Over 200 ropeways and almost as many feasibility studies have been successfully realised or developed during this time.

The engineering office MELZER & HOPFNER was founded in 1988. During its more than 35 years on the market in the field of ski resort and cable car planning, the company has realised well over 200 cable car projects in the Alpine region and has developed into one of the most renowned cable car planning offices in the German-speaking world.

The projects realised include almost all ropeway systems, ranging from large gondola lifts to small installations. Detailed references can be found on the homepage www.melzner-hopfner.at.

Independent planning

The engineering office attaches great importance to a neutral status towards its customers. This enables them to plan independently and achieve the best prices for their customers.

“We see a very significant advantage of our office as being able to create rope calculations without a ropeway manufacturer – i.e. independently – and thus be able to specify support and station positions,“ says engineer Daniel Mangold, Managing Director of MELZER & HOPFNER.

Deriving longitudinal sections and site plans, as well as designing the required and desired infrastructure around the cable car is part of the daily work. This is because comprehensive knowledge is required to generate optimal ropeway concepts with a harmonious traffic flow and to design them in an architecturally appealing way.

In addition, years of experience and expertise are required to achieve the optimum from the initial cable car idea to the final planning, as well as smooth coordination with the authorities and the final construction process.

All of this is necessary in order to develop and realise the ideal project, taking into account all influencing factors of the respective project, says Mangold:

“Precise, efficient and targeted planning is a basic prerequisite for project success!“

Expertise for urban cable cars

In urban areas, the cable car planning office sees an opportunity to play its part in the transport revolution. MELZER & HOPFNER‘s tried and tested basic approach is to harmonise nature and technology. According to Mangold, the challenges in the Alpine region are not so different from those in an urban environment.

In both cases, the aim is to integrate the cable car into its surroundings in the best possible way. The issues of privacy, noise protection and integration into tight and challenging existing infrastructure are also regularly encountered by the experts in alpine areas. This is where the company can provide support with its expertise.

Planning expertice troughout the whole project

The initial ideas in particular and the subsequent feasibility study mean combining a high level of expertise and precision with very fundamental considerations and statements.

“We know what cable cars can do and how they can be optimally integrated into their surroundings. Thanks to our in-house expertise – including in structural engineering planning – we can cover the entire planning service from initial rough considerations to concept and approval planning through to implementation planning,“ says Mangold.

A picture is worth a thousand words

Experience shows that communication is particularly important in an urban context. “As all of our planning is carried out using state-of-the-art technical equipment, we are able to provide visualisations in the form of renderings and videos at any stage of the project. True to the motto “a picture is worth a thousand words“.

Depending on requirements, MELZER & HOPFNER can access a broad network of renowned experts in the fields of urban development, transport planning, economic efficiency, authorisation and procedural law, coordinated by the engineering firm MELZER & HOPFNER.

“This guarantees the advantage of a central point of contact for the entire project at all times,“ concludes Mangold.