BÄCHLER, global provider of customised solutions in the areas of snow processing and snowmaking, presents it‘s newest development: SnoTek TRINITY.

The new system will be available for single-, two- and three-headed snow lances It‘s able to show it‘s strength in Temperature range from -1,5 degrees WBT to -7,7 degrees WBT – the usual temperature when ski areas are starting their basic-snow making.

The SnoTek TRINITY V-nozzle packageenables this by efficiently regulating water volume in a manner that prioritizes quality and performance, utilizing a combination of differently sized slot nozzles (1 x 0.5mm; 2 x 0.7mm) with stepwise and alternating activation.

Complemented by the base stage (three water nozzles), still positioned centrally on the nozzle pipes, a total of four snow stages amplify the maximum throughput by up to 170 percent. With optimal nozzle configuration spanning three heads (SnoTek TRINITY TRIDUSA), water flows at a rate of 852 liters per minute.

For perspective, this nearly equals the flow performance of the most potent BÄCHLER snow lance, the SnoTek MEDUSA.

Field test in the Alpes

In Switzerland, Austria and the Czech Republic, 50 SnoTek TRINITY units with different adaptions have been field-tested in ski resorts. “We got consistently positive feedback from the ski resort operators. The snow lance head definitely closes a gap in our sortiment“, said Harry Schulze, BÄCHLER Sales Manager.

The glacier ski resort Hintertux (Tyrol, Austria) is one of the destinations that had been part of the field test. Technical Manager of the glacier ski resort Hintertux, Michael Mader, is very satisfied with the performance of the new lance head which is positioned on 2.790 metres.

“On the glacier we are confronted with extreme weather conditions like strong wind and deep temperatures, consequently challenging requirements for snow lances. The use of SnoTek TRINITY is perfectly suitable for snowmaking on large and wide areas, like at Hintertux Glacier“, says Mader.

Snowmaking at Hintertux Glacier has got two main reasons: First, to offer ski operation – second the protection of the glacier.

”Our measures for the protection are to produce snow on specific areas of the glacier and to cover them with fleece. Further, we create snow depots, especially at edge surfaces of the glacier, to prevent from melting and in best case to supports its growth.”, Mader adds.

More variable in operation

In comparison to SnoTek TRACK the lance head SnoTek TRINITY is more variable. It can be adapted to different temperature conditions. For example: In Hintertux SnoTek TRINITY provides great snow coverage by even minus ten deegrees.

“We usually start with snow making in September by temperatures of minus two or minus three degrees. Snowmaking in early autumn gives us the opportunity to offer, as one of the first in Europe, a wide range of slopes in very good quality to our ski guests”, explains Mader.

On average the snow lances on the glacier have to cope with minus ten degrees. If the temperature reaches minus 14 degrees, the snow making stops. Because then, the risk, that sensible parts of the lance might get frozen, is too high.

For the glacier at Hintertux it is important to produce a high quantity of snow in short time, which is no challenge for the innovative snow lance head from BÄCHLER.