Skilifte Lech: Pioneer in snow safety

Skilifte Lech Ing. Bildstein Gesellschaft m.b.H. is embedded in one of the largest contiguous ski areas in the world, connecting three skiing areas as well as two Austrian provinces.

The entire skiing-area has 300km of downhill slopes and an additional 200km of off-piste runs. To ensure snow for this vast area, 1100 snow guns and 70 snow groomers are in use. Historically, the region around the Arlberg is also known as the cradle of alpine skiing.

Skilifte Lech Ing. Bildstein Gesellschaft m.b.H. developed the first powerful snow guns in the Alpine region as early as the 1970s. Currently there are more than 250 snow guns in operation and thus produce approx. 650,000 m³ of snow during the winter season.

Snow safety in winter

An availability of 100% for the high pressure pumps in the pump station is a must in wintertime. When the temperatures go down, the snow guns have to pick up speed and produce snow. This is the reason why the Skilifte Lech Ing. Bildstein Gesellschaft m.b.H. decided to use the DEPAC mechanical seal type 301P more than 10 years ago. The DEPAC Type 301P combines the energy-savings of a pressure balanced mechanical seal with the failure safety of a gland packing. The pioneering spirit has paid off, since the pumps were converted to high-quality seals from DEPAC, there have been no more unplanned failures.