Maintenance & Service, SI World 2/2023
The tightrope artist of Lenzerheide
The backpack hangs heavily on her shoulders. Armed with an oversized socket set, a torque wrench, and cable lubricant, Denise Wey heads up to the support tower number 11 of the Urdenfürggli cable car (Switzerland).
Focused on her task, Denise appears to dance on the ten-meter-high steel structure during her work. However, if you look closely, you‘ll notice that every move of the 26-year-old polymechanic is precise.
She is part of the maintenance team at Lenzerheide Bergbahnen AG, responsible for the smooth operation of a total of 22 cable cars.
exciting job
Communicating, moving, lubricating – Denise Wey‘s daily work routine is diverse, active, demanding, and fulfilling.
Respect, Yes – Fear, No
Her training as a Polymechanic EFZ at EMS-CHEMIE was the basic requirement for her dream job in the mountains, but that‘s not all. Physical and mental fitness, excellent skiing or snowboarding skills, and no hesitation to work in nature in all weather conditions are additional requirements that come with the job.
Not to mention climbing skills because depending on the facility, cable car supports can range from five meters (drag lift) to up to 50 meters (aerial tramway) high! „Fear has no place in my mind during work. Respect and wellthought-out actions do,“ answers Denise Wey when asked about any fear of heights.
Reliability of each team member is crucial. Occasionally, a helicopter is also used during maintenance work, making the job even more demanding. It takes a well-coordinated team, and whether you like it or not, adrenaline rushes are part of the package.
Beautiful workspace
Denise Wey‘s workplace is the Swiss ski resort of Lenzerheide. The panoramic view is an invaluable benefit of the job
Lunch from the backpack
During the winter season, each member of the maintenance team is assigned to a specific facility on a rotating basis. „This ensures that someone is on-site immediately in case of a technical problem,“ says Denise Wey.
On peak days, several thousand winter sports enthusiasts are on the slopes. So, the motto is always „ready,“ and quick, professional action is required.For example, if a drag lift cable gets caught at an exposed spot, Denise Wey skis directly to the scene and assists bothpeople and technology.
There are also frequently heavily stressed lubrication points that need attention. Therefore, a grease gun and high-performance grease like MOTOREX‘s GREASE 2000 are part of the standard equipment.
Often, there‘s hardly any time left for lunch, which usually comes from the backpack for simplicity‘s sake but still tastes good.
Indispensable cable care
- There are several lubrication points on the cable cars in Lenzerheide, and many of them require continuous lubrication. The lubrication points to be maintained are listed on a lubrication schedule for each facility.
- Lubrication schedules are a service provided by MOTOREX, making the work easier and preventing costly lubrication failures.
- For all cable cars, steel cables are subjected to high mechanical and weather-related stresses. Regularly lubricating the often kilometer-long and ton-heavy cable car cable with CABLE PROTECT is crucial for the system‘s reliability.
- Regularly lubricated cables show significantly less signs of wear and, due to their smooth operation, also contribute to the comfort of passengers, even if it‘s something they might not consciously notice.
For more information, visit: motorex.com/alpine
Denise Wey
Working in the great outdoors
Environmental protection matters
Working in the fascinating mountain world has always been a privilege for Denise Wey. „No day is like the other, especially due to the changing seasons.“
After the intense winter season, spring brings its first maintenance work, followed by the summer season with a different type of tourism and transport needs.
In each season, she deals with different technical aspects of the cable cars, which affect many aspects of her work. „Hence, humanity should increasingly use its knowledge and skills for environmentally friendly solutions,“ emphasizes Denise Wey.
She particularly appreciates the trend towards more sustainable solutions for technical applications. A good example is the biodegradable cable lubricant CABLE PROTECT by MOTOREX.
Nature‘s spectacle included
The importance of environmental protection is evident to Denise Wey almost daily. After a day‘s work, her descent is often rewarded with an unmistakable natural spectacle: „The sunsets in winter are amazing!“
