The latest in winter wonderland technology: KSB at INTERALPIN '23

Efficient technology for carving it up on reliably snow-covered slopes

It is a fact: Climate change has long arrived in the mountains. Winters in the Alps are becoming warmer, snowfall is becoming sparser, and the snow line is moving higher up the mountains – with major consequences for ski resorts. Even regions that, until a few years ago, were known for having a reliable snow cover can no longer guarantee perfect pistes.

To be able to offer their guests a skiing season that is largely weather-independent and lasts as long as possible, more and more regions and lift operators opt for snow cannons and other snow-making systems. The only challenge: Snow-making generally consumes a lot of energy. It is all the more important for the pumps fitted in such systems not to be "energy gobblers"; they have to work as efficiently as possible.

KSB builds up pressure – from water extraction to the piste

Before water can be turned into snow on the piste, it has to come a long way, which can be divided into two sections:

1. Water extraction: the low-pressure section
Sources of water are usually water reservoirs or ponds. From reservoirs, the water is transported to the pumping system with low-pressure pumps, for example Etanorm, CPK or Omega. If the water is taken from ponds, special submersible motor pumps such as Amarex KRT or UPA submersible borehole pumps are employed. As several hundred metres of altitude might have to be overcome between the place of water extraction and the pumping system, the components used here already have to perform at the highest level.

2. Snow-making: the high-pressure section
Snow cannons require a water pressure of up to 40 bar. This pressure is generated by multistage high-pressure pumps of the types Multitec, HG or HGM. The demands on these pumps are high – not only regarding their efficiency. At only 400 to 500 operating hours per season, it is essential for the pumps to run absolutely reliably and trouble-free when needed.

The high quality of KSB pumps, valves and services has proved its worth in numerous ski regions, e.g. in Ischgl, Kitzbühel, St Moritz, Saalbach-Hinterglemm and in the glacier regions of Stubai and Pitztal.