#Industry News
GIS electric chain hoists used for construction of the steepest funicular railway in the world
4 electric chain hoists of the type GCH2500/2NF ensured safe transportation of the rail components
Since December 16th, 2017, the steepest funicular in the world has been operating from Schwyz up to Stoos, spectacularly taking winter sportsmen and hikers from the valley up into a mountain village in the heart of Switzerland. During the trip, the Stoos rail faces a maximum incline of 110 per cent (= 47 degrees) and rises 744 meters in altitude over a distance of 1,740 meters.
A special feature of the passenger cabin with an eye-catching design is the automatic level compensation, ensuring that the passengers are standing on a horizontal surface during the whole trip and are able to enjoy the impressive view in spite of the considerable slope varia-tions.
The new Stoos furnicular has been a mammoth project with a planning and realization period of 14 years. During the five-year-long construction phase, electric chain hoists by the Swiss manufacturer GIS also were applied on the displacement machine by Rowa, which was used to lay the concrete elements and rail tracks for the funicular. With a speed of 12 meters of travel distance per day, construction works were carried out towards the mountain. 4 electric chain hoists of the type GCH2500/2NF with a lifting capacity of 5 tons each, ensured safe transportation of the components needed for rail construction. The lifting processes were done individually or synchronously, while smooth running ensured exact positioning of the to some extent, long and bulky loads. The devices, which were designed for an intensive everyday use, did the job reliably and soundly under changing exterior conditions.
