Doppelmayr USA
Corporate brand
UnclaimedUnited States aerial-lift manufacturer and subsidiary of the Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Doppelmayr USA, Inc. is the United States operating company of the Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group, an international manufacturer of ropeway and aerial-lift systems. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, the company designs, manufactures, installs, and maintains passenger transport systems used primarily at ski resorts, but also in urban, recreational, and tourist settings. Its portfolio includes detachable and fixed-grip chairlifts, gondolas, aerial trams, funitels, surface lifts, and related ropeway infrastructure. The present company was created in 2002 through the combination of the North American operations associated with Austrian manufacturer Doppelmayr and Swiss manufacturer Garaventa, including Garaventa CTEC. In North America, the combined business initially traded as Doppelmayr CTEC. The name reflected the merger of Doppelmayr and Garaventa while retaining the engineering and manufacturing heritage of CTEC, a Salt Lake City-based lift builder descended from a former Thiokol ski-lift operation. From 2011, the company adopted the Doppelmayr name used by most other subsidiaries of the wider group. CTEC's history is an important part of Doppelmayr USA's North American identity. After Thiokol exited the ski-lift business in the late 1970s, former Thiokol employees Jan Leonard and Mark Ballantyne acquired the relevant designs and established Cable Transportation Engineering Company. CTEC produced its first independent lift at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Pennsylvania in 1978 and gradually became one of the principal North American lift manufacturers. It later worked with Von Roll and Garaventa, adopted Garaventa detachable-grip technology, and participated in the development of major installations across the United States and Canada. Doppelmayr's own North American presence also predates the 2002 merger. The Austrian company exported surface lifts to North America from the 1950s, installed an early North American chairlift at Marmot Basin in 1968, and opened a manufacturing facility in Saint-Jérôme, Quebec, in 1978. In 1981, it installed what the reference material identifies as the world's first detachable high-speed quad chairlift at Breckenridge Ski Resort. The group later acquired Von Roll's ropeway division, expanding its control of designs, parts, and service support for several established lift brands, including Hall. Following the merger, Doppelmayr CTEC developed products combining European Doppelmayr engineering with CTEC's North American designs and manufacturing capabilities. The UNI-GS detachable terminal was developed specifically for the North American market and incorporated features from the earlier Stealth and Uni product families. Manufacturing has been divided between the Salt Lake City and Quebec facilities, with Salt Lake City associated particularly with fixed-grip terminals, tower tubes, and chairs, and Quebec with line equipment and detachable terminals. The company has supplied prominent installations including the Portland Aerial Tram, major ski lifts at Jackson Hole and Whistler Blackcomb, and the Peak 2 Peak Gondola. In 2019, it opened the Disney Skyliner at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, extending the company's visibility beyond the ski industry. Doppelmayr USA remains part of the privately held Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group and continues to serve North American resort, tourism, and urban transportation markets.
History
Doppelmayr USA's history combines the development of an established European ropeway manufacturer with the evolution of a distinctly North American lift-building business. The North American CTEC lineage began with Thiokol, which manufactured 41 ski lifts between 1971 and 1977 before deciding to leave the market. In 1977, former Thiokol employees Jan Leonard and Mark Ballantyne acquired the company's lift designs. They established Cable Transportation Engineering Company, generally known as CTEC, with engineering operations in Salt Lake City and manufacturing initially conducted in Sacramento, California. CTEC's first lift as an independent manufacturer was installed at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Pennsylvania in 1978. During the following decade it expanded into a competitive North American market that included Doppelmayr USA and Poma of America. CTEC entered the detachable-chairlift field through a 1989 partnership with Von Roll, which supported construction of the company's first detachable chairlift at Solitude Mountain Resort in Utah. From 1990, CTEC used detachable grips supplied by Swiss manufacturer Garaventa. Garaventa had previously established a limited but significant North American presence, including aerial tram installations at Snowbird in Utah and Palisades Tahoe in California. In 1992, CTEC and Garaventa combined to form Garaventa CTEC. Because CTEC already possessed the stronger North American engineering and manufacturing base, the merged company largely relied on CTEC's designs and facilities while benefiting from Garaventa's European ownership, technology, and component supply. This combination helped it secure contracts for substantial installations, including the Gold Coast Funitel at Palisades Tahoe and gondola systems at Telluride, Vail, Steamboat Springs, Snowshoe, and Deer Valley. Doppelmayr's separate North American development began much earlier. The Austrian company exported surface lifts to North America under the Alpine Lift name during the 1950s. Its first North American chairlift was installed at Marmot Basin in Alberta in 1968, and it opened a manufacturing facility in Saint-Jérôme, Quebec, in 1978. Doppelmayr brought European lift designs to the North American market and installed a high-speed detachable quad at Breckenridge Ski Resort in 1981. In 1996, its European holding company acquired Von Roll's ropeway division, giving Doppelmayr control of additional technology, parts, and support relationships connected with Von Roll and Hall lift equipment. The decisive organizational change came in 2002, when Garaventa of Switzerland merged with Doppelmayr of Austria. The global combination formed the Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group, while the North American operation was branded Doppelmayr CTEC. The new business combined Doppelmayr's international product platform with CTEC's regional expertise. Beginning in 2003, it introduced equipment incorporating both legacies, including the UNI-GS detachable terminal developed for North American requirements and influenced by the earlier Stealth and Uni product families. The first UNI-GS installation was the Panorama Quad at Gunstock Mountain Resort in New Hampshire. The merged company expanded beyond conventional ski lifts. In 2003 it was selected to design, fabricate, install, and maintain the Portland Aerial Tram. In 2005 it acquired Partek, a small New York chairlift manufacturer, together with rights associated with Borvig lifts. The company subsequently delivered notable projects at Jackson Hole and Whistler Blackcomb. Jackson Hole's replacement tram and Whistler Blackcomb's Peak 2 Peak Gondola became especially visible examples of its large-scale engineering work; the latter was described in the reference material as setting multiple world records. In October 2007, Jan Leonard left the presidency of Doppelmayr CTEC and was succeeded by vice president Mark Bee. From 2011, the North American company operated under the Doppelmayr name, aligning its public identity with most other subsidiaries of the group. In 2019, the company opened the Disney Skyliner at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. The installation broadened the brand's public profile from mountain recreation into major theme-park transportation. The company remains an active North American subsidiary of the Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group. Its history also includes operational risk: in February 2021, an electronic failure on the Pucci chairlift at Oregon's Timberline Lodge left 42 people stranded until rope rescues were completed.
- 2021
Pucci chairlift evacuation
[1]An electronic failure stopped the Pucci chairlift at Timberline Lodge in Oregon, requiring rope rescue for 42 stranded passengers.
- 2019
Disney Skyliner opened
[1]The company opened the Disney Skyliner gondola system at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
- 2011
North American business adopted the Doppelmayr name
[1]The company began operating under the Doppelmayr brand name, replacing the Doppelmayr CTEC identity used since the 2002 merger.
- 2007
Leadership transition
[1]Jan Leonard stepped down as president in October and was succeeded by vice president Mark Bee.
- 2005
Partek acquired
[1]The company acquired Partek, a chairlift manufacturer based in Pine Island, New York, along with rights associated with Borvig lifts.
- 2003
UNI-GS product line introduced
[1]The company began producing equipment that combined Doppelmayr and CTEC designs; the first UNI-GS detachable chairlift was installed at Gunstock Mountain Resort.
- 2003
Portland Aerial Tram contract selected
[1]Doppelmayr CTEC was selected to design, fabricate, install, and maintain the Portland Aerial Tram.
- 2002
Doppelmayr and Garaventa formed the combined group
[1]The merger of Garaventa and Doppelmayr created the Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group and the North American operating company Doppelmayr CTEC.
- 1992
Garaventa and CTEC merged
[1]The companies combined as Garaventa CTEC, linking CTEC's North American manufacturing base with Garaventa's technology and European presence.
- 1989
First CTEC detachable chairlift partnership
[1]CTEC partnered with Von Roll to build its first detachable chairlift at Solitude Mountain Resort in Utah.
Products and positioning
A large-scale North American ropeway engineering and manufacturing specialist combining Doppelmayr's international technology platform with CTEC's regional engineering, manufacturing, installation, and service heritage.
Detachable chairlift system · 2003
UNI-GS detachable chairlift
A detachable chairlift terminal platform developed for the North American market after the Doppelmayr-Garaventa combination. The design integrated elements associated with Garaventa CTEC's Stealth family and Doppelmayr's Uni product line. It represented the post-merger effort to combine European engineering with CTEC's North American operating and manufacturing experience.
Ski-resort aerial lift
Fixed-grip chairlifts
Chairlift systems in which chairs remain fixed to the haul rope while passengers load and unload at stations. The North American manufacturing operation retained a substantial CTEC design and production heritage for fixed-grip terminals, chairs, tower tubes, and associated equipment.
Ski-resort aerial lift
Detachable chairlifts
High-capacity chairlift systems using detachable grips that slow chairs in stations while allowing faster line speeds. Doppelmayr USA's detachable portfolio grew from CTEC, Garaventa, Von Roll, and Doppelmayr engineering traditions and has been used at major resorts across North America.
Passenger ropeway
Gondola systems
Enclosed-cabin ropeway systems for ski resorts, tourist destinations, and urban or theme-park transportation. The company has supplied gondola installations at resorts including Telluride, Vail, Steamboat Springs, Snowshoe, and Deer Valley, as well as the Disney Skyliner at Walt Disney World.
Large-capacity aerial ropeway
Aerial trams
Large-cabin aerial ropeways designed for steep terrain, tourism, and urban transportation. Notable North American projects associated with the company's predecessor and current organization include the Portland Aerial Tram and major tram installations at Jackson Hole, Snowbird, and Palisades Tahoe.
High-capacity ropeway
Funitels
Aerial lift systems using two parallel haul ropes to provide greater wind resistance and capacity than many conventional gondola configurations. The Gold Coast Funitel at Palisades Tahoe is identified as one of the notable projects secured through the Garaventa CTEC lineage.
Brand decisions
2011
Adopt the Doppelmayr brand nameStrategyBackground
The North American subsidiary had operated as Doppelmayr CTEC since the 2002 combination, while most other group subsidiaries used the Doppelmayr name.
Action taken
The company began operating under the Doppelmayr brand name.
Aftermath
The change aligned the North American market identity with the broader Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group while preserving the company's CTEC technical heritage.
2005
Acquire Partek and Borvig rightsM&ABackground
Partek was a small chairlift manufacturer based in Pine Island, New York, with associated rights to Borvig lift equipment.
Action taken
Doppelmayr CTEC acquired Partek and the related Borvig rights.
Aftermath
The transaction added equipment designs and support responsibilities connected with another North American lift-manufacturing lineage.
2002
Combine the North American Doppelmayr and Garaventa CTEC operationsM&ABackground
The merger of Doppelmayr and Garaventa created a global ropeway group and required a unified North American operating structure.
Action taken
The North American business operated as Doppelmayr CTEC, combining Doppelmayr's international platform with Garaventa CTEC's regional engineering and manufacturing heritage.
Aftermath
The combined company introduced products drawing on both design traditions and expanded its ability to pursue major North American resort and urban ropeway projects.
Sources1 sources
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