German innovation award for Zermatt 3s cabins.

The Matterhorn Glacier Ride. German innovation award for Zermatt 3s cabins.

German innovation award for Zermatt 3s cabins.

LEITNER ropeways wins award for special technical feature

By building the world’s highest 3S gondola lift ‘Matterhorn glacier ride’ to Klein Matterhorn in Zermatt (CH), LEITNER ropeways has created a ropeway highlight that has made waves worldwide. Some of the cabins developed with Italian design firm Pininfarina feature glass floors. These cabins have now been recognized with an award in the ‘Aviation & Maritime Technologies’ category at the renowned German Innovation Award.

Leitner Crystal ride. The Matterhorn Glacier Ride. German innovation award for Zermatt 3s cabins.
Leitner Crystal ride. The Matterhorn Glacier Ride. German innovation award for Zermatt 3s cabins.

Special Features

Each year, the Design Council, which was initiated by the German Parliament and is founded by the German industry, presents the ‘German Innovation Award’ to honour outstanding products and solutions with a special user focus and which add special value compared with previous solutions.

The 3S cabin of the ‘Matterhorn glacier ride’ on Klein Matterhorn was one of this year’s award winners. Its unique design earned it a win in the ‘Aviation & Maritime Technologies’ category. The jury made up of independent, interdisciplinary experts from industry, science, institutions and the financial sector, was particularly impressed by the exclusive “special features” in four of the 25 cabins.

These four cabins have a glass floor with a surprise feature. The cabins’ true secret is revealed after three minutes of the journey, when the opaque glass floor suddenly becomes transparent and reveals a spectacular view of the glacier landscape 170 meters below.

Continue reading “German innovation award for Zermatt 3s cabins.”

Leitner presents the “Matterhorn Glacier Ride” the world’s highest cablecar, located in Zermatt designed by Pininfarina and showcasing Swarovski crystals.

The Matterhorn Glacier Ride. German innovation award for Zermatt 3s cabins.

Zermatt’s latest attraction, the “Matterhorn glacier ride”, is set to open at the end of September. The world’s highest 3S cableway, combining the ultimate in design sophistication with maximum comfort, will serve Europe’s highest cableway station. The new 3S cable car ride built by LEITNER ropeways will enable visitors to reach the Klein Matterhorn, a popular destination for excursions, 365 days a year. The making of the “Matterhorn glacier ride” is a story as extraordinary as the ride itself. A total of 38 companies from Switzerland and Italy have been involved in Zermatt Bergbahnen AG’s largest-ever construction project. With the project due to be completed in an incredible 600 working days, they are turning the vision of the “Matterhorn glacier ride” into reality.  Zermatt Bergbahnen AG and LEITNER ropeways worked together with Swarovski to produce a very special premium product: a state-of-the-art ropeway technology in Pininfarina design meets premium crystal finishing, and provides an as-yet unrivalled level of finishing and design.

The station for the 3s Bahn that will ride to the Klein Matterhorn. Zermatt Bergbahnen. Zermatt Tourism Office.
The station for the 3s Bahn that will ride to the Klein Matterhorn. Zermatt Bergbahnen. Zermatt Tourism Office.

Europe’s highest construction site

145 people from 38 different companies have been involved in the biggest construction project in the history of Zermatt Bergbahnen AG. From September 2018, the 3S (three-cable system) cableway will transport up to 2000 passengers an hour to Matterhorn glacier paradise (Klein Matterhorn) – 365 days a year.

The Klein Matterhorn usually has daytime temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees, wind speeds reaching 240 km/h, heavy snow and dense fog.

Continue reading “Leitner presents the “Matterhorn Glacier Ride” the world’s highest cablecar, located in Zermatt designed by Pininfarina and showcasing Swarovski crystals.”