SEMER, continued growth
Year 2018, year of all challenges
The projected activity for 2018 increases by 30% compared to 2017! SEMER teams are taking up the challenge, both human and technological.
This growth is explained on the one hand by the importance of projects to renovate electrical equipment of ropeways in France and on the other hand, by the increase in POMA activity related to urban and leisure ropeways throughout the world, whether they are multi-section ropeways, operated without agents for some, or very high speed 3S type.
SEMER currently employs 95 people and is implementing significant resources to support this growth, and therefore increase its ability to meet the needs of its French customers.
The production workshop is extended by 400 m2 to reach a total area of 2,000 m2. It includes a modern load test bench for the production of DirectDrive inverters. 70 units are already programmed to meet the needs of 2019.
The on-site response capacity for wiring electrical equipment, powering up, troubleshooting or assisting operators in their maintenance work has increased by 50%.
The design office and the after-sales service are structured with a constant recruitment plan: a workforce already increased by no less than six technicians over 2018.
Major renovations in France
Several major projects are underway. Some clients have anticipated project planning, allowing studies to begin in the winter of 2017/2018.
In Les Ménuires, the strategic double-section gondola lift Les Bruyères has been completely renovated: built in 1987 and 3-km long, it provides a link with the other resorts in the 3 valleys ski area.
The same is true for the Roc des 3 marches gondola lift, with an evolution of the stations to increase their capacity. The Mont de la Chambre 6-seater detachable chairlift (2,850 m), giving access to Méribel-Mottaret and Val Thorens, has also been completely modernized and will be equipped with an AFE asynchronous motorization in compliance with environmental energy-related rules.
In Vaujany, the two-section Vaujany-Villette-Montfrais gondola lift has been modernized; it provides direct access to the ski area from the village centre and indirectly to the Alpe d'Huez resort.
In Lyon, if the Fourvière funicular was successfully returned to service with a major overhaul and inspection in the spring, it is now the turn of the Saint-Just funicular to be refurbished: motorizations, vehicles, hot redundant radio remote transmissions, control-command equipment, etc. This major project is being carried out in close collaboration with KEOLYS and SYTRAL.
Many other projects in La Plagne, the Southern Alps and the Pyrenees involve our technicians and their expertise.
Increasingly technological and high value-added projects
The leisure or urban transport markets are changing rapidly. Effective innovation is a strong strategic focus for SEMER engineers.
To make it easier the operation of ropeways, the implementation of agentless operation in stations is being carried out this year on the new POMA gondolas of Brévières in Tignes, and Paganon-Eclose-Bergers in the Alpe d'Huez.
In the same vein, the HyperView operation and maintenance support software now includes an "application programming interface" (API) to facilitate the exchange of information from each ropeway.
The new SmartBOARD control and driving station presented at Mountain Planet 2018 will make it easier for operators to work on the new "Vieux Mazot" gondola lift in Les Diablerets (Switzerland) and on the brand new 6-seater detachable chairlift "Pierre Longue" in Châtel, starting this year.
Improving performance is also a constant need.
The famous DirectDrive technology of the HTI group now includes the possibility of coupling 2 DirectDrive motors, thus allowing useful powers higher than Megawatt, while continuing to benefit from the availability advantages of each motor...
The comfort of passengers in the cabin is not to be outdone: on-board Wi-Fi access point, intercom, sound and video, seat heating, ventilation and ambient lighting... These solutions require adapted and high-tech on-board power supply systems.
SEMER engineers and technicians are working to implement these solutions on numerous projects, whether for urban pulsed-lift in Belgium, urban gondola lifts with 3 or 4 sections for megacities in Colombia and Ecuador or 3S gondola lifts in the "Chimelong Ocean Kingdom" park in Zhuhai in the delta of the Pearl River, a real "Chinese Riviera" near Macao.