The Tignes Lift Company (STGM) is replacing the Brevieres chairlift with a new one made from 80% of the old lift.

After nearly 40 years of long and loyal service, the chairlift was finally replaced this season. Twice covered by an avalanche and transporting around 50000 skiers each year, the 2-man has been superseded by a new fixed 4-man chair, with a capacity of 1800 people per hour.

A spokesman for Skirail, the company behind the new lift explained that “after dismantling and inspecting the old Brevieres chair, we realised that we could recycle nearly 80% of its components”. 13 of the 16 original pylons, the motor from the base station, most of the machinery in the arrival station and all the chairs can be reused. The environmental implications of recycling so much of their current lift hardware are considerable, and also why Tignes is well on its way to achieving its ISO 14001 certification for environmental management.

Every summer, STGM invest between €5m - €7million euros on improving its lift system and in 2007, the resort was voted No. 1 in Europe for its lift network.

 Information Source: www.skiclub.co.uk