Bartholet Ropeways AG

Bartholet Ropeways AG, until the end of 2025 known as Bartholet Maschinenbau AG, is a Swiss manufacturer of ropeways, leisure park installations and high-mast lighting systems for airports. The company is based in Flums in the canton of St. Gallen and has been part of the South Tyrolean HTI Group since 2022. HTI, which also owns Leitner AG and Pomagalski, together with its rival Doppelmayr/Garaventa dominates the global ropeway market. Founded in the late 1960s by Anton Bartholet, the company initially focused on building used ropeway systems. Its first own installation was the Schönhalden group pendulum ropeway in Flums in 1976, followed by its first own ski tow in 1977. Over the following decades Bartholet expanded into chairlifts, small cable cars, water rides, monorails and detachable gondola lifts. In 2014 it acquired the independent cabin manufacturer Gangloff, becoming a full-range supplier for ropeways. The company built its first detachable gondola lift in 2015 on the Lenzerheide. Today Bartholet employs more than 300 people and describes itself as an internationally active company in ropeway systems and other innovative solutions, realizing complex projects in mountain regions and urban centers efficiently, custom-specifically and in the highest Swiss quality. Its brand identity is summarized by the slogan "We move. We connect." The product range includes ski tows, fixed-grip and detachable chairlifts, detachable gondola lifts, the Ropetaxi system with motorized gondolas, combined lifts, pendulum ropeways, funiculars and inclined lifts, funitels, material ropeways, leisure park installations and High Lights (lighting masts with lowering systems). Notable projects include the Luzhniki cable car in Moscow, the Brest urban ropeway with 60-person cabins, the Churwalden–Heidbüel gondola lift, the Funitel Porette–Col du Bouchet in Val Thorens, the Lavadinal–Fuorcla da Sagogn chairlift in Laax and the FlemXpress in Flims, the company's first Ropetaxi installation.

Bartholet was founded in the late 1960s by Anton Bartholet. Initially the company was only involved in the construction of used ropeway systems. Its first own installation was the Schönhalden group pendulum ropeway in Flums in 1976. In 1977 Bartholet began building its first own ski tows near the company location. The first chairlift in the company's history was the fixed-grip two-seater Twärchamm chairlift on the Flumserberg in 1981. Three years later the first own chairs were produced. In addition to ski tows, chairlifts and group pendulum ropeways, Bartholet built its first small cable car in Mels in 1987. In 1996 Bartholet built its first white-water ride. The company's first large pendulum ropeway was the Känzeli cable car on the Brambrüesch in Chur, designed in 2005 and opened in 2006. The company entered another new business field in 2006 with the construction of monorails. The first such system was built in Bahrain in 2006. In 2007 Bartholet built its first detachable ropeway in the form of a six-seater chairlift in Val-d'Isère, France. The detachable clamp used was not an in-house development, however, but the Wopfner clamp developed in 1989 by the Austrian company of the same name. In 2011 Bartholet built its only funitel to date in Val Thorens, France. In 2014 Bartholet acquired the previously independent cabin manufacturer Gangloff and thus became a full-range supplier for ropeways. Also using the Wopfner clamp, Bartholet built its first detachable gondola lift in the company's history in 2015 on the Lenzerheide. Since 2022 Bartholet has belonged to the South Tyrolean HTI Group. HTI, which includes the companies Leitner AG and Pomagalski, and its competitor Doppelmayr/Garaventa dominate the global ropeway market. At the end of 2025 the company was renamed from Bartholet Maschinenbau AG to Bartholet Ropeways AG. Today the company employs more than 300 people and realizes complex projects in mountain regions and urban centers worldwide.

• 2025

  Renamed from Bartholet Maschinenbau AG to Bartholet Ropeways AG at the end of 2025.

• 2022

  Bartholet became part of the South Tyrolean HTI Group.

• 2015

  Built first detachable gondola lift on the Lenzerheide.

• 2014

  Acquired independent cabin manufacturer Gangloff, becoming a full-range ropeway supplier.

• 2011

  Built only funitel to date in Val Thorens, France.

• 2007

  First detachable ropeway: six-seater chairlift in Val-d'Isère, France.

• 2006

  Känzeli cable car opened; first monorail built in Bahrain.

• 2005

  Designed first large pendulum ropeway: Känzeli cable car on the Brambrüesch in Chur.

• 1996

  First white-water ride built.

• 1987

  First small cable car built in Mels.

• 1984

  First own chairs produced.

• 1981

  First chairlift: fixed-grip two-seater Twärchamm on the Flumserberg.

• 1977

  Began building first own ski tows near the company location.

• 1976

  First own installation: Schönhalden group pendulum ropeway in Flums.

• 1968

  Bartholet founded by Anton Bartholet in the late 1960s.

Swiss quality, innovation and custom solutions in ropeway systems for mountain and urban mobility.

• Ski tows

• Fixed-grip and detachable chairlifts

• Detachable gondola lifts

• Ropetaxi (gondola lifts with motorized gondolas)

• Combined lifts

• Pendulum ropeways

• Funiculars and inclined lifts

• Funitels

• Material ropeways

• Leisure park installations

• High Lights (lighting masts with lowering system)

1. 1Seilbahnsysteme, Gondelbahnen & urbane Mobilität | Bartholet Ropeways AGbartholet.swiss
2. 2Bartholet Maschinenbauwikidata.org
3. 3Bartholet Ropewaysde.wikipedia.org