France – Val Thorens – 2019

Cime Caron ropeway

On the “Cime Caron” ropeway in Val Thorens, the highest ski resort in Europe, POMA was commissioned to replace the 4 carrying ropes and modify their hydraulic tensioning system. The deadline for this major operation was particularly tight.

product range
Aerial Tramway
Application
Skiing Area
More about

The project

A pivotal element of the resort, the legendary “Cime Caron” ropeway re-opened for the 2019 season. It allows experienced skiers to reach the summit of the same name, at an elevation of 3195m, and get to its famous ski runs, or access Orelle in the slopes of the Maurienne Valley. It had been out of action for months when POMA was commissioned to replace the 4 carrying ropes and their supports.

Other major operations were carried out, such as optical fibre integration, changing the 8 guy wires of the top station structure, improving the movement system of the carrying ropes at the bottom station, and modifying the two 465-tonne counterweights.

Cime Caron ropeway

In motion

Technical

specifications

Longueur

Length

2047 m

Difference in altitude

866 m

Capacity

1430 people/ hour/ direction

Date

Speed

11 m/s

Number of cabins

2

Number of passengers per cabin

135

nombre de stations

Number of stations

2

POMA, innovation

For the project

Specific
equipment

Since the ropeway line has only one tower (despite being 2km long with an altitude change of 866m), several specific pieces of equipment were introduced to ensure safety, reliability and optimised team operations. These include a 60-tonne drive system installed at the top station to pull the new cables (68mm in diameter, weighing 62 tonnes and over 2km long).

A success
for the group

The group’s strength was instrumental in this project. POMA, COMAG and SACMI rose to the challenge.

Cime Caron ropeway in pictures

They talk about it

Cime Caron Ropeway

To respond effectively, we immediately thought about pooling equipment and teams within the group. This collaboration was a major contributor to the success of this highly complex cable replacement, working at high altitude and in autumn, in record time. This project proves that by pooling our efforts within the group, we can optimise the final result.

COMAG president

Roland Bertholet
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