Cableways Impact Assessment Study - Final Report - saferail.nl

IA Study Concerning the Revision of the Cableways Directive
Figure 2.4: The Alps (Reproduced from Johomaps (2006))
In France and Switzerland, the cableways industry is more clustered in comparison
with Italy and Austria. In France, the epicentre of the industry is the town of
Grenoble in the South East of France, while in Switzerland a large proportion of
companies involved in the cableways industry are located in the North East of the
country. In Austria and Italy, however, the industry is less clustered and more
dispersed across the alpine regions of these countries.
Manufacturers of installations and subsystems and companies involved in cableways
planning and consultation are all located in close proximity to the Alps. This location
offers significant strategic advantages for companies. Most notably, manufacturers
have quick and easy access to each other and to customers in their national markets as
well as those in the Alps within neighbouring countries. This also facilitates a more
efficient after sales and maintenance service.
While the European industry is currently centred on the traditional cableways
markets, manufacturing is beginning to take place outside this area, reflecting
changing trends in the industry. Leitner, for example, have recently opened a
manufacturing facility in Slovakia, as a result of increasing demand from Eastern
Europe. This allows closer contact and easier access not only with Slovakia but also
other countries of Eastern Europe.
France
South East France, in the region of Rhône-Alpes, particularly around the cities of
Grenoble and Lyon, has become a hub of ski and cableways activity. Manufacturers
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