TECHNOALPIN SNOW GUARANTEE

Transcription

1 M A G A Z I N E TECHNOALPIN SNOW GUARANTEE

2 Snow guarantee The fundamentals of successful winter tourism Technical snow-making 2 BACKSTAGEMAGAZINE

3 WINTER SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS SEEK GUARANTEED SNOW AND A VARIETY OF GOOD QUALITY SLOPES WINTER SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS LOOK FOR WINTER HOLIDAYS WITH SNOW Over 70% of Austrian winter holiday makers travel to their home mountains to ski. The main thing they are looking for on their winter holiday is snow and sun. Products that do... EXPECT SLOPES TO REMAIN IN OPTIMUM CONDITION FOR SKIING FROM MORNING UNTIL NIGHT Since 1989 the transport capacity (conveyor capacity of persons/hour x the difference in altitude in m) of equipment in the Alps has been increasnot depend on snow such as swimming pools or saunas offer little compensation and are merely an enhancement.... CHOOSE WINTER HOLIDAY RESORTS AC- CORDING TO THEIR SNOW RELIABILITY Snow reliability is the number one criterion in choosing a winter sports destination. Safety on the slopes another snow-based criterion comes second. 1) 2) Comfortable ski-lift systems only come third in order of importance.... COME BACK AGAIN IF THEY ARE CON- VINCED BY THE WIDE VARIETY OF GOOD QUALITY SLOPES This has been repeatedly confirmed in customer surveys. Optimum snow and slope conditions rank among the basic requirements of a successful ski resort. Snow-making technology is indispensable in safeguarding the ski resort. ing. Between 2004 and 2006 it increased in the Tyrol alone from 422,122 to 457,402 persons. 3) A 100% natural snow slope can no longer contend with such demand. 1) Mountain Quality Check Winter 2005 and 2006, Mountain Management Consulting, 2) Major online winter sports questionnaire carried out in Winter 2006/2007 in Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Mountain Manager 06/ ) Ropeways, lifts in the Tyrol , published by the Tyrol State Government Division for Sport. BACKSTAGEMAGAZINE 3

4 Snow guarantee LARGE-SCALE SNOW-MAKING TECHNOLOGY ENABLES OPTIMUM SLOPE QUALITY FROM AS EARLY AS THE END OF THE AUTUMN... ENABLES COMPACT SLOPES WITH CONSIST- ENTLY GOOD GRIP FROM MOUNTAIN TO VALLEY AND FROM MORNING TO NIGHT The increase in ropeway transport capacity and hence the number of skiers - means that the slope sees in one day what it used to GUARANTEED SNOW HAS BECOME THE MOST IMPORTANT MARKETING TOOL FOR SKI RESORTS see in one and a half weeks. Without snow-making technology good skiing would be impossible in the afternoon.... MAKES THE SKI SEASON EASIER TO SCHEDULE FOR WINTER HOLIDAY MAKERS AND SKI RESORTS All companies in the value chain can focus on these dates and therefore achieve a relatively balanced workload guaranteeing excellent added value.... CONSIDERABLY INCREASES THE ACTUAL AND PERCEIVED SAFETY Falls due to ruptures in the slope, areas which are frozen-over or snow-free, and marked differences in snow quality can all be avoided thanks to snow-making technology.... ENABLES POSITIVE SKI EXPERIENCES FOR BEGINNER AND INTERMEDIATE SKIERS WITHIN A SHORT TIME FRAME Enthusiastic children are a crucial factor in promoting skiing as a mass market sport. Only through positive experiences can they find lasting enjoyment in skiing. An early sense of achievement, minimum risk of injury and looking good on the slopes also represent the main criteria for going skiing among the previously underestimated groups of young people and adult intermediates (approx million potential (returning) intermediates from the Austrian, German and Dutch core markets 4) ). Well prepared slopes with a good grip and no 4 BACKSTAGEMAGAZINE

5 SNOW-MAKING SYSTEMS RANK AMONG THE FUNDAMENTAL EQUIPMENT OF SUCCESSFUL AND HEALTHY WINTER SPORTS DESTINATIONS. ice from mountain to valley are the basic requirements.... FORMS THE BASIS FOR ADDED-VALUE TOURISM No other sector in the Tyrol caters for the prosperity of the country and its people on such a small surface area. The Tyrol ropeway economy targets an annual added value of approx. 550 million Euro. 5) In relation to the income from the mountain station sector (primary sector), this has a multiplier effect of 6, i.e. 1,000 wages, salaries and ropeway profit in mountain stations lead, through their use, to a total income of 6,000 in the region million Euro of value-added tax are collected annually by the state. 6) Despite attempts of ropeway companies to create a second source of income in the summer, 93% of the sector s turnover is obtained in the winter. Around 14,300 people, mainly from structurally lessdeveloped regions, are employed on Austria s ropeways. 7)... ENABLES UNCOMPLICATED ENJOYMENT OF SKIING IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF VILLAGES WITHOUT HAVING TO TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES Single village lifts, small family ski resorts which remain open, thanks to snow-making technology, ensure regular practice and training possibilities without having to travel long distances. 4) Professional Association of Austrian Ropeway Operators, www. seilbahnen.at/winter/wiedereinsteiger, November ) Tyrol Chamber of Commerce 2007 economic report 6) dwif Munich (German Economic Institute for Tourism Research), 2005 ropeway added value study,t- MONA 06 Tourism Monitor Austria advert: Professional Association of Austrian Ropeway Operators, www. seilbahnen.at/heute/wertschoepfung 7) Professional Association of Austrian Ropeway Operators, www. seilbahnen.at/seilbahnen/heute/ wirtschaftsfaktor BACKSTAGEMAGAZINE 5

6 Snow guarantee Snow-making technology Facts and figures Facts and figures The Tyrol has over 2,500 km of ski slopes with a slope surface area of around 7,300 hectares. This corresponds to roughly 0.6% of the entire Tyrol surface area (according to the Tyrol State Government Regional Planning Division). 8) 5,300 hectares, i.e. 73% of the Tyrol s slope surface area, are supplied with snow from snow-making equipment. 9) In comparison: 10) see illustration on opposite page Austria s 254 ropeway operators invested 562 million Euros in the 2010 business year. Of this amount, 287 million Euros were invested in ropeway facilities, 122 million Euros in slope construction, access systems, car parks, access roads, catering, slope equipment, sledge tracks, etc., and 153 million Euros in snowmaking technology 11). In comparison: 2009: 163 million, 2008: 127 million, 2007: 115 million 2006: 55 million. 12) Snow-making technology amounts to 17%-20% of ropeway companies overall costs. 13) Each year in Switzerland more than 80 million Swiss francs are invested in technical snow-making. This has resulted in a significant increase in the number of slopes serviced by snow guns. In 1999/2000 only 5% of slopes were snowed using snow guns. By 2009/2010 this percentage had increased to 36%. 14) 8) Tyrol Chamber of Commerce 2007 economic report, p. 1 f. 9) Tyrol Chamber of Commerce 2007 economic report, p ) Professional Association of Austrian Ropeway Operators, aktuell/factsheet-winter 11) Professional Association of Austrian Ropeway Operators, aktuell/factsheet-winter 12) Tyrol Chamber of Commerce 2007 economic report, p ) Tyrol Chamber of Commerce 2007 economic report, p ) Facts and figures on the Swiss cable-car industry issued by Seilbahnen Schweiz 6 BACKSTAGEMAGAZINE

7 Bavaria 3,700 hectares of slope surface area, 13% covered with technical snow All of France 25,000 hectares of slope surface area, 19% covered with technical snow Canton of Graubünden 20% technical snowcovered slopes Tyrol 7,300 hectares of slope surface area, 73% covered with technical snow All of Austria 25,400 hectares of slope surface area, 66% covered with technical snow Dolomiti Superski 1,200 km of slopes, 95% covered with technical snow All of Switzerland 80 km2 of slope surface area, 36% covered with technical snow All of South Tyrol Over 80% technical snowcovered slope surface area BACKSTAGEMAGAZINE 7

8 Snow guarantee BOTH NATURAL AND TECHNICAL SNOW CONSIST EXCLUSIVELY OF THE ELEMENTS WATER AND AIR Water & air, nothing else! Formation of natural snow Both natural and technical snow consist exclusively of the elements water and air. Snow develops from finely condensed droplets of water which form in the clouds through the cooling and oversaturation of atmospheric air. At very low temperatures, small ice crystals are formed and are drawn to the ground by gravity. As they fall through different layers of air over the course of several minutes, ice crystals grow along their axes, forming typical snow crystals. The snow crystals mass together to form snow flakes. Depending on the water content and shape of the snow flakes, different types of natural snow are formed ranging from powder and corn snow to wet spring snow. Basic principles behind snow-making technology In the same way as natural snow, technical snow consists exclusively of the elements water and air. The only differ- ence is that technical snow is produced by a machine. It is therefore incorrect to talk of artificial snow. Artificial snow is in fact plastic or polystyrene snow made for the theater or films. The correct term for snow made from snow-making equipment is technical snow. Technical snow is produced by replicating the natural snow formation. Regardless of the type of snow gun (fan guns or lances), water is atomized into tiny droplets using nozzles. The finely atomized mist strikes the finely atomized water/compressed air mixture which leaves the nucleation nozzles and contains the nuclides (= snow cores). The fan gun turbine projects the nuclides and fine mist into the ambient air. As the water/air mixture falls, it freezes into snowflakes. 8 BACKSTAGEMAGAZINE

9 Climatic requirements for technical snow-making Several parameters must be observed to make snow. The term snow temperature is used to refer to the wet bulb temperature. The wet bulb temperature results from the dry bulb temperature (= the temperature that can be read on a standard thermometer) and the relative atmospheric humidity expressed as a percentage. Due to the wind chill, the wet bulb temperature is always lower than the air temperature. The dryer the ambient air, the greater the difference in temperature. At 100% atmospheric humidity no more water can evaporate and the wet bulb temperature equates to the dry bulb temperature. A low dry bulb temperature and low atmospheric humidity provide the optimum conditions for making snow. The higher the atmospheric humidity, the more unfavorable the conditions for making snow, as the ambient air is already humid and can only absorb a small additional amount of humidity or no more humidity. On snow guns, the wet bulb temperature is measured by the weather station. At the start of the snow season, marginal temperatures very frequently prevail and this represents a major challenge for snow making and snow quality. Ever since it was founded, TechnoAlpin has always been concerned with making snow under these extreme conditions. If the wet bulb temperature drops, more snow can be produced faster. Also the water temperature plays an essential role in efficient snow making and producing good quality snow, and ideally is slightly above freezing point. If the water is too warm, cooling towers are used to reduce the water to the right temperature. Atmospheric humidity in % Temperature in C % ,4 80% % % % % % % % Wet bulb temperature BACKSTAGEMAGAZINE 9

10 Snow guarantee Focus on snow guns Snow guns are just one component of snow-making equipment - albeit the most visible. Many components and elements must interact with each other in order to supply the snow gun with the correct quantities of water, compressed air and electricity, at the correct pressure, in the right place and at the right time. We distinguish between two different types of snow guns: Fan guns and snow lances. The snow generation principle is the same for both types of device, the difference lies in the amount of snow produced, the cost and the application range. Selecting the most suitable type of snow gun depends on the hillside orientation, temperature, slope width, amount of snow required, gradient of the terrain, wind situation and air circulation. The mountain s individual characteristics must be taken into account. Both fan guns and snow lances are available as manually adjustable or fully automated models. Both types can produce a range of different snow qualities (from completely dry to wet). 10 BACKSTAGEMAGAZINE

11 EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW How many hours on average is a snow gun in use each season? This depends on the slope surface on which the snow is to be delivered and on the number of snow guns available. On average, it can be expected that each snow gun will be operated for 800 hours per season. Is there a guideline for the number of snow guns per hectare? Over recent years, 100 hours has become the recommended amount, i.e. under good weather conditions, it should take 100 hours to cover the slope surface with a 40 cm-thick layer of technical snow. This corresponds to 2 fan guns per hectare. How long does it take to assemble a fan gun? All TechnoAlpin snow guns are assembled at the company s head quarters in Bolzano (South Tyrol, Italy). Over the past 20 years, 20,000 snow guns have been sold to over 950 customers in more than 40 countries across the world. 40 fan guns are produced in a 40-hours week. What kind of lifespan can be expected of a fan gun? In many ski areas different generations of snow guns are working together. The latest T40 model works alongside the M90, which in the meantime is 20 years old. The reinvestment in snow guns is more a question of technology and efficiency than a lack of functional efficiency. How much does a fan gun cost? A T60-type fully automated fan gun costs the same as a mid-range station-wagon. How much does one cubic meter of snow cost? The costs of one cubic meter of snow depend on the individual conditions of the area to be covered: water supply, pump output, reservoir, snow conditions, system amortisation, etc. The documentation talks of 3.5 to 5 Euro/m 3. BACKSTAGEMAGAZINE 11

12 Snow guarantee Advanced technology from the aircraft industry Fan guns Fan guns have a longer history than snow lances. For many years, only mobile fan guns were used. As snow making technology developed, stationary installations were implemented to avoid set-up times. Fan guns are characterized by a long projection, high snow output, low wind sensitivity and flexible use. Therefore they are mainly used on wide slopes, in areas with a high demand for snow, steep terrain or open areas exposed to wind. 12 BACKSTAGEMAGAZINE

13 Weather station Measures the temperature and relative atmospheric humidity Compact valve technology Valve block with integrated water filter: adjusts the water supply according to atmospheric conditions Nucleators and nozzles Atomize water and form nucleation agents from air and water. A heating system prevents the nozzle from freezing over in extremely cold temperatures High-Tech-Fan Mixes nucleation agents and water droplets and projects snow to distances of up to 60 meters Control unit Menu-driven control panel: enables simple and fast operation of the snow gun and viewing of the operating status Oil-free compressor Water supply connector Provides compressed air for the nucleator system in an environmentally-friendly way Central water supply connector mounted on a 360 swing coupling 3-point transport system Enables the snow gun to be safely transported using any groomer Swing devices Positions the turbine vertically and horizontally to ensure the most wide-ranging snow distribution possible BACKSTAGEMAGAZINE 13

14 Snow guarantee Oil-free compressor Creates compressed air for the nucleator system in an environmentally-friendly way Boom Houses the water and compressed air supply and enables the snow grain to be frozen along the length of the boom Control unit The lance can be supplied as a automatic version for network configuration or with its own stand alone user friendly LCD control unit Weather station Measures the temperature and relative atmospheric humidity 14 BACKSTAGEMAGAZINE

15 Performance is all in the head Snow lance Snow is generated on snow lances in the same way as on fan guns but at a greater height (by means of booms). Current booms measure up to 9 meters in length. The drop height is required to crystallize the snow flake, but in comparison to the fan gun, there is no fan. This means that projection distances are much shorter and wind sensitivity is greater. The quantity of snow produced by a lance is similar to that of a small fan gun. Lances are generally used as complete systems, equipped with a central pneumatic system. Lance head made of die-cast aluminum A special, tried and tested system in the lance head keeps the lance ice-free even in extremely cold temperatures and cross-winds Nucleators and water nozzles atomize water and form the nucleation agent out of air and water BACKSTAGEMAGAZINE 15

16 Snow guarantee Snow-making systems The required amount and quality of snow in the right place at the right time - produced efficiently and in a resource-saving way From the occasional use of snow guns to fully automated snow-making technology Whereas in the eighties, snow guns were only used occasionally to improve snow-free areas, today it only makes sense to perform large-scale snow-making operations to cover entire slopes with snow. The change from manual to fully automated technology also took place around the same time particularly in Europe. Only fully automated systems make it possible to easily and efficiently exploit the increasingly shorter temperature intervals to generate snow or rather they make it possible to react to relevant parameter changes within the shortest time frames. Operating conditions and resource consumption can be precisely monitored and assessed, set-up times cease to exist, operating costs can be optimized and consistent snow quality can be guaranteed across the entire resort. These days, virtually all Alpine ski resorts use fully automated systems. 16 BACKSTAGEMAGAZINE

17 Snow-making system components Snow-making systems are complex technological devices which incorporate a variety of components. Out on the slopes it is mostly just snow guns and filling stations that are visible, yet these devices only make up a small proportion of the entire system. Apart from the fact that each snow-making system is tailor-made for each mountain, the following simplified key questions must be answered when designing systems: When set up on the mountain, how will the snow gun be supplied with the necessary amount of water at the right pressure? When set up on the mountain, how will the snow gun be supplied with the necessary electricity? When set up on the mountain, how will the snow gun be supplied with the necessary compressed air? How will the device be controlled so that snow targets (quality and amount of snow, time taken to cover a set distance with snow, etc.) can be achieved efficiently and in a resource-saving way in the event of changing parameters such as temperature, atmospheric humidity, wind direction, wind force, water temperature, water consumption and operating conditions? The answer to these questions is found in the diverse technical system components which are implemented according to requirements: WATER CATCHMENTS, RESERVOIRS, PUMP STATIONS, COMPRES- SORS or centralized compressor stations, air and water PIPES, POWER CABLES, POWER SUPPLY FACILITIES, FIBER OPTIC CABLES for data transfer, COOLING TOWERS to cool the snow water, PITS, VALVES to adjust the amount of water and air, CONTROL SOFTWARE for fully automated control of the system. As individual as the ski slope The snow-making system is just as unique as the skiresort in which it is used. The system must perfectly match the area s natural environment. Planning the system requires the appropriate expertise. TechnoAlpin has its in-house planning department where all the systems used throughout the world are designed. Design takes place in close collaboration with the customer and takes into account future expansion stages. A master plan is drawn up, taking all conceivable, future expansion stages into account. Geographic data, enabling maximum precision, forms the basis for the planning. 5 1 Centralized compressor station for supplying compressed air 2 Fully automated computer monitoring of the system 3 Control center 4 Pump station 5 The masterplan BACKSTAGEMAGAZINE 17

18 Snow guarantee THE JOINT AIM OF SNOW-MAKING TECH- NOLOGY AND SKI SLOPE PREPARATION IS TO PROVIDE PERFECT SLOPES, OFFERING GOOD GRIP FROM MOUNTAIN TO VALLEY A symbiotic relationship Snow-making technology and slope preparation: a symbiosis The aim of snow-making technology and slope preparation is to provide perfect ski slopes, offering good grip from mountain to valley. The quality of snow determines how many hours of slope preparation are required. Even with extensive use of the tiller, fine-grained slopes offering a good grip cannot be conjured up out of wet snow. Snow must be mechanically dispensed, mixed and thickened at the right point in time to maintain a homogenous and compact slope. Slope preparation is taken into account early on during the snow-making equipment planning stage. This means that expensive snow ploughing operations using snow grooming machines can be avoided. Automated systems for measuring snow depth have been developed so that precious snow can be supplied to the areas where it is really needed. This is known as snow management. 18 BACKSTAGEMAGAZINE

19 Controlling snow guns when on the move Bluetooth technology An increasing number of manufacturers use this technology for wireless connection of electronic notebooks and mobile phone accessories, for example. TechnoAlpin has now applied the Bluetooth application range to snow-making technology. Many lift companies have adopted this technology rendering the everyday tasks of the snow teams far easier, as drivers can control snow guns remotely from their cabs when on the move. All the snow gun s functions can be read and controlled using the remote control. Operation is easy and identical to that of a customary keyboard. ALL THE SNOW GUN S FUNCTIONS CAN BE READ AND CONTROLLED WITHOUT FAIL USING THE REMOTE CONTROLS BACKSTAGEMAGAZINE 19

20 Snow guarantee 1903 Osborne Reynolds ( ) developed a device to artificially produce hailstones. 1937The first attempt to replicate natural snow took place in New York for a skishow on crushed ice from a brewery. Around 1940 When investigating the effect of rime on jet engines, researchers happened upon the discovery of the basic principle behind snow-making as they sprayed water into a wind tunnel at a low temperature Alden Hanson developed the first fan gun and patented it in /1960 Installation of Europe s first snowmaking system in St. Andreasberg/Harz (Germany) with Larchmont snow guns Fritz Jakob from Austria, inventor and founder of the company Linde, registered his snowmaking patent. For a long time, Linde (Austria) was Europe s sole snow gun manufacturer The first compressed air snow gun was manufactured in America by Art Hunt, Dave Richey and Wayne Pierce from the Tey Manufacturing company Engineer Joe Tropeano sponsored the Tey Manufacturing patent and Larchmont produced the first series of high-pressure snow guns Innsbruck Winter Olympics: snow guns were used to prepare the bobsleigh and toboggan runs. 1964/65 John Caviezel from St. Moritz built the first snow-making systems in Switzerland and Sweden Hedco from the USA began the mass production of fan guns. 20 BACKSTAGEMAGAZINE

21 From crushed ice to fine powder snow A historical retrospective Canada around 1940: When investigating the effect of rime on jet engines, researchers happened upon the discovery of the basic principle behind snow-making as they sprayed water into a wind tunnel at a low temperature. 1978/79 Austrian lift companies acquired the first fan guns from the company Hedco The American company York developed the first fully automated snow-making systems Snow-making was promoted in the Alps and Scandinavia after several snowless winters. Snow guns were still mainly used to improve the natural covering of snow Walter Rieder and Georg Eisath, at the time still technical managers of Obereggen AG (South Tyrol - Italy), developed the first fan guns TechnoAlpin AG was founded. The market divided itself between fan gun and snow lance manufacturers. From 2000 Ski resorts began to steadily increase their investments in technical facilities. However investments were continuously shifted from lift systems to snow-making technology Snow reliability and slope quality are the primary success factors for a ski resort. TechnoAlpin is the world market leader in snow-making technology. 20 other companies operate on the market Efficiency and resource management are the main issues of snow-making technology. Snow reliability proves to be the true life insurance for ski resorts. TechnoAlpin fan gun in 1990 BACKSTAGEMAGAZINE 21

22 Snow guarantee Snow-making Environment & climate change 22 BACKSTAGEMAGAZINE

23 TECHNICAL SNOW CONSISTS EXCLUSIVELY OF WATER AND AIR Is water modified when making technical snow? Not at all. It s the same as natural snow, water is simply transformed into another physical state. The quality of the water used is paramount. In the Tyrol, water must be of drinking water quality. What effect does technical snow have on vegetation? Technical snow does not have a negative effect on vegetation. Research carried out by the Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research in Davos has shown that the technical snow factor has less effect on vegetation than the ski slope factor in general. 14) On the contrary, technical snow protects sensitive turf from the wear and tear of snow groomers and the sharp edges of skis. A sufficient covering of snow insulates the ground, preventing ground frost in the autumn and spring. The ground is permeated by the melting snow in the spring. How far does global warming affect technical snow? Scientists from Innsbruck University s Institute for Meteorology and Geophysics and from the Tyrol and Vorarlberg regional branch of ZAMG (Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics) have carried out research into the conditions for snow production and their changes over recent years. Results of the studies: natural climate changes and winters with and without snow have existed since time immemorial. It is not just high altitudes, air temperature, atmospheric humidity and water temperature that are conducive to making snow. Small-scale climatic conditions such as the orientation of the area, wind influences and temperature inversions must also be taken into account. For example, due to the narrow valley in the Schladming area, snowmaking conditions are often better in lower areas than in areas above 1,000 meters. 15) Do you want to use snow-making technology to extend the winter season into the spring? No. Snow-making technology serves principally to ensure snow in the autumn. Most snow days occur in the autumn and early winter. In most cases, the snow-making season winds up at the end of January. In any case, interest in winter sports dramatically diminishes from mid-march. Covering the glaciers with snow has gained considerable importance as it enables the ski season to begin earlier on the glaciers and slows down deglaciation. 14) Artificial snow in the Alps, alpmedia background report, December 2004, p. 12, 15) Prof. Dr. Ulrike Pröbstl, Universität für Bodenkultur Wien, 2007 BACKSTAGEMAGAZINE 23

24 A GLIMPSE BEHIND THE SCENES