Doppelmayr CTEC

Doppelmayr CTEC is an aerial lift manufacturer based in Salt Lake City, Utah and Saint-Jérôme, Quebec and part of the worldwide Doppelmayr Garaventa Group. The North American company was formed from the merger of both American branches of Garaventa and Doppelmayr.

CTEC Before Merger

CTEC is the successor to Thiokol's ski lift division, founded in 1976 by Jan Leonard and Mark Ballantyne, who had worked for Thiokol since the early 1970s. The two left Thiokol when it left the ski lift market, but bought the rights to Thiokol designs. CTEC slowly grew to become one of three major lift manufacturers. In 1989, CTEC partnered with VonRoll to build its first detachable chairlift. From 1990 on, CTEC used grips built by Garaventa. In 1992, CTEC merged with European manufacturer Garaventa, to form Garaventa CTEC. In 1999, Mark Ballantyne left the company to form a window and door distribution company.

Doppelmayr USA before Merger

The Doppelmayr facility in Saint-Jérôme opened in 1978 and was the first North American-based factory of the world-renowned Austrian ropeway manufacturer. Doppelmayr slowly increased their market share in North America in the 1980s and 90's, but used all European designs. In 1996, Doppelmayr purchased Von Roll, a Swiss lift manufacturer. Von Roll owned Hall Ski Lifts, a company that produced over 800 lifts from 1960-1985. Doppelmayr now managed all the spare parts sales for Doppelmayr, Von Roll, and Hall branded lifts.

Merger of Doppelmayr and CTEC

In 2002, Garaventa of Switzerland merged with Doppelmayr, making Garaventa CTEC part of the Doppelmayr empire. The new company would be known as the Doppelmayr Garaventa Group in Europe and Doppelmayr CTEC in North America. Starting in 2005, the North American company produced a new line of products that combined the best designs of Doppelmayr and CTEC. The Uni-GS detachable terminal was the first terminal designed for the North American market. Most of the fixed grip components come from CTEC's Salt Lake City factory, while all line equipment and detachable terminals are made in Doppelmayr's Quebec plant. The Golden, CO facility that was the Western Division of Doppelmayr USA was closed and integrated with Garaventa CTEC's Salt Lake City factory. The Sacramento, CA manufacturing facility of Garaventa CTEC also closed. Jan Leonard, president of Garaventa CTEC became president of the new company, and Doppelmayr's Mark Bee became Executive VP.

After the Merger

In 2003, the company was selected to design, fabricate and install the Portland Aerial Tram.

In 2005, the company purchased Partek, a small chairlift manufacturer based in Pine Island, New York. Also included in the purchase were Partek's rights to Borvig lifts.

Today, the Doppelmayr CTEC is North America's leading ropeway manufacturer with more than 30 new ropeway installations around the continent in 2007.

External links

* [http://www.doppelmayrctec.com/ Doppelmayr-CTEC's website]