England – Brighton – 2016

I360 British Airways

POMA designed and manufactured the entire pod and drive system of the world’s tallest observation tower, known as the British Airways i360. A unique concept, located on the Brighton seafront in the south of England.

product range

i360

Application

Tourist attraction

More about

The project

The i360 is a genuine feat combining technology, engineering, innovation and design, a work of the famous British architect David Marks. POMA was involved in its construction, designing the entire “pod and drive system”, including the huge panoramic viewing pod and all the equipment allowing it to travel up and down the tower like a vertical ropeway.

POMA and its subsidiaries SIGMA and SEMER have demonstrated their mastery of ropeway transportation technologies and have once again proved their ability to innovate for a bold project in the large-scale leisure market and tourist attractions.

I360 British Airways

In motion

Length

160 m

Cabin capacity

200 passengers

Journey time

20 minutes

POMA, innovation

for the project

Unique design

With a saucer design entirely made of glass, the viewing pod capable of welcoming 200 visitors has a surface area of 180 sq. m and a total empty weight of 94 tonnes. Its hosting capacity and unique concept have created a rush of enthusiasm for an activity that complements the “flights” operated by the i360: a unique venue for all kinds of events.

The “slimmest” tower

The British Airways i360 holds the Guinness World Record for the world’s “slimmest” tower. With a diameter of 3.9 metres and a height of 160 metres, the British Airways i360 tower has a height-to-width ratio of 40:1, a genuine feat combining technology, engineering, innovation and design.

I360 in pictures

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The Technical data sheet of British Airways I360

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Egypt – Galala City – 2018

Galala City gondola lift

The tourist gondola lift of the new town of Galala City links the urban area to the luxurious seaside resort, travelling the longest stretch in the Middle East. Its glass-floored cabins offer an exceptional journey with a unique view of the superb desert landscapes that border the Red Sea.

product range

Touristic gondola lift

Application

Site access

More about

The project

Begun in October 2015, the Galala City project, Egypt's second largest construction site after the new Suez Canal, is a symbol of modernity in the country. It is based on three strategic areas of development: the creation of an urban area at the top of the Al Galala Plateau, the development of a new industrial area, including several desalination factories, and an expanded tourist offer.
To make for smoother communication between the residential area and the Ain Sokhna tourist coast, POMA has installed a gondola lift.
With a total length of 4.37 km and an elevation difference of 611 m, the tourist gondola lift offers Galala City residents direct, quick access to the beach, with a panoramic view of the spectacular landscapes that border the Red Sea.

Length

4700 m

Elevation difference

611 m

Capacity

250 passengers/ hour

Speed

5 m/s

Number of cabins

Number of passenger per cabin

Motorisation

Direct Drive

POMA, innovation

for the project

Longest gondola lift in Africa

With the Galala gondola lift spanning 4.37 km, POMA has built the longest stretch between two stations in the Middle East and Africa area.

Galala City,

the epitome of a modern Egyptian city

Galala City is destined to become a driver of growth for the Egyptian economy by boosting employment amongst the country’s young people, diversifying the tourist offer and paving the way for new investments, both local and foreign.

Operational challenges

A new team was recruited and trained to operate the Galala gondola lift. While the flow of passengers is steady, many other issues affect the operation of this gondola lift: hot, dry and dusty climate, marine environment, remote site. Challenges that the on-site teams overcome on a daily basis.

Dedicated computer network

The Galala tourist gondola lift was the first to be equipped with a complete computer network between its two stations, allowing the collection of operating data and secure remote access to video surveillance and fault diagnosis as well as to the ticket office. A POMA innovation!