Swiss Mountain Award 2025: The Nominees Announced
Cable cars are known for being on the move. The Swiss cable car industry is also moving forward and developing innovative projects. The Swiss Mountain Award recognizes revolutionary ideas, and the jury has nominated three groundbreaking projects from Remontées Mécaniques Grimentz-Zinal SA, Mantis Ropeway Technologies AG, and Melya Systems GmbH. The winner will be announced at the Swiss Cable Cars industry conference on October 28, 2025, in Rapperswil-Jona.
The Swiss Mountain Award is a national award presented by Swiss Cable Cars (SBS) for outstanding achievements in the Swiss cable car industry and is being presented for the eleventh time this year. The eight-member jury is comprised of experts from the mountain railway, tourism, business, and research sectors, and the prize money of CHF 10,000 is sponsored by Sisag AG. Once again this year, the jury received numerous applications and nominated three projects for the award.
Alpine Top – the world’s first fully glazed cable car cabin
With the Alpine Top Cabin, the mountain railway company Remontées Mécaniques Grimentz-Zinal SA is setting new standards in cable car technology. The fully glazed cabin with two open balconies offers passengers spectacular panoramic views and ensures a unique ride experience. The innovative design with a glass floor enhances the feeling of floating above the Alps, while the side glass balconies provide an open-air experience. The Alpine Top Cabin is a world first and appeals to both adventure seekers and families. The innovation is an attraction in warmer weather, promoting year-round tourism and thus contributing to the region's economic development. The jury particularly praised the combination of technical innovation, experiential value, and tourism promotion.
Mantis Autonomy – AI-supported safety for chairlifts
Mantis Autonomy is the world's first AI-supported system for autonomous chairlift operation and was developed by Mantis Ropeway Technologies AG. The system uses cameras and software that harnesses artificial intelligence to monitor passenger disembarkation and detect potentially hazardous situations. This allows the mountain station to operate without permanent staff. After five years of development, the first operating permits were issued in December 2023, and six additional systems were commissioned in the winter of 2024/25. The jury praised the groundbreaking technology, which both increases passenger safety and optimizes personnel resources. Already successfully deployed in several ski resorts, the system demonstrates great future potential for the entire cable car industry.
blueYAGI – Early warning system for cable car technicians
The blueYAGI system was developed to increase the safety of cable car technicians during maintenance work on aerial cable cars and funiculars during ongoing operations. It offers a three-stage alarm system with a range of up to 500 meters for aerial cable cars and 300 meters for funiculars, and functions reliably even in tunnels and on curves. In practice, the first alarm is triggered at a distance of just 150 meters, with the signal frequency gradually increasing to 100 and 50 meters as the system approaches. This technical aid allows technicians to concentrate on their tasks without having to constantly monitor operations. Timely warnings of approaching vehicles can prevent dangerous situations and significantly increase occupational safety. The jury was impressed by the project's high relevance for safety in the cable car industry and its precise technological implementation.
"The three nominated projects impressively demonstrate how innovations are driving the cable car industry forward. They not only offer technological advances but also create tangible added value for employees, guests, and operators," said Berno Stoffel, Director of SBS and jury member.
