NORD Gearbox Construction: Project Säntis 2026 – on-time delivery of NORD drives
17/June/2026
Another important milestone has been reached: The NORD drives for the new Säntis cable car company were delivered on schedule from the NORD warehouse and handed over to the customer Garaventa AG.
Thanks to coordinated planning, component availability, and reliable logistics, the drive solutions were delivered as planned. The gearboxes are now available for the next project phases – ready for further on-site assembly at Säntis.
Especially in an alpine infrastructure project of this magnitude, every detail counts: precise coordination, reliable delivery dates and robust drive technology designed for the special requirements of the cable car sector.
" We are pleased that we were able to make a further contribution to the Säntis 2026 project with the on-time delivery and would like to thank Garaventa AG for the partnership and Säntis-Schwebebahn AG for the trust placed in us ."
piece of Säntis history is being rewritten: at the end of 2026, the new cable car will take guests to the summit of the adventure mountain in even greater comfort. Where tradition meets innovation, a structure is being created that will allow generations to experience the Säntis as a weather mountain and excursion destination in a whole new way. Look forward to state-of-the-art technology, more space for enjoyment and breathtaking views.
Cable car technology
The new drive system in the bottom station consists of two main and two emergency drives, gears and brakes. In the event of a system failure, operation with a reduced payload is guaranteed at all times. Two new emergency power generators secure the electrical supply in the event of a power failure. Thanks to the full redundancy of the system, a return trip to the stations can be ensured in any case and a recovery train or recovery device can be dispensed with (integrated evacuation system).
A new, modern cable car control system will also be installed in the bottom station. Communication with the top station is via fiber optic cables embedded in the suspension cables.
The new cable car can also be operated unaccompanied. This means that longer or special operating times are possible without major personnel costs.
The four new suspension cables are fixed in place at the mountain and valley stations. The cable reserve is installed at the mountain station. The new haul rope is spliced endlessly. The carriages are connected to the haul rope by clamps. This means that no cable end fastenings are necessary and safety brakes are not required. By opening the clamps, it is possible to ‘park’ both cabins at the valley station. This can increase the availability of the cable car in extreme weather conditions, such as icing. The haul rope is tensioned by a new tensioning weight at the mountain station.
Intermediate pylon
The approved intermediate entry and exit will also be retained for the new, higher intermediate pylon in the area of the current "Pylon 2". An attractive guest platform will make boarding and alighting a spectacular experience.
The greater cable tension and the greater freedom of the cabins to swing increase wind stability and the redundant drive system (integrated clearance) also improves the availability of the cable car.
The first pylon is no longer required as the second pylon is raised and the cable tension is increased. By eliminating pylon 1, massive avalanche protection can be dispensed with in this area and the landscape is enhanced. The disused pylon foundations will be dismantled, including those of the first cable car from 1935. The resulting pits will be backfilled and renaturalized.
Cabins
The new cabins with large panoramic windows and modern materials promise an exceptional travel experience. Although the cabin will be slightly larger, the transport capacity will remain the same as before at 85 passengers. This means that the space per passenger will be slightly larger, which will improve comfort.
Mountain and valley station
The mountain and valley stations will basically remain the same, but the waiting areas will be slightly modernized.
Material transportation will be carried out before the interruption of the cable car. The material is stored in the panorama hall and the waiting area at the summit, which is why the waiting room is temporarily relocated.
