variable cross-travel speeds up to 30 m/min provide for low-sway load movement and efficient load handling. The crane travels at speeds of 5 and 20 m/min. The hoist operates at 5 m/min and 0.8 m/min for lifting at creep speed. The innovative display fitted as standard in the control unit offers a transparent overview of the installation, which is of great importance to the owner.

Besides performance, the aspect of sustainability was an important contract award criterion for Bergbahnen Zermatt AG. A decisive factor that influenced the decision in favour of Demag Cranes & Components was the fact that all of the components used in this crane installation are designed for a long service life and, at the same time, for ecological and economical benefits.

About the company

Demag Cranes & Components GmbH based in Wetter/ Ruhr is a subsidiary of Demag Cranes AG and a supplier of industrial cranes and crane components for material flow, logistics and industrial drive applications. Services, such as spare parts, maintenance and refurbishment services, are another key element of the Company’s business activities. Demag Cranes & Components is represented in 22 foreign subsidiaries and agencies in 46 countries all over the world. With more than 650,000 Demag brand cranes and hoists for industrial applications in operation, the company has the largest installed base worldwide.