Leitner, a South Tyrolean multinational leader in ski lifts, has created Connx, a flexible and integrated system of electric mobility where the cable car becomes an electric minibus with self-driving wheels. The cable car cabin, once the ride is over, is transferred to an autonomous electric vehicle that continues its journey on urban roads with a maximum speed of almost 40 kilometers per hour. ConnX was conceived and patented by Leitner of the Hti group who created a prototype in full size to demonstrate how the optimal connection between aerial cableway systems and terrestrial electric mobility can take place. The heart of the idea is represented by a cable car whose cabin, once it enters the station, is transferred to an autonomous electric vehicle which then continues its path at street level. The system has two obvious advantages for urban contexts: on the one hand, it allows you to more easily overcome any topographical or structural obstacles with a cable car, on the other hand, the “double solution” is an important alternative for all those areas where, for For various reasons, it is not possible to implement a continuous cable car variant. “Once again our company group has gone from words to deeds, and once again it has done so by investing in technological innovation that will bring certain benefits for the quality of life of people and for the care of the environment – declares Anton Seeber president of the Hti group which includes companies such as Leitner, Poma, Prinoth, Demaclenko and Leitwind -. One year after the launch of the first Prinoth hydrogen snow groomer – he continues -, today we are proud to announce a new solution that highlights our ability to transform innovative ideas into reality. This time at the service of increasingly liveable and sustainable urban centers ».
Martin Leitner, vice president of the Hti group, sales and research and development manager of the company tells how the idea was born. “Precisely from the daily experience gained in recent years in the construction of urban cableway systems and by comparing ourselves in the field with the different realities and needs around the world, we have entrusted our research and development office with the task of giving substance to an idea that would make it possible to complete a cableway mobility system that today in cities and in certain situations is faced with limitations, such as a curve or the visual impact of a cableway line in the historic center, which risk limiting a more widespread use. ConnX therefore wants to be that decisive piece capable of making our mobility system even more effective ».
The High technology industries (HTI) group is a global player in the sector of cableways (Leitner and Poma), snow groomers and tracked vehicles (Prinoth), artificial snowmaking (Demaclenko) and wind energy (Leitwind). After exceeding one billion in turnover in 2018 and 2019, the HTI Group closed 2020, marked by the Covid pandemic, with a turnover of 887 million and investing 26.9 million in research and development and 23.8 million in capital goods. The Group has over 3,800 collaborators active all over the world.