Doppelmayr opens larger Salt Lake City facility to build ski lift towers in the US

Overview

Updated 2 hours ago

Doppelmayr, the world's largest ski lift manufacturer, opened a 160,000-square-foot headquarters and manufacturing facility in Salt Lake City on October 19, 2026. The expansion nearly doubles the company's Utah footprint and brings production of conical steel lift towers to the United States for the first time—previously, those towers were manufactured in Austria and shipped across the Atlantic.

The facility includes roughly 120,000 square feet of production and warehouse space, 40,000 square feet of office and training space, and a training center for lift technicians. New robotic welding equipment is expected to cut tower welding time by 40% to 60%. The move signals that Doppelmayr sees sustained demand from North American ski resorts, which are replacing aging lifts and expanding terrain.

Why it matters

Ski resorts across North America now have a faster, more reliable supply of lift components, shortening the timeline for new chairlifts and gondolas.

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Key Indicators

160,000

Square footage of new Doppelmayr facility

Includes production, warehouse, office, and training space.

130

Projected new jobs over 10 years

Under a state tax incentive agreement, Doppelmayr projects adding 130 high-paying jobs.

$82.4M

Projected total wages from new jobs

Estimated wages generated over the decade-long incentive period.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

People Involved

Katharina Schmitz

President of Doppelmayr USA

Active

Organizations Involved

Doppelmayr

Manufacturing Company

World's largest ski lift manufacturer

Austrian company that designs and builds chairlifts, gondolas, and aerial tramways.

Utah Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity

State Agency

Approved tax incentive for expansion

State agency that administers Utah's post-performance tax incentive program.

Timeline

June 2024 October 2026

4 events Latest: October 19th, 2026 · 1 week ago

Tap a bar to jump to that date

October 2026
Doppelmayr opens expanded headquarters
Latest Milestone

160,000-square-foot facility opens with Utah Gov. Spencer Cox at ribbon-cutting.
October 19th, 2026
2025
Construction begins on new facility
Construction

Building erected directly east of existing headquarters near Salt Lake City airport.
2025
July 2024
Doppelmayr announces Salt Lake City expansion
Announcement

Company says existing facility is too small, plans to nearly double its size.
July 1st, 2024
June 2024
Utah approves tax incentive for expansion
Government

Post-performance tax reduction tied to 130 new jobs over 10 years.
June 2024

Scenarios

Doppelmayr wins new lift contracts on strength of faster US delivery

Likely Resolves by Oct 27, 2027

Discussed by: Lift Blog, DCSki

With US-based tower production, Doppelmayr can offer shorter delivery times to North American resorts. This could help the company win contracts for upcoming lift replacements, particularly at resorts that previously favored competitors with closer supply chains. The expansion may also reduce shipping costs and logistics complexity.

Doppelmayr facility expands again to meet demand

Possible Resolves by Oct 27, 2029

Discussed by: Utah government officials

If demand for new lifts continues, Doppelmayr may add further capacity in Utah. The company's 2024-25 annual report highlighted major projects including 11 new ropeways at Deer Valley Resort. Continued growth in the luxury resort sector and replacement of aging lifts could drive further expansion.

Ski lift market slowdown tempers expansion benefits

Unlikely Resolves by Oct 27, 2028

Discussed by: Industry analysts on Lift Blog comments

The company's expansion assumes continued resort investment in new lifts. A downturn in ski tourism, economic recession, or a shift in resort spending could reduce demand for new ropeways. The extra capacity in Utah could then become underutilized, and the projected 130 new jobs may not materialize.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

June 2024

HTI opens Tooele facility (2024)

Doppelmayr's main competitor, HTI, opened a new 130,000-square-foot facility in Tooele, Utah, to support its Skytrac and Leitner-Poma brands. The facility was built to serve the growing North American ski lift market.

Then

Both major lift manufacturers now have expanded US production capabilities within 40 miles of each other.

Now

Competition between Doppelmayr and HTI for US lift contracts has intensified, with both companies positioned to offer faster delivery.

Why this matters now

Doppelmayr's expansion can be seen as a direct competitive response to HTI's new Utah facility, keeping both major players on equal footing for US projects.

2022-2023

Utah ski industry boom (2022-2023)

Utah reported a record 7.1 million skier visits in the 2022-23 season. Major lift projects were announced at Deer Valley Resort, Park City Mountain, Powder Mountain, Snowbird, Sundance Resort, and Wasatch Peaks Ranch.

Then

Demand for new lifts surged, with resorts investing in high-speed detachable chairlifts to improve guest experience.

Now

Utah's selection to host the 2034 Olympic Winter Games has supported continued investment in ski infrastructure.

Why this matters now

The record skier visits and Olympic announcement created a strong demand environment that justified Doppelmayr's manufacturing expansion.

2020s

Aging first-generation detachable lifts

Many of the first high-speed detachable chairlifts installed in the 1980s and 1990s are reaching end-of-life, with resorts planning replacements. Lift industry observers note this wave of replacement work will drive demand for decades.

Then

Ski resorts across North America are budgeting for significant lift replacement projects.

Now

Lift manufacturers can expect a sustained pipeline of work as aging infrastructure is modernized.

Why this matters now

This replacement cycle is a core reason Doppelmayr invested in expanded US manufacturing capacity.