mag Mountain & development, products & services 2016 N°3
Thrills, techniques, mobility: MND innovates ! Group News p. 22 ///////////////////////////////////
Trends at the Top p. 4 Success Stories p. 8 MND Around the World p. 16 Group News p. 22 24 Hours With p. 28 High Points p. 30
One partner, many solutions Editorial Mountain & development, products & services
From design to maintenance
Xavier MND WILL BE Gallot-Lavallée A TRUE PARTNER FOR CHAIRMAN & CEO ALL YOUR PROJECTS ...throughout the world.
t is not something we do very ot en, but A Group committed to innovation I would like to begin this edition’s editorial by At MND Group, we believe that innovation is the best thanking all our customers and partners for way to dif erentiate ourselves from our competitors on Itheir continued trust and loyalty over the last the world market. As a result, we have consolidated two years. If we are honest, we have to admit that this our technological and industrial engineering expertise period of sustained growth for MND Group has severely within two main sectors, mountain infrastructure and stretched our capabilities and impacted our customer urban mobility, investing more than €10 million in three service. h e reorganisation of our four divisions around key projects over the last two years. On the leisure side, new production facilities and new internal management Techfun’s new FunCoaster rail-mounted sled provides processes has taken up substantial human and i nancial thrills for all, in both summer and winter. In terms of resources. Now, in 2016, we are entering a period of cable transport systems, LST has launched a new range of stabilisation, a period ripe for developing new ventures - detachable-grip lit s and will soon be targeting the growing the exchanges and shared experiences that make our work low-impact urban mobility market with its “Cabline” so gratifying - and for focusing on what has always been cable-car system. MND Group will be presenting these our main goal and top priority, customer satisfaction. new products at the Mountain Planet show in Grenoble in April 2016 and at the “Transports Publics” urban mobility 4 divisions, global solutions show in Paris in June 2016. As you can imagine, the reason we introduced such rapid and profound changes was to provide innovative and From mature markets to emerging markets ei cient global solutions that are tailor-made to meet Although we i rst developed our innovation strategy in your needs. Each of our four divisions - Safety (MBS and the mountains of Europe, we are now exporting it across TAS), Outdoor Leisures (TECHFUN), Ropeways (LST) the world, most notably to America, Russia and China. In and Snowmaking (SUFAG) – provides a complete service, its quest to conquer these new markets, MND Group is whether in mountain infrastructure, leisure facilities, off ering the same high-quality service it provides in its industry or urban mobility. We are committed to working home markets. As a result, our American subsidiary has with you at every stage of your projects, from the design made large inroads into the avalanche prevention market, phase, carried out by our engineers, to the installation protecting roads, mines and ski resorts. And our brand- and commissioning of equipment, achieved with support new Chinese subsidiary has just signed its i rst contracts from our technical teams. We also help you optimise the with the resorts that will host the 2022 Winter Olympics. operation of our products by training your operators and providing a comprehensive at er-sales service. We owe all these successes and our rapid development to the professionalism, expertise and commitment of our staff. For this we would like to give them our fullest thanks.
I hope you enjoy the magz ine!
2 Mountain & development, products & services MND mag / / 2016 mag Mountain & development, products & services 2016 Contents N°3
Trends at the Top Mountain & development, products & services Arthur Cliv GENERAL MANAGER OF THE CRANS MONTANA SKILIFT COMPANY SWITZERLAND AND PRESIDENT 3 QUESTIONS OF THE VALAIS ASSOCIATION OF SKILIFT OPERATORS RMV SINCE JUNE 2012. TO TWO EXPERTS o mountai
How have the strength of the Swiss Which new developments are Swiss Does digital technology (“yield mana- developmen trend franc, changes in Swiss society and investors turning to in order to gement”, online sales of ski passes) lower snowfalls affected the ski modernise existing facilities and represent a signifi cant change for resorts’ strategies in recent years? develop mountain tourism, in both skiers and Switzerland’s ski resort h secretar genera of th Chines sk associatio , Wan Chunl, underline th traordinar growt of Chin’ skiin summer and winter, in the years to operators? marke. Althoug Chin i stil a emergin marke, i i alread learnin fro th perienc of mor matur market tha A.C - It is true that we are su ering come? Thav move o fro th “al sk ” approac. Fro th ver beginnin , Chin’ resort hav ver prudentl opte t provid from the strength of the franc, A.C - e idea of “yield management” is their visitor wit variet of activitie i order t attrac ever-larger number of tourist throughou th year. Henc , i order which penalises our clientele from A.C - ere is a lot of diversi cation gradually taking hold in the Valais, but t ensur th longevit of thi new sector, investor hav adopte broa-base strateg inspire b th marke describe t u b the euro zone. We are fortunate that in summer leisure activities, with a ski resort is not an airplane. Very early Arthur Cliv , genera manager of th Cran Montan sk li compan (Swi erlan) an presiden of th Valai associatio of sk 50% of our clients are Swiss. ey golf, hiking and mountain biking. and last minute bookings could allow li operator. are not a ected by variations in the In fact, some of the resorts in the occasional skiers to take advantage of exchange rate and they still come to pre-Alps, such as Moléson, and in lower prices, but, in the case of skiing, China’s skiing industry has What are the most common activities In a rapidly growing market such as our resorts, where many of them have the Tessin have higher turnovers in another parameter changes the game experienced prodigious growth in offered by the resorts and which are China, what do investors feel are the second homes. Our accommodation summer than in winter. is shows – the existence of season passes. ese the last two decades, especially over the most popular among this new most promising trends for attracting structure ensures our stability; we that these medium-altitude resorts passes, bought by residents who live Trends at the Top 4 5 the last few years, when the sector / clientele? tourists to resorts throughout the are not entirely dependent on the took the necessary initiatives in in or who have a second home in our really took o . In 1995, China had year and for developing mountain “commercial bed” market. It is time. But it must be said, we have resorts, are a very important part of our just nine ski resorts, whose slopes Wang Chunlu - The most popular tourism, in both summer and winter, also true that skiing has changed. lagged behind when it comes to economy. ey account for up to a h attracted a mere 10,000 dedicated activities offered by the ski resorts in the coming years? With higher throughputs, faster skiers. Today, 100 million Chinese updating our facilities and we will of annual turnover and it is important remain skiing and snowboarding, people are considered middle class turnarounds and higher speeds, you need to invest heavily if we are to not to lose them. If day passes become even though 90% of holidaymakers and an estimated 1.5 million of them Wan Chunl - As a general rule, inves- can do as much skiing in three hours remain competitive. A bill has been too cheap, some people will think twice are beginners and skiing is still try winter sports every year. tors assess a tourism market in terms of as you could do in a day 20 years ago. submitted to the Swiss parliament before buying a season pass, which something new for them. There income levels within the local popula- Hence, the resorts have to develop to ask for more government support pays for itself if you ski more than 13 are other activities, such as golf, How many million skiers visited tion. Rather than talking about trends, alternatives to skiing for their guests. for our sector. I hope it will be passed to 17 days a year. Curiously, the online camping in summer and spas China’s 200 new ski resorts in 2014- they prefer to evaluate the investment Gastronomy, culture, well-being, etc. in winter, but, of course, these because tourism accounts for almost sale of ski passes is struggling to take 2015? potential in real estate (housing, hotels) More and more facilities are being a quarter of the Valais canton’s GDP o and represents only 10 to 15% of activities differ according to the in relation to investment by the ski re- provided and there is also a big and we have many projects. Out of our turnover. For years, we have been resort’s facilities and outlook. sort, in order to have several sources of increase in programmes of evening Wan Chunl - Over the 2014-2015 pro t. 2,000 km of ski runs, 600 km are advertising the savings to be made in winter season, China’s 260 ski resorts entertainment during peak holiday tted with snowmaking equipment terms of time and money: no queues recorded 14 million ski days, which periods. e resorts are now o ering and we would like to increase that to buy your pass, 5% reduction on represents 9 million skiers. Figures holidaymakers a complete sporting gure to 1,000 km very quickly. passes bought via Internet a few days for this year have not yet been pu- and festive experience. In terms of We also want to modernise our ski in advance. Nothing has really worked, blished. However, 90% of China’s climate change, it mustn’t write o li s. In addition, we would like to undoubtedly because our clientele skiers are beginners for whom skiing our resorts. e Valais is better o expand our high-altitude ski areas prefers to take advantage of a wider is just one activity to be enjoyed than many of the world’s other ski and strengthen cooperation between range of activities depending on the among the many others o ered by areas, as here you can ski at altitudes resorts in order to increase the weather and how they feel on the day. the resorts. Very few people ski for an of between 1,500 m and 3,800 m. entire week. Sledding in snow parks, e ciency of their management. One A spa, a museum, a sled descent, etc. Development trends in the ski ice driving, winter swimming, ice- of our biggest assets is the beauty of e new mountain experience has put skating, snow football, sled rides, golf, the scenery, which is a completely an end to the ski monoculture. bowling, karaoke, tness, health and separate tourist attraction that we well-being, etc. must capitalise on. We need to create events that will attract large numbers
of passing visitors.
¤ ¤ ¤ 4 Mountain & development, products & services ¤ Mountain & development, products & services 5 MND mag 2016 MND mag 2016 resorts of China and Switzerland: the views of two world experts.
Success Stories Mountain & development, products & services « LST’s biggest selling point?
The reliability « LST&SUFAG of its products! ADAPT THEIR SERVICES
TO THE VAST EXPANSES OF CHINA This winter, MND’s “ski lift” division has contributed to the development of Chang t Cheng Ling, the Chinese ski team’s future training resort. A fi rst contact with a ND’ new Chines su idiar ha se up it bas i Beij in, th capita recentl ch e t h th 24 Winter Olympi Game region that will be at the heart of the 2022 Olympic Games. Mi 2022. Group’ fi rs step o Chines soi hav allowe i t por som of it pertis, a LST an Sufa ar alread helpin equip th tur Olympi trainin an competitio resort . >Interview with LST project manager Raphaë Perrier. In 2015, Sufag was asked to provide no fewer than 120 snowmaking machines for the resort of Wanlong, to the north of Beijing. is is a record order for Sufag, which is already being presented Success Stories 8 / 13 by its Chinese agent/distributor as a key player in ensuring the success of the skiing competitions. To ensure the snow cover on the runs is always perfect, Sufag has inaugurated a unique snowmaking system for this 2022 Winter Olympic venue. By mounting the snowmakers on articulated arms, the new system, which will be operational in 2016, increases e ciency and improves the quality of the snow produced. Strengthening the synergies between At Chang Cheng Ling, Sufag’s agent/ MND Ma - Has LST’s fi rst season are currently drawing up proposals for potential customers in China. distributor has sold a further 120 in China been encouraging? snowmakers, which will be divided een projects to renovate and extend We also keep costs as low as possible between more than 40 Chinese resorts Raphaë Perrier : I think so. e the resort’s ski area. and supply only products that are “100% season began for us with an order during 2016. Chang Cheng Ling is also LST technology”: terminals, seats, cable home to the rst LST xed-grip chairli for a 4-seater xed-grip chairli to MND Ma - What is LST’s biggest selling point for winning over the systems, etc. ere is no added cost due to be imported into China by MND’s replace an out-dated li at the resort of Chinese market? to producing pylons in Europe, as they new subsidiary, MND China. Chang Cheng Ling. is rst chairli , situated at the bottom of the resort, R.P : Our main selling point is the are manufactured in China. Finally, has been running since February 2016. reliability of our products. eir we ensure our products conform to It should be followed by orders for two simplicity and durability makes our importers’ local legislation, when Emanuel Morin was appointed manager of MND China in 2015, them easy to run and maintain. Emanue where he acts as the interface between the Group’s companies and larger li s, including one at a higher it is di erent to that in the European the extremely dynamic Chinese market. Emanuel is an expert in ski altitude. Reduced maintenance optimises Mori Union. For example, we have integrated MANAGER OF area development and safety who spent ten years as general manager I am hoping this rst installation will our products’ competitiveness, and MND Group companies in Europe, MND CHINA of a ski lift manufacturer’s Chinese subsidiary. Now aged 46, he is build con dence in LST and form for this we are well known on the Chinese safety standards into our a graduate of the Sorbonne Graduate Business School in Paris and a world market. In addition, we ful l civil engineering calculations and our qualifi ed civil engineer. a launch pad for future business. In preparation for the Olympic Games, we perfectly the speci cations imposed by products are certi ed for use in China.
8 Mountain & development, products & services Mountain & development, products & services 9 MND mag / / 2016 MND mag / / 2016 China and the USA.
Around the World Mountain & development, products & services FOCUS Telescopes mounted on the Canopée des Cimes allow visitors to zoom into the surrounding o few project complete i 2014 summits and Mont Cenis reservoir, far below. e unique architecture is a symbol for the resort of Val Cenis, while blending discretely into the landscape of the Mont Cenis basin.
8 8 8 2 9 4 6 9 7 3 5 2
1 e 200-m-long braked zip wire nishes on a 24-m2 wooden platform, 9 m above the ground. A thrilling descent - jumping to the ground with a QuickJump 3 fall-arrest system to ensure a so landing – complete 16 19 the adventure! MND Around the World / 3 The “Canopée des Cimes” Techfun. e metal structure was at Val Cenis (France) assembled in an MND Group factory 9 How can non-skiers be attracted to before being helicoptered to the the summits? How can outstanding site, in November 2015. It was then PARTNERSHIP //////////////////////////////////// viewpoints be made accessible to anchored in concrete at an altitude all? e ski resort of Val Cenis, in of 2800 m. For Pierre Métayer, “this Savoie, has found an elegantly simple type of project illustrates the current EDF co- nanced the belvederes response to these strategic questions trend. In 2015, with the same team, overlooking the reservoirs at both Val – a belvedere extending over the void. we remodelled the tourism and safety Cenis and Aussois as part of its “EDF, Reached by chairli in winter and on facilities at the Plan d’Aval dam a river, a region” programme. EDF aerial walkway across the dome 2 Outdoor zip wire at Drammen foot by summer, the platform allows above Aussois (Savoie). e discovery uses the power of water to produce by installing four 10 to 17-m-long (Norway) visitors to soak up a unique panorama centre uses multimedia presentations renewable electricity and works with 1 Indoor walkway in Riyadh gangways high above the snow. Easily “Frode Borge, our Skiheis Service across the French and Italian Alps. to enhance the sensorial experience the municipalities that host its plants to (Saudi Arabia) reached via a 4-metre staircase and correspondent in Norway, markets A view that inspired the group who enjoyed by visitors to the site. We provide the public with safe viewpoints French company Wyss was contacted protected by guardrails, the walkway our products. It was he who put us in designed, manufactured and installed are currently replying to inquiries and trails from which to enjoy the by Abdullah Al Othaim Leisure, provides a real sensation of space contact with Erik Graber, the manager the platform: ICMArchitectures, from several ski resorts with similar countryside. which runs several shopping centres beneath your feet. Techfun’s products of Drammen ski resort”, explains Pierre Territoires Avenir (consultants), projects.” in Saudi Arabia, to build a 4,000-m2 play on the tension between steepness Métayer. “ is town of 65,000 souls in Techni Ingénierie (developer) and snow dome for the Rabwa shopping and height to create a range of fun the south of the country is also a ski resort. Live from around the world, a few of centre in the kingdom’s capital, activities that appeal greatly to Middle- As for many other resorts, the “all-ski” era Riyadh. Smaller than a ski dome, the Eastern countries, so this rst project is over and we have helped them develop e success of this initial collaboration perfectly insulated snow dome will in Saudi Arabia is certain to open new their summer activities by building an led to a further order in 2008, this time provide a fabulous play experience for horizons for the company. adventure park that opened in June 2015.” for BMW’s research centre in Munich Saudi children, most of whom have A Techfun team, assisted by resort 4 Climate tunnel in Cologne (Germany). In 2015, it was Jacobs’ never seen snow. As Techfun’s general sta from Drammen, has set up a zip (Germany) turn to ask Sufag to provide an indoor manager, Pierre Métayer, points out: line with a ZipStop braking system e climate tunnels aeroplane and snowmaking system for Ford’s new “Playing in snow, sledging, riding a in the middle of the adventure course. car manufacturers use to test their climate tunnel in Cologne (Germany). snowscoot and driving an electric Holidaymakers love this Techfun products’ resistance to the forces of Eddy Frère, Sufag’s export sales manager motorbike on ice are wonderfully exotic innovation as it combines an exhilarating nature (extreme temperatures, sunshine, outlines the technical sophistication of activities for Saudis”. Techfun worked “ ight” high above the ground with a ice, wind, rain, snow, etc.) are built by the systems Sufag designs, which enable heart-stopping jump into space and a industrial companies (...) in partnership with Wyss to create an 1 two world experts: Aiolos (Canada) very gentle landing! and Jacobs (USA). In 2006, Aiolos 4 e equipment used to build the aerial walkway contracted Sufag to install an indoor was shipped to Saudi Arabia from the port of snowmaking system at Boeing’s US
Montoir (44). Air Force test centre in Seosan (Korea).
16 Mountain & development, products & services Mountain & development, products & services 17 MND mag 2016 MND mag 2016 MND’s large projects in short and in images.
Group News Mountain & development, products & services
is Radar beacon at Ischgl (Austria) is Tw other method sited far from the exploders, opposite the ar availabl avalanche chutes it monitors. Increase precisio for checkin th FOR AVALANCHE PREVENTION result of blas.
TAS has developed two other systems, AS, the world leader in preventive avalanche release systems, has been developing gas-based exploders for over based on very di erent technologies, T20 years. Dynamite-free and completely safe for operators, gas exploders can be fired remotely, day and night, for determining whether an explosion even in the middle of a blizzard. In order to optimise preventive avalanche releases, TAS has developed a new actually triggered an avalanche. e range of monitoring tools that meet a long-standing customer need. most appropriate system for each application will depend on the layout TAS’s Gazex®, Daisybell® and O’BellX® of the site, the nature of the terrain mag systems protect innumerable ski and the operator’s procedures and
2016 2 0 1 6 resorts, roads, railway lines and mines obligations: around the world. As well as reducing e ArTEx sensors used at Les Contamines Mountain & development, products & services risks for skiers, travellers and miners, 1/ArTEx is an acoustic detector (France) are housed in pits alongside an 22 25 they also safeguard the economic consisting of an array of infrasonic avalanche chute protected by a Gaz ex Group News / interests of the communities and sensors arranged below the exploder exploder. N°3 businesses along the access routes to be monitored. e sensors are ins- they protect. In the words of TAS talled before winter, either in wired design engineer David Poulet: tubes bolted to the ground or buried “We are keenly aware that a blocked in pits. access road can paralyse an entire 2/Radar is a Doppler detector valley. e new monitoring tools for that analyses re ected radio pulses. our avalanche release systems go A single, self-contained (power and much further than simply con rming communication) unit installed oppo- the explosion took place. We provide site one or more avalanche chutes can precise answers to the questions monitor several exploders. operators always ask themselves before and a er triggering the devices: When is the best time to re a unit? How can we know if a blast has been e ective if it is too far away or if the weather is too NEW DESIGN FOR THE TECHFUN LUGE bad for visual con rmation?”
Comfort, excitement, aesthetics, speeds of up to 40 km/h, but it feels ten landscape integration: the times faster because the track is so close FunCoaster sled changes everything! to the ground”, enthuses Sylvain Charrot. TAS launches a new avalanche-release ® Niv mas recording data several times a day e artistic talents of a design agency Visually, our sled on its monorail forms a throughout the winter season, each have added the nishing touches harmonious whole. e FunCoaster also decisio-suppor mast can be tted with between 14 to the radical transformation has a shorter radius of curvature and a an blas-verifi catio and 26 sensors to measure snow orchestrated by Techfun project higher maximum slope, so it is easier for Thrills, depth, precipitation and temperature. engineer Sylvain Charrot. it to follow the terrain’s natural contours, syste ese parameters are sent by radio thereby minimising installation costs.” to a website, where they can be used Features include a natural sitting techniques, to determine the ideal moment position, just like a chair, a comfortable A Nivexc® mast can be tted with up to 26 sensors ese 3-m-high masts are designed to re an exploder – based on the ride in every con guration (single and measurement frequencies can be modi ed to be installed in a resort’s reference accumulation of fresh snow: 15 cm child, single adult, adult + child, two Techfun’s project manager Guillaume Damin (in front) and design engineer Mathieu Moulard test ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// remotely during the season. Its simple, robust gully/gullies, in the middle of or more depending on the resort – adults), a self-locking safety harness, an structure makes it easy to install and minimises the prototype of the FunCoaster. e ground-hug- mobility: avalanche start zones. Powered by and then to immediately check the aerodynamic pro le and a breathtaking ging design blends into the landscape, making it the maintenance.
MND innovates ! an underground battery capable of e ectiveness of the blast. sensation of speed. “Our sled attain must-have sled for the summer of 2016.
22 Mountain & development, products & services Mountain & development, products & services 23 MND mag 2016 MND mag 2016 decision and control system/Techfun News groupe p. 22 /////////////////////////////////// hones the design of its new sled/LST Trends at the Top p. 4 Success Stories p. 8 MND Around the World p. 16 Group News p. 22 24 Hours With p. 28 High Points p. 30 unveils its new urban mobility solutions with the Cabline cable car and a detachable-grip chairlit ..
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 24 Hours With Mountain & development, products & services
Camill Bouche-Marqui
LST AFTERSALES SERVICE MANAGER » For me,
no two days are the same… » » CREATING LST’S MND Mag is published AFTER-SALES SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS AN EXCITING TASK! » 24 Hours With 28 / 29 er growin up i Grenobl, Camill le th fl ank of th Chartreus Mountain t stud for a engineerin degre a th “Like all the company’s sta , I am a ENSAM-Pari Tec engineerin schoo a Clun i Burgund. H wen o t develop hi pertis i sk li maintenanc i mountain sports addict and fascinated AAnnec (Haut-Savoi), wher h se up hom. I September 2015, a th ag of jus 27, h joine LST t se up th comp- by ski li s. I have a wonderfully n’ new a er-sale servic departmen. interesting job that requires 100% commitment. First, during our by MND Group 6.30am/ If I am working in 12.30pm/ Lunch break in the high season, from September to the a local ski resort, I set o early and canteen. Chatting to our designers, Christmas holidays, when the resorts won’t get home until 8 pm. If I am engineers and buyers helps me learn open, and then during the winter, going to be in the o ce at Sainte-Hé- about the technical innovations we when I am on in call. Summer is given lène-du-Lac, I start a little later. are developing. We provide a link over to sales. is is when we can show with the outside world by passing existing and prospective clients what 8.00am/ I meet with my col- on information about how current we can do, but it is also when we visit league Sara iabaud to review on- installation projects are progressing. our subsidiaries to share with them Circulation: 7,000 copies going business with customers: or- What do we talk about when it’s not the secrets of our a er-sales service’s ders, quotes, invoices. work? Mountain sports, of course. success.” Camille’s work takes him 4.00pm/ I meet with Louis to all of France’s mountain areas, 9.00am/ I check with Cédric 2.00pm/ I prepare the following Noël, industrial manager of the from the Alps and the Pyrenees to Couzinou, our supply chain manager, day’s site visit with the purchasing cable transport division. One of our the Vosges and the Massif Central. that all the parts for the day’s deli- department and put together all the objectives is to synchronise LST’s, As head of a er-sales service, he is veries are available. Our two depart- tools needed by a ski-li installation TAS’s and Sufag’s a er-sales service in direct contact with customers; as ments help market LST’s products team. Five or six people carry out departments by exchanging best an engineer, he helps LST’s partners An energy-packed day with and we share the same commitment the heavy maintenance that resort practices. install the company’s products. Publication manager and “ e variety is one of the things that to developing them. operators cannot do themselves, because they lack either the time or the makes my job so interesting. It means 10.00am/ I answer questions skills. I am always learning and have the from resort operators, either by phone expertise to gain our customer’s or by email. We work together to nd 3.00pm/ I answer questions t r u s t .” When he has time a er a day’s technical solutions and I ensure they from LST reps with our MND work at a resort, Camille delights receive the parts they need. subsidiaries around the world. I am in exploring new ski areas. “Skiing the ski-li unit’s technical advisor in in winter, hiking and paragliding in editor: Xavier Gallot-Lavallée terms of a er-sales service. Within the summer, I love being in the outdoors!” next two years, MND Group is going to centralise information and requests from all its subsidiaries in order to set
up a comprehensive a er-sales service.
¡ ¡ ¢ ¡¢ 28 Mountain & development, products & services ¡ Mountain & development, products & services 29 Editor: Marjolaine Vuachet MND mag 2016 MNDM N D mmag a g 20162 0 1 6 Camille Bouchet-Marquis, LST’s Design, production, associate editor: new at er-sales-service manager. Publicis Annecy / Lyon Illustrations : Agence Zoom, crédit Alain Grosclaude, Christophe High Points Mountain & development, products & services ACHIEVEMENTS 2014-2015 For th fi rs tim sinc 1970! > World number 20 in giant slalom A French hat-trick in the FIS World (1 top-10 nish/5 top-20 nishes) Cup, achieved in the Men’s Combined Pallot et Michel Cottin (photos Victor Muff a-Jeande > French slalom champion nd at Kitzbühel (Austria) on 22 January > Second overall in the European Cup LETS IT RIP! (2 victories/5 podium nishes) 1st : Alexis Pinturault, 2nd : Victor Muffat-Jeandet, 2015-2016 3rd: Thomas Mermillod-Blondin “Let it rip!” – the slogan adopted by Victor Mu at-Jeandet’s > First World Cup podium nish: brand-new o cial fan club sets the tone. Our favourite skier 2nd in the Super Combined at Wengen may have been happy to pose in his underwear to show he > World number 6 in giant slalom (3 top-5/5 top-10 nishes) doesn’t take himself too seriously, but he is really letting it rip > World number 14 in slalom (7 top-15 nishes) Victor Muffat-Jeandet) / Fotolia / th on the slopes this season. A series of top-class performances > 7 in the World Championships giant slalom at Beaver Creek (three podium i nishes in December) catapulted him from > 3rd in the giant slalom at Val d’Isère 20 th to a provisional 2nd place in the giant slalom world cup. > 3rd in the giant slalom at Alta Badia
We have to admit, MND Group is very proud to support the career of this reserved and modest skier. A rock fan, High Points 30 / 31 avid mountain biker and keen wakeboarder, he is also a Meet MND Group very complete and determined skier. Not wanting to choose at these major Jean-Noël Bianchini / Nimos Design between giant slalom and slalom, he excels at both, and he is even moving up the rankings in the super combined. Victor international has taken on a very full programme for the 2015-2016 season, events competing in four successive giant slaloms and two slaloms at the end of 2015, and then a giant slalom and i ve slaloms at the start of 2016. / Laurent Madelon / Ian Jackson ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Victor join skier th clusiv rank FROM VAL D’ISÈRE’S OF THE WORLD TOP 5 CLUB DES SPORTS e Savoyard champion started his 2015-2016 World Cup with Victor shares his victories with our Group: “If I was able / Deprez three outstanding slalom performances in December, claiming to develop my skiing with Val d’Isère’s Club des Sports, it is an excellent 2nd place at Beaver Creek (United States), a 3rd thanks to Xavier Gallot-Lavallée. MND Group is one of the place in front of his home crowd at Val d’Isère (France) at the resort’s technical partners; we work in the same eld and A winning start to the season for Critérium de la Première Neige, and another 3rd place at Alta share the same challenges, attention to detail and values. Badia (Italy). ese early-season successes gave him coni dence, My sport is my life, like the mountains are MND’s raison AGENDA 2016 even though “you can never take anything for granted”, and d’être. is Group is the only personal sponsor I can he was able to savour his performances a er the extremely advertise on my helmet and that is very important for me. demanding training he had done with the French team from Together, we are looking toward the future and their faith in > Interlavex / Slovakia (6-7 April) > FIS / Cancun - Mexico (5-11 June) Printing : FFR May to October. me motivates me to keep moving forward.” > Prowinter / Bolzano - Italy (6-8 April) > FIS / Zurich - Switzerland > Mountain Planet / Grenoble - France (13-15 April) (27 September-1 October) “We spent the whole of August in Argentina, to train in the southern > Expomin / Santiago de Chile - Chile (25-29 April) > ISSW / Breckenridge, hemisphere winter. en, in the autumn, we went to Switzerland > InterMountain / Brno - Czech Republic (26-28 April) Colorado-USA (3-7 October) and Tignes. e rst competition of the season, in Austria, allowed > Interpraevent / Lucerne - Switzerland (30 mai-2 June) > DSF / Nantes - France (4-6 October) me to put the nishing touches to my preparations and learn from > Mayors and local authorities / Paris - France (31 May-2 June) > D-A-CH Seilbahntagung the lessons of my 10th place.” > Transports Publics / Paris - France (14-16 June) / Innsbruck-Austria (12-14 October) > Ski Build Expo / Moscow - Russia (21-23 October)
MND - Parc d’Activités > Rock Slope Stability / Lyon - France (15-17 November) MND-sponsored French skier
£ £ £ 30 £ Mountain & development, products & services Mountain & development, products & services 31 ALPESPACE - 74 Voie Magellan MND mag 2016 MND mag 2016 73800 Sainte-Hélène-du-Lac Victor Muf at-Jeandet, MND at FRANCE Tél. : +33 (0)4 79 65 08 90 international events on mountain areas. Fax : +33 (0)4 79 65 08 91 [email protected]
Mountain & development, products & services 3 MND mag / / 2016 Trends at the Top Mountain & development, products & services 3 QUESTIONS TO TWO EXPERTS on mountain development trends
he secretary general of the Chinese ski association, Wang Chunlu, underlined the x traordinary growth of China’s skiing market. Although China is still an emerging market, it is already learning from the x perience of more mature markets that Thave moved on from the “all ski” approach. From the very beginning, China’s resorts have very prudently opted to provide their visitors with a variety of activities in order to attract ever-larger numbers of tourists throughout the year. Hence, in order to ensure the longevity of this new sector, investors have adopted a broad-based strategy inspired by the market described to us by Arthur Clivz , general manager of the Crans Montana ski lit company (Swi� erland) and president of the Valais association of ski lit operators.
China’s skiing industry has What are the most common activities In a rapidly growing market such as experienced prodigious growth in offered by the resorts and which are China, what do investors feel are the the last two decades, especially over the most popular among this new most promising trends for attracting the last few years, when the sector clientele? tourists to resorts throughout the really took of . In 1995, China had year and for developing mountain just nine ski resorts, whose slopes tourism, in both summer and winter, attracted a mere 10,000 dedicated Wang Chunlu - The most popular skiers. Today, 100 million Chinese activities offered by the ski resorts in the coming years? people are considered middle class remain skiing and snowboarding, and an estimated 1.5 million of them even though 90% of holidaymakers Wang Chunlu - As a general rule, inves- try winter sports every year. are beginners and skiing is still tors assess a tourism market in terms of something new for them. There income levels within the local popula- How many million skiers visited are other activities, such as golf, tion. Rather than talking about trends, camping in summer and spas China’s 200 new ski resorts in 2014- they prefer to evaluate the investment in winter, but, of course, these 2015? potential in real estate (housing, hotels) activities differ according to the in relation to investment by the ski re- resort’s facilities and outlook. sort, in order to have several sources of Wang Chunlu - Over the 2014-2015 proi t. winter season, China’s 260 ski resorts recorded 14 million ski days, which represents 9 million skiers. Figures for this year have not yet been pu- blished. However, 90% of China’s skiers are beginners for whom skiing is just one activity to be enjoyed among the many others of ered by the resorts. Very few people ski for an entire week. Sledding in snow parks, ice driving, winter swimming, ice- skating, snow football, sled rides, golf, bowling, karaoke, i tness, health and well-being, etc.
4 Mountain & development, products & services MND mag / / 2016 Arthur Clivz GENERAL MANAGER OF THE CRANS MONTANA SKI-LIFT COMPANY (SWITZERLAND) AND PRESIDENT OF THE VALAIS ASSOCIATION OF SKI-LIFT OPERATORS (RMV) SINCE JUNE 2012.
How have the strength of the Swiss Which new developments are Swiss Does digital technology (“yield mana- franc, changes in Swiss society and investors turning to in order to gement”, online sales of ski passes) lower snowfalls affected the ski modernise existing facilities and represent a signifi cant change for resorts’ strategies in recent years? develop mountain tourism, in both skiers and Switzerland’s ski resort summer and winter, in the years to operators? A.C - It is true that we are suf ering come? from the strength of the franc, A.C - h e idea of “yield management” is which penalises our clientele from A.C - h ere is a lot of diversii cation gradually taking hold in the Valais, but the euro zone. We are fortunate that in summer leisure activities, with a ski resort is not an airplane. Very early 50% of our clients are Swiss. h ey golf, hiking and mountain biking. and last minute bookings could allow are not af ected by variations in the In fact, some of the resorts in the occasional skiers to take advantage of exchange rate and they still come to pre-Alps, such as Moléson, and in lower prices, but, in the case of skiing, our resorts, where many of them have the Tessin have higher turnovers in another parameter changes the game second homes. Our accommodation summer than in winter. h is shows – the existence of season passes. h ese structure ensures our stability; we that these medium-altitude resorts passes, bought by residents who live are not entirely dependent on the took the necessary initiatives in in or who have a second home in our “commercial bed” market. It is time. But it must be said, we have resorts, are a very important part of our also true that skiing has changed. lagged behind when it comes to economy. h ey account for up to a i t h With higher throughputs, faster updating our facilities and we will of annual turnover and it is important turnarounds and higher speeds, you need to invest heavily if we are to not to lose them. If day passes become can do as much skiing in three hours remain competitive. A bill has been too cheap, some people will think twice as you could do in a day 20 years ago. submitted to the Swiss parliament before buying a season pass, which Hence, the resorts have to develop to ask for more government support pays for itself if you ski more than 13 alternatives to skiing for their guests. for our sector. I hope it will be passed to 17 days a year. Curiously, the online Gastronomy, culture, well-being, etc. because tourism accounts for almost sale of ski passes is struggling to take More and more facilities are being a quarter of the Valais canton’s GDP of and represents only 10 to 15% of provided and there is also a big and we have many projects. Out of our turnover. For years, we have been increase in programmes of evening 2,000 km of ski runs, 600 km are advertising the savings to be made in entertainment during peak holiday i tted with snowmaking equipment terms of time and money: no queues periods. h e resorts are now of ering and we would like to increase that to buy your pass, 5% reduction on holidaymakers a complete sporting i gure to 1,000 km very quickly. passes bought via Internet a few days and festive experience. In terms of We also want to modernise our ski in advance. Nothing has really worked, climate change, it mustn’t write of lit s. In addition, we would like to undoubtedly because our clientele our resorts. h e Valais is better of expand our high-altitude ski areas prefers to take advantage of a wider than many of the world’s other ski and strengthen cooperation between range of activities depending on the areas, as here you can ski at altitudes resorts in order to increase the weather and how they feel on the day. of between 1,500 m and 3,800 m. ei ciency of their management. One A spa, a museum, a sled descent, etc. of our biggest assets is the beauty of h e new mountain experience has put the scenery, which is a completely an end to the ski monoculture. separate tourist attraction that we must capitalise on. We need to create events that will attract large numbers of passing visitors.
Mountain & development, products & services 5 MND mag / / 2016 6 Mountain & development, products & services MND mag / / 2016 SNOWMAKING MOMENT #1 /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Mountain & development, products & services 7 MND mag / / 2016 Success Stories Mountain & development, products & services LST & SUFAG ADAPT THEIR SERVICES TO THE VAST EXPANSES OF CHINA ND’s new Chinese su� idiary has set up its base in Beij ing, the capital recently ch� en to h� t the 24th Winter Olympic Games Min 2022. h e Group’s i rst steps on Chinese soil have allowed it to x port some of its x pertise, as LST and Sufag are already helping equip the � ture Olympic training and competition resorts.
In 2015, Sufag was asked to provide no fewer than 120 snowmaking machines for the resort of Wanlong, to the north of Beijing. h is is a record order for Sufag, which is already being presented by its Chinese agent/distributor as a key player in ensuring the success of the skiing competitions. To ensure the snow cover on the runs is always perfect, Sufag has inaugurated a unique snowmaking system for this 2022 Winter Olympic venue. By mounting the snowmakers on articulated arms, the new system, which will be operational in 2016, increases ei ciency and improves the quality of the snow produced.
At Chang Cheng Ling, Sufag’s agent/ distributor has sold a further 120 snowmakers, which will be divided between more than 40 Chinese resorts during 2016. Chang Cheng Ling is also home to the i rst LST i xed-grip chairlit to be imported into China by MND’s new subsidiary, MND China.
Emanuel Morin was appointed manager of MND China in 2015, Emanuel where he acts as the interface between the Group’s companies and Morin the extremely dynamic Chinese market. Emanuel is an expert in ski MANAGER OF area development and safety who spent ten years as general manager MND CHINA of a ski lift manufacturer’s Chinese subsidiary. Now aged 46, he is a graduate of the Sorbonne Graduate Business School in Paris and a qualifi ed civil engineer.
8 Mountain & development, products & services MND mag / / 2016 « LST’s biggest selling point?
The reliability of its products! «
This winter, MND’s “ski lift” division has contributed to the development of Chang Cheng Ling, the Chinese ski team’s future training resort. A first contact with a region that will be at the heart of the 2022 Olympic Games.
>Interview with LST project manager Raphaël Perrier.
MND Mag - Has LST’s first season are currently drawing up proposals for potential customers in China. in China been encouraging? iteen projects to renovate and extend We also keep costs as low as possible Raphaël Perrier : I think so. he the resort’s ski area. and supply only products that are “100% season began for us with an order LST technology”: terminals, seats, cable for a 4-seater ixed-grip chairlit to MND Mag - What is LST’s biggest replace an out-dated lit at the resort of selling point for winning over the systems, etc. here is no added cost due Chinese market? Chang Cheng Ling. his irst chairlit, to producing pylons in Europe, as they situated at the bottom of the resort, R.P : Our main selling point is the are manufactured in China. Finally, has been running since February 2016. reliability of our products. heir we ensure our products conform to It should be followed by orders for two simplicity and durability makes our importers’ local legislation, when them easy to run and maintain. larger lits, including one at a higher it is diferent to that in the European altitude. Reduced maintenance optimises Union. For example, we have integrated I am hoping this irst installation will our products’ competitiveness, and build conidence in LST and form for this we are well known on the Chinese safety standards into our a launch pad for future business. In world market. In addition, we fulil civil engineering calculations and our preparation for the Olympic Games, we perfectly the speciications imposed by products are certiied for use in China.
Mountain & development, products & services 9 MND mag / / 2016 Success Stories Mountain & development, products & services Gzx® : a safe, compact and economical anti-avalanche system
Point of view: Mike Rheam, Avalanche Hzard Reduction Leader for Jackson Hole Ski Patrol (Wyoming) shares his practical xperience of the advantages of the Gzx® system.
MND Mag - Why did you choose certain to cause severe damage. he MND Mag - Is the system safe for the TAS’s preventive avalanche release ideal scenario for reducing these risks operators? system? is to trigger frequent small slides. Because the area is not accessible M.R : he system is very safe, because Mike Rheam : he Headwall is a from the lits and slabs can form detonation can be triggered from the wide avalanche chute at Jackson Hole very quickly at any time of day, a bottom of the ski area, ater evacuating Mountain Resort, but the start zones remote triggering system is perfect. everybody from around the building are not accessible from the lits. his We installed two Gazex® units in the and on the avalanche path. chute is a major problem because a Headwall start zone to meet this need large restaurant, built at the top of and the results have been conclusive. the Bridger gondola, is partly in the he building has not been damaged avalanche path. Relatively modest, by a single avalanche since they were class 2 (scale of destructive power) installed. slides could impact the restaurant and larger avalanches would be
10 Mountain & development, products & services MND mag / / 2016 American resorts advertise Here» at Squaw Valley Ski Holdings, item as this investment was successfully their avalanche protection the parent company of Squaw Valley | tested for the rst time Friday morning. Alpine Meadows, I am proud of our on This tool is, subject to further research and measures as important going, substantial and intensive capital work, potentially the rst of many Gazex factors in their ski offer. investment program, all of which despite deployments as we seek to enhance all The following paragraph the tough conditions associated with the facets of the safety factor and continue to drought over the past four years, seeks to invest in equipment that can enhance our was taken from a customer improve the mountain vacation experience ability to swiftly open the mountain on big newsletter published by for our guests and the workplace snow days, “on time”, without sacri cing Squaw Valley Ski Holdings. environment for all of our world-class and any aspect of our utmost concern — greatly valued team members. (…) I would safety! like to draw your attention to the Gazex » > Andrew Wirth, President and CEO of Squaw Valley Ski Holdings
MND Mag - Does this system meet extremely bad weather, these facilities been with the Wyoming Department your resort’s needs in terms of may still have to close because of the of Transportation. Other remote safety, economy and environmental avalanche risk or other reasons, but triggering systems do not provide as impact? the installation of the Gazex® units powerful explosions in the start zone has greatly increased the number of as Gazex®. M.R : he Gazex® units have made evenings the restaurant can open. In a big diference to our operations. addition, the units are easy to trigger MND Mag - What are the main hey have improved safety for the ski before and ater the operating season advantages of TAS’s systems and how patrollers who use that trail because when there is a risk of avalanches do they differ from other systems? the large explosive charges are already above the roads and trails used by placed in the biggest start zones employees, while it would be diicult M.R : We like Gazex® because it can before the patrollers come through. or even impossible to pass by the be triggered remotely, because it can Firing the units is relatively cheap but other access routes. produce powerful explosions and the greatest economic beneit comes because it is cheap to ire. We also like from being able to keep this popular MND Mag - Does Gazex® provide the fact that the slopes remain skiable restaurant open at night; before it was more precise avalanche control than and that the units do not take up too oten closed due to the avalanche risk. competing systems on the market? much space. Now, if that happens, the area can be evacuated, the Gazex® triggered and M.R : We were interested in Gazex® the restaurant can continue through because we are familiar with the the evening. During periods of system and know how successful it has /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Mountain & development, products & services 11 MND mag / / 2016 Success Stories Mountain & development, products & services
TAS & ETS INSTALL A NEW AVALANCHE prevention system IN THE THREE VALLEYS SKI AREA (MÉRIBEL)
ollowing the identiication of a potential risk by the Avalanche Release Intervention Plan, Jean-Noël Bianchini, the Société des Trois Vallées’ head of mountain operations, called in ETS. In order to protect passengers using the FCombes 6-seater detachable-grip chairlit, ski area staf, the ski runs and the chairlit itself, TAS avalanche nets were installed to anchor the snowpack on the upper slopes of the Méribel-Mottaret ski resort in Savoie. Work that could only be carried out by xperienced mountaineers.
On paper, by a route that could only be followed by the project was simple… experienced mountaineers, with Jacky Meyrieux and Sylvain Detraz in the lead. Over a period of three months, between 3-m-high F36 Menta® avalanche nets two and nine experienced technicians supplied by TAS had to be anchored to took turns working a backhoe loader the ground in 11 separate lines, each 290 and a drill rig in the very steep avalanche m long. his tried and tested net can be start zone. To support the modules, they used on any type of substrate, whether anchored posts every 5 metres, setting it is sot or rocky. But in this case, the them to a depth of 4.5 m upslope and extremely steep slope meant the work 2.5 m downslope. ey then installed the was far from straightforward. MND pre-assembled TAS units, brought in by Consultant Laurent Orset describes how helicopter. Undoubtedly, the two teams’ the net was installed during the summer excellent synergy can be attributed to their of 2015: “ e team that installed the net shared passion for the mountains and
reached the site from the top of the chairli their uncompromising approach to safety.” » The team that installed the net reached the site from the top of the chairlift by a route that could only be followed by experienced mountaineers...»
From let to right: Roland Bertholet, general manager of ETS. Pascal Sevoz, assistant director of the S3V Mottaret ski area.
12 Mountain & development, products & services MND mag / / 2016 Jean-Noël Bianchini, head of Given the diiculties presented by mountain operations for the Société the area’s geology, we called in ETS Jean-Noël des Trois Vallées, conirmed the to install avalanche nets. Using silent Bianchini high quality of the work carried compressors allowed the work to HEAD OF MOUNTAIN out by ETS: “An active system be done without causing any noise OPERATIONS FOR THE was needed to prevent avalanches disturbance and the eicient way ETS SOCIÉTÉ DES TROIS VALLÉES impacting the midway station of the coordinated operations meant that new chairli , at an altitude of 1980 ater inspecting the site we were able m. We wanted a system that would to take delivery of the nets with no allow us to open the slopes quickly, reserves.” as soon as the li s were running.
Mountain & development, products & services 13 MND mag / / 2016 14 Mountain & development, products & services MND mag / / 2016 OUTDOOR LEISURES MOMENT #2 /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Mountain & development, products & services 15 MND mag / / 2016 Around the World Mountain & development, products & services FOCUS on a few projects completed in 2015
8 8 8 2 9 4 6 9 7 3 5
1
9
aerial walkway across the dome 2 Outdoor zip wire at Drammen by installing four 10 to 17-m-long (Norway) 1 Indoor walkway in Riyadh gangways high above the snow. Easily “Frode Borge, our Skiheis Service (Saudi Arabia) reached via a 4-metre staircase and correspondent in Norway, markets French company Wyss was contacted protected by guardrails, the walkway our products. It was he who put us in by Abdullah Al Othaim Leisure, provides a real sensation of space contact with Erik Graber, the manager which runs several shopping centres beneath your feet. Techfun’s products of Drammen ski resort”, explains Pierre in Saudi Arabia, to build a 4,000-m2 play on the tension between steepness Métayer. “h is town of 65,000 souls in snow dome for the Rabwa shopping and height to create a range of fun the south of the country is also a ski resort. centre in the kingdom’s capital, activities that appeal greatly to Middle- As for many other resorts, the “all-ski” era Riyadh. Smaller than a ski dome, the Eastern countries, so this i rst project is over and we have helped them develop perfectly insulated snow dome will in Saudi Arabia is certain to open new their summer activities by building an provide a fabulous play experience for horizons for the company. adventure park that opened in June 2015.” Saudi children, most of whom have A Techfun team, assisted by resort never seen snow. As Techfun’s general staf from Drammen, has set up a zip manager, Pierre Métayer, points out: line with a ZipStop braking system “Playing in snow, sledding, riding in the middle of the adventure course. a snowscoot and driving an electric Holidaymakers love this Techfun motorbike on ice are wonderfully exotic innovation as it combines an exhilarating activities for Saudis”. Techfun worked “l ight” high above the ground with a in partnership with Wyss to create an heart-stopping jump into space and a 1 very gentle landing!
h e equipment used to build the aerial walkway was shipped to Saudi Arabia from the port of Montoir (44).
16 Mountain & development, products & services MND mag / / 2016 Telescopes mounted on the Canopée des Cimes allow visitors to zoom into the surrounding summits and Mont Cenis reservoir, far below. h e unique architecture is a symbol for the resort of Val Cenis, while blending discretely into the landscape of the Mont Cenis basin.
2 h e 200-m-long braked zip wire i nishes on a 24-m2 wooden platform, 9 m above the ground. A thrilling descent - jumping to the ground with a QuickJump 3 fall-arrest system to ensure a sot landing – complete the adventure!
3 The “Canopée des Cimes” Techfun. h e metal structure was at Val Cenis (France) assembled in an MND Group factory How can non-skiers be attracted to before being helicoptered to the the summits? How can outstanding site, in November 2015. It was then PARTNERSHIP //////////////////////////////////// viewpoints be made accessible to anchored in concrete at an altitude all? h e ski resort of Val Cenis, in of 2800 m. For Pierre Métayer, “this Savoie, has found an elegantly simple type of project illustrates the current EDF co-i nanced the belvederes response to these strategic questions trend. In 2015, with the same team, overlooking the reservoirs at both Val – a belvedere extending over the void. we remodelled the tourism and safety Cenis and Aussois as part of its “EDF, Reached by chairlit in winter and on facilities at the Plan d’Aval dam a river, a region” programme. EDF foot by summer, the platform allows above Aussois (Savoie). h e discovery uses the power of water to produce visitors to soak up a unique panorama centre uses multimedia presentations renewable electricity and works with across the French and Italian Alps. to enhance the sensorial experience the municipalities that host its plants to A view that inspired the group who enjoyed by visitors to the site. We provide the public with safe viewpoints designed, manufactured and installed are currently replying to inquiries and trails from which to enjoy the the platform: ICMArchitectures, from several ski resorts with similar countryside. Territoires Avenir (consultants), projects.” Techni Ingénierie (developer) and
h e success of this initial collaboration led to a further order in 2008, this time for BMW’s research centre in Munich 4 Climate tunnel in Cologne (Germany). In 2015, it was Jacobs’ (Germany) turn to ask Sufag to provide an indoor h e climate tunnels aeroplane and snowmaking system for Ford’s new car manufacturers use to test their climate tunnel in Cologne (Germany). products’ resistance to the forces of Eddy Frère, Sufag’s export sales manager nature (extreme temperatures, sunshine, outlines the technical sophistication of ice, wind, rain, snow, etc.) are built by the systems Sufag designs, which enable two world experts: Aiolos (Canada) industrial companies (...) and Jacobs (USA). In 2006, Aiolos 4 contracted Sufag to install an indoor snowmaking system at Boeing’s US Air Force test centre in Seosan (Korea).
Mountain & development, products & services 17 MND mag / / 2016 Around the World Mountain & development, products & services
(…) to replace empirical trials with for this equipment to take into account more scientii c test methods: “Our the forces produced by a racer skiing snowmakers, positioned just a few metres at speeds of 130 km/h or more: “Our from their target - a car radiator grille or equipment is designed to absorb the an airplane fuselage, for example - can massive amounts of energy generated by produce all types of snow, whatever the skiers travelling at extremely high speeds.” temperature conditions. h e snow is As well as installing the equipment, sprayed through a multi-directional head MBS is responsible for maintaining it as a function of the wind speed in the wind throughout the competition period, tunnel. In order to test de-icing systems, working in conjunction with the for example, we combine dif erent–sized organisation committee and the course droplets – frozen in record time – with preparation team. Adrien Pertinant is a precise amount of air. h e resulting coni dent that “the high quality of the dry, light snow imitates the powder snow service we provided has consolidated that can fall on roads and has a density our position. During the 2015-16 season of less than 180 kg/m3. We can also spray we contributed to the 60th Critérium wet, heavy snow while keeping the l ow de la Première Neige at Val d’ Isère, to of water to the nozzle constant. Not only competitions at Courchevel and Val does this compact system makes it easier h orens, and to the queen stage of the for car and airplane manufacturers to 5 Alpine Skiing World Cup, the Kandahar carry out snow tests, it also allows them descent, held on the Verte run at Les to reproduce these tests and thereby Houches, Chamonix, on 20th February optimise their research and development partner responsible for competition 2016. A i rst for us!” programmes.” safety. For example, it was MBS technicians who ensured optimal safety for the skiers taking part in the i nals of the Men’s and Women’s World Cups at 6 The Cachette training run Méribel in March 2015. h e equipment at Les Arcs 1600 (France) used – stakes, nets, inl atable pads h e municipality of Bourg-Saint- – was designed to provide maximum Maurice has just set up a top-level 5 Safety for the Alpine Skiing protection for racers on the slalom and training run for skiers. MBS, working World Cup (France) descent courses and in the i nish area. alongside the consultants Géode, Every year, MBS proves its ei cacy as the Adrien Pertinant, MBS’s export and designed the optimum protection International Ski Federation’s technical competition manager, stresses the need system for the new training area, built by widening a classic commercial ski run and dividing it in two. One side of the slope is reserved for training (sport- study programs, UCPA, ESF, etc.) and can also be used for competitions. It is separated from the leisure run and of - piste area by 2.4 km of anti-intrusion nets. A concrete tunnel runs under the competition course, which is i tted with protection nets suspended from C-shaped poles. h e system consists of pad-protected steel masts, one every 20 metres, interspersed with lighter, polycarbonate stakes anchored in stubs every 4 metres. Installed by ETS between September and December 2015, the nets require little maintenance and are easy to set up and take down at the beginning and end of the season. As a result, the 6 new training area is both totally safe and extremely l exible.
18 Mountain & development, products & services MND mag / / 2016 7
7 Ski run optimisation at Les Arcs (France) h e new Carreley 6-seater, detachable grip chairlit at Les Arcs (ADS Paradiski ski area, Savoie) takes skiers to the watershed between the Arcs 2000 and Arcs 1800 sectors of the resort. It increases the theoretical capacity by 3,000 skiers per hour, giving a total throughput for the Arpette area of 9,000 skiers per hour. So skiers will be able to enjoy the new run in complete safety, the resort wanted to improve the l ow of skiers at the top of the slope by widening the i rst, dii cult bend. h e solution proposed by TAS, based on the company’s patented Vela-SV® and Modulo® systems, smooths out the bend and makes the run safer. “Our of installing the support/widening 8 Protecting roads proposal for widening the run - by 2.60 m systems. Two rows of pre-assembled (Scandinavia) over a distance of 70 m - was also quick to Vela-SV® modules were used to stabilise Our long-running association with the implement, reducing the initially planned the top 8 m of the embankment, which Swedish company Trai kverket continued construction time from i ve weeks to three was then “capped” using the Modulo® in 2015 with an order for a further six and saving tens of thousands of euros in system combined with safety nets. Gazex® units to protect the railway construction costs,” notes TAS salesman h e ingenious method used to widen line between Kiruna (Sweden) and the Cyril Lambert. ADS obtained these time the slope has created a cantilevered port of Narvik (Norway). Following a and cost savings by bringing together a belvedere with a magnii cent view of detailed study of all the danger points, small team to implement a novel way Mont Blanc. this section of the line is now covered by fourteen Gazex® units. In Norway, at er a test phase (see MND Mag n°2), the 9 government department responsible for roads (Vegvessen) was so impressed by the l exibility of the system that it decided to add three DaisyBell® units in the Alta, Tromso and Bygstad areas.
9 Protecting mines and exploratory drilling (Canada/Chile) h e Brucejack opencast gold mine, 65 km north of Stewart (British Columbia), needed to protect the access roads used by its staf and by the trucks that service the mine. h e operator ordered six Gazex® units in 2015. Chile’s state-owned copper-mining company, Codelco, has also adopted the Gazex® system to protect one of its mines, at Andina. Further orders are in the pipeline, as the company intends to install another twenty units by 2020 to protect an area in which it is carrying out exploratory drilling.
Mountain & development, products & services 19 MND mag / / 2016 20 Mountain & development, products & services MND mag / / 2016 ROPEWAY MOMENT #3 /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Mountain & development, products & services 21 MND mag / / 2016 Group News Mountain & development, products & services Increased precision FOR AVALANCHE PREVENTION
AS, the world leader in preventive avalanche release systems, has been developing gas-based exploders for over T20 years. Dynamite-free and completely safe for operators, gas exploders can be fired remotely, day and night, even in the middle of a blizzard. In order to optimise preventive avalanche releases, TAS has developed a new range of monitoring tools that meet a long-standing customer need. TAS’s Gazex®, Daisybell® and O’BellX® systems protect innumerable ski resorts, roads, railway lines and mines around the world. As well as reducing risks for skiers, travellers and miners, they also safeguard the economic interests of the communities and businesses along the access routes they protect. In the words of TAS design engineer David Poulet: “We are keenly aware that a blocked access road can paralyse an entire valley. he new monitoring tools for our avalanche release systems go much further than simply conirming the explosion took place. We provide precise answers to the questions operators always ask themselves before and ater triggering the devices: When is the best time to ire a unit? How can we know if a blast has been efective if it is too far away or if the weather is too bad for visual conirmation?”
® he Nivxc mast recording data several times a day throughout the winter season, each decision-support mast can be itted with between 14 and blast-veriication and 26 sensors to measure snow depth, precipitation and temperature. system hese parameters are sent by radio to a website, where they can be used to determine the ideal moment A Nivexc® mast can be itted with up to 26 sensors hese 3-m-high masts are designed to ire an exploder – based on the and measurement frequencies can be modiied to be installed in a resort’s reference accumulation of fresh snow: 15 cm remotely during the season. Its simple, robust gully/gullies, in the middle of or more depending on the resort – structure makes it easy to install and minimises maintenance. avalanche start zones. Powered by and then to immediately check the an underground battery capable of efectiveness of the blast.
22 Mountain & development, products & services MND mag / / 2016 h is Radar beacon at Ischgl (Austria) is Two other methods sited far from the exploders, opposite the are available avalanche chutes it monitors. for checking the results of a blast.
TAS has developed two other systems, based on very dif erent technologies, for determining whether an explosion actually triggered an avalanche. h e most appropriate system for each application will depend on the layout of the site, the nature of the terrain and the operator’s procedures and obligations:
h e ArTEx sensors used at Les Contamines 1/ArTEx is an acoustic detector (France) are housed in pits alongside an consisting of an array of infrasonic avalanche chute protected by a Gazl ex sensors arranged below the exploder exploder. to be monitored. h e sensors are ins- talled before winter, either in wired tubes bolted to the ground or buried in pits.
2/Radar is a Doppler detector that analyses rel ected radio pulses. A single, self-contained (power and communication) unit installed oppo- site one or more avalanche chutes can monitor several exploders.
NEW DESIGN FOR THE TECHFUN LUGE
Comfort, excitement, aesthetics, speeds of up to 40 km/h, but it feels ten landscape integration: the times faster because the track is so close FunCoaster sled changes everything! to the ground”, enthuses Sylvain Charrot. h e artistic talents of a design agency Visually, our sled on its monorail forms a have added the i nishing touches harmonious whole. h e FunCoaster also to the radical transformation has a shorter radius of curvature and a orchestrated by Techfun project higher maximum slope, so it is easier for engineer Sylvain Charrot. it to follow the terrain’s natural contours, thereby minimising installation costs.” Features include a natural sitting position, just like a chair, a comfortable ride in every coni guration (single child, single adult, adult + child, two Techfun’s project manager Guillaume Damin (in ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// adults), a self-locking safety harness, an front) and design engineer Mathieu Moulard test the prototype of the FunCoaster. h e ground-hug- aerodynamic proi le and a breathtaking ging design blends into the landscape, making it the sensation of speed. “Our sled attain must-have sled for the summer of 2016.
Mountain & development, products & services 23 MND mag / / 2016 Group News Mountain & development, products & services h e new range OF DETACHABLE LIFTS, READY FOR TAKE OFF! ur forthcoming range of detachable lit s provides an x cellent demonstration of MND Group’s capacity for innovation. h e new generation of lit s will be launched in 2016 with a 6-seater detachable grip chairlit , Owhich will be followed in 2017 by a detachable grip gondola. Designed by MND su� idiary LST, these innovative lit s of er numerous advantages over classic designs, including increased safety, lower power consumption, greater durability and su� tantially reduced construction and maintenance c� ts.
€2.5 million invested h e new grip signii cantly improves long- h ese new lit s optimise safety and = 10 PATENTS FILED term performance by: comfort for passengers, while opera- BY LST! tors benei t from improved perfor- 1/Reducing the force required to mance and lower maintenance. Encouraged by the i nancial (and open and close the grips in stations - moral) support provided by the entire less risk of service interruptions due MND Group, 15 LST engineers have to grips jamming in stations and designed a new range of detachable lit s reduced electricity consumption. suitable for both mountain and urban applications. Ten patents relating to this 2/ Halving the number of grip range have been i led since 2014, mostly movements in stations - maximum relating to the design of the detachable safety and reduced wear. clamp that attaches the vehicle, cabin or chair to the cable. Final testing of 3/ Reducing the size of terminal the prototypes is being carried out on buildings - lower construction costs the full-scale test bed built by LST at its and less impact on the environment. Alpespace site at Sainte-Hélène-du-Lac (Savoie). 4/ Modifying the system for conveying vehicles through stations, thereby dividing the number of tyres 1 detachable grip by four – less pollution, fourfold reduction in maintenance costs = 5 MAJOR ADVANTAGES and 15% energy savings for moving vehicles through stations. h e grip is the key component in a h e seats for the new detachable lit s will detachable system, as it triggers the 5/ Increasing safety for operators - increase the lifespan of the system while uncoupling of the vehicle from the simplii ed access to the station and providing a high level of comfort and safety for traction cable when it enters a station. improved safety as staf no longer passengers. h is technique allows the vehicle to slow have to pass between the chairs or down as it moves through the station, cabins. without slowing the rest of the line. A RANGE DESIGNED FOR THE INTENSITY OF URBAN OPERATIONS
> Increasing the lifespan of /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// detachable grip lifts was essential for urban applications. h e new detachable grip has been designed for > On average, an urban lift will intensive use and is covered by run 7,000 hours/year, compared several patents. with 1,500 hours/year for a mountain lift.
24 Mountain & development, products & services MND mag / / 2016 Aerial transport solutions FOR FORWARD- LOOKING CITIES
LST has been designing and manufacturing cable-transport systems for ski resorts for over 20 years. The company is now turning its dynamic approach to R&D to new horizons, adapting its experience and expertise in mountain transport to the demands Cabline is a low-impact transport system of the urban environment. that can run at speeds of up to 45 km/h The result - a new range of safe, clean along a horizontal or gently inclined cable. and cost-effi cient cable-based urban Each vehicle can carry between 20 and 40 mobility solutions. The new range is people, giving a maximum capacity of 4,000 taking to the air. passengers per hour in each direction. »
Cabline: an effi cient We have chosen a modern and discreet design COST EFFECTIVE Jacques for Cabline’s stations and pylons. The bright and airy cabins, made from transparent, unbreakable glass, AND COMFORTABLE Simoncini will make urban travel a much more pleasurable experience. As well as the aesthetics, we have also SOLUTION LST paid great attention to comfort, incorporating air- URBAN SALES conditioning, Internet connections and information MANAGER panels. The enjoyment passengers get from travelling by Cabline will add to the attractiveness With its compact terminals, each of the cities that choose our system! just 15 metres long, the new Cabline » concept integrates easily into existing airports, stations and city centres. Developed by engineers at MND’s LST subsidiary, it will 3/ ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY provide city dwellers with a rapid CABLINE’S As well as using approximately 30% and very low impact means of strengths less energy than classic transport transport, high above trai c jams, systems, Cabline is both silent and rivers and railway lines. It is cheaper 1/SAFE non-polluting. to build and much less obtrusive Cabline’s landing doors open only than a metro or tramway for the when the vehicle is ready for boarding, simple reason that Cabline cars run thereby improving passenger safety. on top of the cable, not below it! h is ingenious innovation means 2/ ECONOMICAL pylons can be lower and more Cabline’s innovative conveying system compact than those required by reduces operating and maintenance other cable-transport systems, so costs by 20 to 35% and means stations Cabline blends into the landscape. can be smaller.
Mountain & development, products & services 25 MND mag / / 2016 26 Mountain & development, products & services MND mag / / 2016 SAFETY MOMENT #4 ///////////////////////////////
Mountain & development, products & services 27 MND mag / / 2016 24 Hours With Mountain & development, products & services
Camille Bouchet-Marquis
LST AFTER-SALES SERVICE MANAGER » For me, no two days are the same… »
t er growing up in Grenoble, Camille let the fl anks of the Chartreuse Mountains to study for an engineering degree at the ENSAM-ParisTech engineering school at Cluny in Burgundy. He went on to develop his x pertise in ski lit maintenance in AAnnecy (Haute-Savoie), where he set up home. In September 2015, at the age of just 27, he joined LST to set up the compa- ny’s new at er-sales service department.
6.30am/ If I am working in 12.30pm/ Lunch break in the a local ski resort, I set of early and canteen. Chatting to our designers, won’t get home until 8 pm. If I am engineers and buyers helps me learn going to be in the oi ce at Sainte-Hé- about the technical innovations we lène-du-Lac, I start a little later. are developing. We provide a link with the outside world by passing 8.00am/ I meet with my col- on information about how current league Sara h iabaud to review on- installation projects are progressing. going business with customers: or- What do we talk about when it’s not ders, quotes, invoices. work? Mountain sports, of course. 4.00pm/ I meet with Louis 9.00am/ I check with Cédric 2.00pm/ I prepare the following Noël, industrial manager of the Couzinou, our supply chain manager, day’s site visit with the purchasing cable transport division. One of our that all the parts for the day’s deli- department and put together all the objectives is to synchronise LST’s, veries are available. Our two depart- tools needed by a ski-lit installation TAS’s and Sufag’s at er-sales service ments help market LST’s products team. Five or six people carry out departments by exchanging best and we share the same commitment the heavy maintenance that resort practices. to developing them. operators cannot do themselves, because they lack either the time or the 10.00am/ I answer questions skills. from resort operators, either by phone or by email. We work together to i nd 3.00pm/ I answer questions technical solutions and I ensure they from LST reps with our MND receive the parts they need. subsidiaries around the world. I am the ski-lit unit’s technical advisor in terms of at er-sales service. Within the next two years, MND Group is going to centralise information and requests from all its subsidiaries in order to set up a comprehensive at er-sales service.
28 Mountain & development, products & services MND mag / / 2016 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
» CREATING LST’S AFTER-SALES SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS AN EXCITING TASK! » “Like all the company’s staf , I am a mountain sports addict and fascinated by ski lit s. I have a wonderfully interesting job that requires 100% commitment. First, during our high season, from September to the Christmas holidays, when the resorts open, and then during the winter, when I am on in call. Summer is given over to sales. h is is when we can show existing and prospective clients what we can do, but it is also when we visit our subsidiaries to share with them the secrets of our at er-sales service’s success.” Camille’s work takes him to all of France’s mountain areas, from the Alps and the Pyrenees to the Vosges and the Massif Central. As head of at er-sales service, he is in direct contact with customers; as an engineer, he helps LST’s partners install the company’s products. “h e variety is one of the things that makes my job so interesting. It means I am always learning and have the expertise to gain our customer’s t r u s t .” When he has time at er a day’s work at a resort, Camille delights in exploring new ski areas. “Skiing in winter, hiking and paragliding in summer, I love being in the outdoors!”
Mountain & development, products & services 29 MNDM N D mmag a g / / 22016 0 1 6 High Points Mountain & development, products & services Victor Muf at-Jeandet LETS IT RIP!
“Let it rip!” – the slogan adopted by Victor Muf at-Jeandet’s brand-new oi cial fan club sets the tone. Our favourite skier may have been happy to pose in his underwear to show he doesn’t take himself too seriously, but he is really letting it rip on the slopes this season. A series of top-class performances (three podium i nishes in December) catapulted him from 20th to a provisional 2nd place in the giant slalom world cup.
We have to admit, MND Group is very proud to support the career of this reserved and modest skier. A rock fan, avid mountain biker and keen wakeboarder, he is also a very complete and determined skier. Not wanting to choose between giant slalom and slalom, he excels at both, and he is even moving up the rankings in the super combined. Victor has taken on a very full programme for the 2015-2016 season, competing in four successive giant slaloms and two slaloms at the end of 2015, and then a giant slalom and i ve slaloms at the start of 2016. ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Victor joins h e skier the x clusive ranks FROM VAL D’ISÈRE’S OF THE WORLD TOP 5 CLUB DES SPORTS h e Savoyard champion started his 2015-2016 World Cup with Victor shares his victories with our Group: “If I was able three outstanding slalom performances in December, claiming to develop my skiing with Val d’Isère’s Club des Sports, it is an excellent 2nd place at Beaver Creek (United States), a 3rd thanks to Xavier Gallot-Lavallée. MND Group is one of the place in front of his home crowd at Val d’Isère (France) at the resort’s technical partners; we work in the same i eld and Critérium de la Première Neige, and another 3rd place at Alta share the same challenges, attention to detail and values. Badia (Italy). h ese early-season successes gave him coni dence, My sport is my life, like the mountains are MND’s raison even though “you can never take anything for granted”, and d’être. h is Group is the only personal sponsor I can he was able to savour his performances at er the extremely advertise on my helmet and that is very important for me. demanding training he had done with the French team from Together, we are looking toward the future and their faith in May to October. me motivates me to keep moving forward.”
“We spent the whole of August in Argentina, to train in the southern hemisphere winter. h en, in the autumn, we went to Switzerland and Tignes. h e i rst competition of the season, in Austria, allowed me to put the i nishing touches to my preparations and learn from the lessons of my 10th place.”
30 Mountain & development, products & services MND mag / / 2016 ACHIEVEMENTS
2014-2015 For the i rst time since 1970! > World number 20 in giant slalom A French hat-trick in the FIS World (1 top-10 nish/5 top-20 nishes) Cup, achieved in the Men’s Combined > French slalom champion at Kitzbühel (Austria) on 22nd January > Second overall in the European Cup (2 victories/5 podium nishes) 1st: Alexis Pinturault, 2nd: Victor Muffat-Jeandet, 2015-2016 3rd: Thomas Mermillod-Blondin > First World Cup podium nish: 2nd in the Super Combined at Wengen > World number 6 in giant slalom (3 top-5/5 top-10 nishes) > World number 14 in slalom (7 top-15 nishes) > 7th in the World Championships giant slalom at Beaver Creek > 3rd in the giant slalom at Val d’Isère > 3rd in the giant slalom at Alta Badia
Meet MND Group at these major international events
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
AGENDA 2016
> Interlavex / Slovakia (6-7 April) > FIS / Cancun - Mexico (5-11 June) > Prowinter / Bolzano - Italy (6-8 April) > FIS / Zurich - Switzerland > Mountain Planet / Grenoble - France (13-15 April) (27 September-1 October) > Expomin / Santiago de Chile - Chile (25-29 April) > ISSW / Breckenridge, > InterMountain / Brno - Czech Republic (26-28 April) Colorado-USA (3-7 October) > Interpraevent / Lucerne - Switzerland (30 May-2 June) > DSF / Nantes - France (4-6 October) > Mayors and local authorities / Paris - France (31 May-2 June) > D-A-CH Seilbahntagung > Transports Publics / Paris - France (14-16 June) / Innsbruck-Austria (12-14 October) > Ski Build Expo / Moscow - Russia (21-23 October) > Rock Slope Stability / Lyon - France (15-17 November)
Mountain & development, products & services 31 MND mag / / 2016 mag Mountain & development, products & services
Developing and designing innovative solutions for mountainous areas © MND - 02/2016
One partner, many solutions