Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group
Corporate brand
UnclaimedAn international manufacturer of ropeways, cable cars, automated people movers, and rope-based material-transport systems.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group is an Austrian-Swiss industrial group specializing in ropeway technology and related transport systems. Its products include aerial cable cars, gondola lifts, detachable and fixed-grip chairlifts, funiculars, surface lifts, automated people movers, amusement-park transport systems, and cable-driven material-handling equipment. The group serves ski resorts, mountain destinations, cities, airports, campuses, resorts, industrial operators, mining and bulk-material users, and theme parks. The present group was created in 2002 through the combination of Doppelmayr, based in Wolfurt, Austria, and Garaventa AG of Switzerland. The transaction joined two long-established manufacturers and created one of the world's largest ropeway suppliers. The Doppelmayr business traces its origins to 1893, when Konrad Doppelmayr established the original company in Wolfurt. It entered ropeway manufacturing in 1937. Garaventa was established in Switzerland in 1928 and developed into a major supplier of cable-transport equipment before the combination. Doppelmayr's expansion was supported by both internal development and acquisitions. Artur Doppelmayr, a member of the founding family, became managing director in 1967 and led the company during the international growth of alpine tourism and recreational skiing. In 1996, Doppelmayr Holding AG acquired Von Roll Seilbahnen, adding important Swiss ropeway technology and helping provide the basis for the group's later three-cable gondola systems. The group also acquired Swiss cabin manufacturer CWA Constructions, which supplies cabins for Doppelmayr/Garaventa installations and for other transport-equipment projects. Further additions have included Liftbyggarna in Sweden, Frey AG Stans, Gassner Stahlbau, and companies serving logistics, electrical-control, and material-transport applications. The group operates through manufacturing and engineering companies in several countries, including Austria, Switzerland, Canada, China, France, Italy, and the United States. Its ropeway activities are marketed principally under the Doppelmayr and Garaventa names, while specialist businesses retain distinct identities. Doppelmayr Cable Car develops the Cable Liner rope-propelled automated people-mover system for airports, urban connections, intermodal terminals, parking facilities, campuses, resorts, and amusement parks. Doppelmayr Transport Technology develops RopeCon and related systems for moving bulk materials over difficult terrain with comparatively limited ground disturbance. LTW Intralogistics supplies automated warehouse and internal-material-flow systems, while CWA manufactures passenger cabins and Frey supplies electrical and control technology. The group's projects range from conventional ski lifts to technically demanding urban and mountain installations. Its 3S tricable gondola technology is designed to combine high wind stability, long spans, and substantial passenger capacity. Publicly noted projects include the Ha Long Queen Cable Car in Vietnam, the Stoos funicular in Switzerland, the Cable Liner at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, the AirRail Link at Birmingham Airport, and Luton DART in the United Kingdom. By 2026, reference material described the group as having delivered more than 15,700 installations in 97 countries. It remains active as a privately held, internationally oriented manufacturer and systems integrator.
History
The Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group emerged from the 2002 merger of two established European ropeway manufacturers. Doppelmayr began in Wolfurt, Austria, in 1893 as Konrad Doppelmayr & Sohn. The company entered ropeway production in 1937, placing it in a sector that later expanded rapidly with the growth of alpine tourism, organized skiing, and mountain recreation. Garaventa was founded in Switzerland in 1928 and became an important manufacturer of cable cars, lifts, and related transport equipment. Artur Doppelmayr, a grandson of founder Konrad Doppelmayr, became managing director in 1967. During his leadership, the Austrian company expanded internationally and developed a strong position in the global cableway market. The business grew through product development, international subsidiaries, and acquisitions. In 1996, Doppelmayr Holding AG acquired Von Roll Seilbahnen, a Swiss producer of gondola lifts, chairlifts, and cable cars. This transaction added technology and market presence that later contributed to the group's tricable-gondola capability. Doppelmayr also expanded into adjacent components and transport businesses. CWA Constructions of Olten, Switzerland, a manufacturer of gondola and cable-car cabins, became part of the group around the period of the merger. CWA cabins are used in Doppelmayr/Garaventa projects and have also been supplied for systems produced by other manufacturers. The group subsequently developed a broader industrial structure encompassing steel fabrication, electrical controls, logistics technology, material transport, and amusement applications. The planned combination of Doppelmayr and Garaventa was announced in 2001 and completed in 2002. The resulting group retained the Doppelmayr and Garaventa brands and operated through subsidiaries and manufacturing companies in multiple countries. Its principal ropeway portfolio covers aerial tramways and cable cars, gondolas, detachable and fixed-grip chairlifts, funiculars, and surface lifts. The group also developed or commercialized 3S tricable gondola systems, which are intended to provide long spans, higher wind resistance, and substantial transport capacity. A separate business, established by Doppelmayr in 1996 and later known as Doppelmayr Cable Car, developed the Cable Liner rope-propelled automated people mover. The first installation was completed at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas in 1999. Later projects included the AirRail Link at Birmingham Airport, which replaced an earlier maglev connection, and Luton DART in the United Kingdom, which opened in 2023. Some Cable Liner systems are operated or supported by the company after construction. The group also entered industrial material handling. Doppelmayr Transport Technology developed RopeCon, a cable-driven conveyor system that can move bulk materials across long distances while reducing the need for conventional ground-level corridors. Installations have been associated with locations in Papua New Guinea, Jamaica, Sudan, Switzerland, and Austria. LTW Intralogistics added automated warehouse and internal-logistics capabilities. Further corporate expansion included the acquisition of Swedish lift manufacturer Liftbyggarna by Doppelmayr Scandinavia in 2013, the addition of Frey AG Stans in 2017 for electrical and control technology, and ownership of or cooperation with businesses such as Gassner Stahlbau and Input Projektentwicklungs. By 2026, the group was described as having delivered over 15,700 installations in 97 countries. It continues to operate as a privately held international supplier of ropeway, automated passenger-transport, recreational, and industrial systems.
- 2023
Luton DART opens
[1]The Cable Liner-based Luton DART automated airport connection begins service in the United Kingdom.
- 2017
Stoos funicular enters service
[1]The steep Stoos funicular in Switzerland, produced with Garaventa and CWA involvement, opens to passengers.
- 2016
Ha Long Queen Cable Car project is completed
[1]The Vietnam project becomes associated with a record-height support and very large passenger cabins.
- 2013
Liftbyggarna joins the group
[1]Doppelmayr Scandinavia acquires Swedish lift manufacturer Liftbyggarna, which continues under its own name.
- 2002
Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group is formed
[1]The announced combination of Doppelmayr and Garaventa is completed, creating the present group.
- 1999
First Cable Liner installation opens
[1]Doppelmayr Cable Car completes its first Cable Liner automated people mover at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
- 1996
Von Roll Seilbahnen is acquired
[1]Doppelmayr Holding AG acquires Swiss ropeway manufacturer Von Roll Seilbahnen.
- 1967
Artur Doppelmayr becomes managing director
[1]Artur Doppelmayr takes executive leadership as the company expands during the international growth of alpine recreation.
- 1937
Doppelmayr begins ropeway manufacturing
[1]The Austrian company enters the manufacture of ropeway systems.
- 1928
Garaventa is founded
[1]Garaventa is established in Switzerland and later develops into a major cable-transport equipment manufacturer.
Products and positioning
A global full-system supplier for mountain mobility, urban cable transport, automated passenger movement, recreation infrastructure, and rope-based industrial logistics. The group combines engineering, manufacturing, installation, controls, cabins, and selected operating services.
Ropeway systems
Cable cars and aerial tramways
Large aerial passenger systems for mountain resorts, urban transport, tourism, and major infrastructure projects. These installations typically combine towers, haul or support ropes, drives, control systems, stations, and passenger cabins. The group supplies complete systems and related engineering rather than only individual lift components.
Ropeway systems
Gondola lifts
Enclosed-cabin systems used for ski access, sightseeing, urban mobility, and resort circulation. Doppelmayr and Garaventa produce conventional gondolas as well as high-capacity and long-span configurations. The group’s 3S tricable gondola technology is designed for demanding spans and weather conditions.
Ropeway systems
Chairlifts
Detachable and fixed-grip chairlifts transport skiers and other passengers on mountain routes. Product configurations vary by capacity, speed, station layout, weather protection, and terrain. They remain a core part of the group's ski-resort portfolio.
Rail-based mountain transport
Funiculars
Cable-hauled rail systems for steep routes in mountain destinations and urban environments. The Stoos project in Switzerland is a prominent example associated with the group and its Garaventa and CWA businesses.
Automated people movers
Cable Liner
A rope-propelled automated people-mover platform developed by Doppelmayr Cable Car. It is intended for airports, city connections, intermodal terminals, parking facilities, campuses, resorts, and amusement parks. The system can be supplied with operating and maintenance support.
Material-handling systems
RopeCon
A cable-driven conveyor concept developed by Doppelmayr Transport Technology for bulk-material movement. RopeCon can carry materials across long or difficult routes and is designed to limit ground disturbance compared with some conventional corridor-based transport solutions.
Transport components
CWA passenger cabins
Gondola, cable-car, and automated-people-mover cabins manufactured by CWA Constructions. The cabins are used in group projects and may also be supplied to other transport-system manufacturers.
Warehouse automation
LTW Intralogistics systems
Automated warehouse and internal-material-flow technologies supplied through the group's LTW Intralogistics business. These systems extend the group's activities beyond passenger ropeways into industrial logistics.
Brand decisions
2017
Acquire Frey AG StansM&ABackground
Frey AG Stans provided electrical components and control systems for ropeways.
Action taken
Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group acquired the Swiss specialist in April 2017.
Aftermath
The group strengthened its in-house capabilities in ropeway electrical engineering and control technology.
2013
Acquire LiftbyggarnaM&ABackground
Doppelmayr Scandinavia expanded its presence in the Swedish lift-manufacturing market.
Action taken
The Swedish division acquired Liftbyggarna AB and kept the acquired company under its separate branding.
Aftermath
The acquisition added a Swedish lift-manufacturing business to the group’s regional structure.
2002
Complete the Doppelmayr–Garaventa mergerM&ABackground
The two companies were established European ropeway manufacturers with complementary Austrian and Swiss operations.
Action taken
The announced combination was completed, creating the Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group while retaining both principal brand names.
Aftermath
The combined group became a large international supplier with ropeway, cabin, controls, people-mover, and material-handling activities.
Sources1 sources
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