What Leitner-Poma does

Leitner-Poma of America is a privately held Colorado-incorporated manufacturer of ropeway and cable transport systems serving ski resorts, urban transit authorities, industrial operators, and tourist attractions across North America. Founded in 1981 as Poma of America in Grand Junction, Colorado, the company operates a 90,000-square-foot manufacturing facility and, since 2023, a new Tooele, Utah campus anchored by its Skytrac subsidiary. Its product portfolio spans the full ropeway category — detachable and fixed-grip chairlifts, detachable and pulsed gondolas, tricable and bicable gondolas, aerial tramways, funiculars, inclined elevators, surface ski lifts (platters, T-bars, rope tows), Telemix hybrid systems, and the MiniMetro and ConnX urban people-mover lines. Approximately 75-85% of parts for North American lifts are made in the USA.

The architecture rests on three proprietary technology pillars: the LPA Detachable Grip (redundant parallel coil springs, minimal moving parts, certified safety architecture); the LEITNER DirectDrive, a gearless low-speed synchronous motor that reduces noise from 88-92 dB(A) to 73-75 dB(A) and eliminates gearbox oil, with more than 200 ropeway installations and 275 wind-power installations globally; and the LeitDrive modular frequency inverter (250 kW per 400mm module) with liquid cooling that enables waste heat recovery. A next-generation terminal design co-developed with Pininfarina and a North American-built surface lift line (deployment from summer 2027) are the most recent engineering programs.

The business model is direct enterprise field sales: a regional sales organization (Grand Junction CO headquarters, Stockbridge VT for the eastern US, Barrie ON and Kelowna BC for Canada) sells custom-engineered systems through a formal Bid Request Form process with multi-year installation timelines. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time equipment sales and turnkey installations, supplemented by lifecycle operations and maintenance contracts and a subscription-based Skadii platform for resort operations management. Leitner-Poma is a subsidiary of Poma S.A. (Voreppe, France) within the High Technology Industries (HTI) Group umbrella, with shared engineering, parent-coordinated product platforms, and back-office integration with Leitner AG (Vipiteno, Italy). The company serves more than 500 resorts in the U.S. and Canada and installs alongside flagship customers including Arapahoe Basin, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, Wasatch Peaks Ranch, Killington, and Sunlight Mountain.

Name

Leitner-Poma

Legal name

Leitner-Poma of America, Inc.

Website

https://leitner-poma.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Leitner-Poma of America designs, engineers, and manufactures ropeway transportation systems — chairlifts, gondolas, aerial tramways, and funiculars — for ski resorts, urban municipalities, and industrial operators across North America, operating as a subsidiary of HTI Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ropeway and Cable Transport Systems

akta.pro primary industry

Airport/Resort/Theme Park People Mover Cable Systems (THAIAKAF)

Keywords

• Aerial ropeway systems
• Cable transport systems
• Ski lift manufacturing
• Detachable chairlifts
• Urban cable transportation

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Aerial and Surface Ropeway System Sales: Design, manufacture, and sale of complete cable transport systems including chairlifts, gondolas, aerial tramways, funiculars, surface ski lifts, inclined elevators, pulsed gondolas, Telemix, MiniMetro, and ConnX systems. Systems are custom-engineered per customer specifications and installed on a project basis. Revenue is generated from equipment sales and turnkey installation. Approximately 75-85% of parts for North American lifts are made in the USA.
2. Operations and Maintenance Services: Ongoing maintenance, repair, gearbox inspections and repairs, electrical and mechanical upgrades, technical support, and installation services for systems throughout North America. Services cover the entire lifecycle of ropeway installations from assembly and commissioning to modernization and overhaul.
3. Skadii Ropeway and Resort Operations Management: Leitner-Poma offers the Skadii software platform for ropeway and resort operations management, providing digital tools to streamline resort management for ski area operators.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Leitner-Poma of America designs, engineers, manufactures, and installs complete aerial and surface cable transport systems (chairlifts, gondolas, aerial tramways, funiculars, surface ski lifts, MiniMetro people movers, ConnX autonomous transport) for ski resorts, urban transit authorities, amusement parks, and industrial operators across North America. The company also provides full lifecycle operations and maintenance services and the Skadii software platform for resort operations management. All major systems are produced at the company's U.S. manufacturing base in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Product overview

Leitner-Poma of America offers a comprehensive portfolio of cable transportation systems and related services for ski resorts, urban environments, and industrial applications. The product line includes detachable and fixed-grip chairlifts, gondolas (detachable, pulsed, tricable/bicable), aerial tramways, funiculars, inclined elevators, and surface ski lifts (platters, T-bars, rope tows). Core technology components include the LEITNER DirectDrive gearless motor system and LeitDrive frequency converter. The company also provides software solutions (Skadii) for resort operations management. All products are manufactured in the USA at the Grand Junction, Colorado facility, with design, ride comfort, and environmental sustainability as core design principles. The portfolio serves markets across urban transportation, snow sports, and specialized industrial applications, with over 10,000 transportation systems installed in 61 countries transporting 8 million passengers per hour.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Detachable Grip Chairlifts High-speed detachable chairlift systems serving as Leitner-Poma's flagship product line, installed at more than 500 ski resorts across the U.S. and Canada for efficient uphill transportation of skiers.
• Fixed Grip Chairlifts Cost-efficient chairlift systems with a simple design delivering quality performance, available in 2, 3, and 4 passenger configurations for ski area operators.
• Detachable Grip Gondolas High-performance aerial gondola systems offering enclosed cabin transportation with capacities up to 4,500 persons per hour and line speeds up to 6 meters per second for ski resorts and urban applications.
• Pulsed Gondolas Pedestrian gondola transport system with trains of 1-3 vehicles that slow in terminals for passenger loading and unloading, capable of transporting 100-500 passengers per hour at speeds up to 6 m/s.
• Tricable and Bicable Gondolas Multiple-cable gondola systems with one hauling cable and two support cables, providing increased wind resistance, spans over 2.5 km, and capacity up to 6,000 persons per hour for steep and exposed terrain.
• Aerial Tramway Fast, efficient aerial tramway transportation systems designed for crossing profiles that would be unpassable by standard gondolas, chairlifts, or other ropeway systems, used in both resort and urban settings.
• Surface Ski Lifts Surface ski lift systems including Poma platters, T-bar lifts, and rope tows in fixed-grip and detachable-grip variants with speeds from 250-775 ft/min, designed for uphill transportation in difficult terrain where aerial ropeways are not reliable.
• Telemix Combined detachable chairlift and gondola lift system allowing chairs for skiers and gondolas for non-skiers or ski school groups to operate within the same infrastructure for efficient ski area transportation.
• Funicular Ropeways Cable-driven railway systems offering a wide range of applications for both urban and resort transportation across varying terrain and distance requirements.
• Inclined Elevators Simple, reliable, and economical inclined elevator systems for transport of passengers over short distances with steep slopes.
• Urban Passenger Transportation Cable-based urban transportation solutions for cities, including gondolas and cable cars that operate above ground to bypass congestion and complement existing transit networks as a sustainable mobility option.
• MiniMetro Intelligent people mover systems for local transport services using cable propulsion on dedicated guideways for short and medium distance urban travel.
• ConnX Driverless Transport Hybrid solution combining ropeways with autonomous driverless public transport vehicles for intermodal urban mobility applications.
• LEITNER DirectDrive Proprietary gearless drive system for ropeways consisting of a low-speed synchronous motor with output shaft directly linked to the pulley wheel, reducing energy consumption, operating more quietly than conventional drives, and capable of functioning as a generator in wind power installations.
• LeitDrive Frequency converter/inverter technology providing a new quality standard in drive systems for ropeways, snowmaking systems, and wind turbines with modular 250 kW basic units, water-cooled design, and waste heat recovery for building heating.
• LPA Detachable Grip Proprietary high-functionality detachable grip technology with parallel coil springs for redundant safety, minimal moving parts enabling easy inspection, and low-maintenance bearings certified to all current industry standards.
• Skadii Ropeway and Resort Operations Management Cloud-based software platform for ropeway and resort operations management, providing digital tools to streamline resort management workflows for ski area operators.
• Operations and Maintenance Services Comprehensive, customized maintenance solutions covering the entire lifecycle of ropeway installations, including assembly, commissioning, training, modernization, overhaul, gearbox inspections and repairs, electrical and mechanical upgrades, technical support, and installation services.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 10,000 transportation systems installed globally in 61 countries
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• SkytraccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 November 2021Skytrac is an LPOA subsidiary specializing in aerial ropeway manufacturing for community ski areas. LPOA is developing a next-generation series of surface lifts designed, engineered, and manufactured in North America in collaboration with Skytrac. The new Tooele, Utah campus serves as the headquarters and manufacturing base for Skytrac. Carl Skylling, President of Skytrac, leads the surface lift initiative: 'By designing and building these systems here in North America, we're able to simplify the process, control costs, and deliver solutions that are aligned with how our partners operate day in and day out.'
• Arapahoe Basin Ski AreaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe partnership between Poma/Leitner-Poma and Arapahoe Basin dates to 1953, when A-Basin installed the first Poma surface lift in the U.S. (at the time the steepest Poma ever constructed). Larry Jump, A-Basin's founder, secured exclusive U.S. distribution rights for Poma and sold Poma lifts to startup ski areas from coast to coast. Today, every chairlift at A-Basin is an LPOA product. Of A-Basin's six lifts, four were installed since 2018, with the oldest dating only to 2007. The partnership has survived high-altitude construction challenges, COVID-19 supply chain disruptions, and decades of demanding ski seasons. LPOA's Jon Mauch: 'A lift can't be taken to the garage for service. When something goes wrong, the relationship between operator and manufacturer becomes critical.'
• Resorts of the Canadian Rockies Inc. (RCR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRCR, Canada's largest private ski resort owner/operator (based in Calgary, Alberta, with resorts in Alberta, British Columbia, and Quebec), is purchasing four new Leitner-Poma lifts for installation in 2026-2027: Tamarack Quad Chair at Kimberley Alpine Resort (Dec 2026), Elk Express and Cedar Bowl Express at Fernie Alpine Resort (winter 2027/28), and Pioneer Express at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort (winter 2027/28). John Shea, President & Chief Resort Officer at RCR: 'This is a major investment in our BC Resorts and shows our company's commitment to providing excellent experiences for our guests.'
• Wasatch Peaks RanchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLPOA was selected to build chairlifts for the new Wasatch Peaks Ranch private ski community in Morgan County, Utah (37 miles NE of Salt Lake City). Contracted to build the first two of nine planned lifts servicing 3,000+ skiable acres. Custom lift design including heated seats and bubbles to match the luxury guest experience. Phase one construction started spring 2021, lifts ready for December 2021 opening. Approximately 75-85% of parts made in the USA at LPOA's Grand Junction HQ. Bob Wheaton, President & CEO of Wasatch Peaks Ranch: 'We selected LPOA not only because of their excellent track record and years of industry experience, but also because they were willing to work with us to design and customize a lift experience that mirrors the luxury guest experience.'
• Thaiwoo / Beijing Raissun Investment Co. LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPOMA signed a strategic partnership with Thaiwoo Ski Resort (owned by Beijing Raissun Investment Co. Ltd) to develop the resort as one of China's largest ski destinations and a potential 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics venue. Thaiwoo chose POMA as preferential supplier for all future ropeways in the resort. POMA had already built three ropeways at Thaiwoo: one 2-section gondola lift and two detachable-grip bubble chairlifts. Investment planned at EUR200 million over 5-10 years for ropeways. POMA opened a spare parts storage center in the Chongli region with dedicated maintenance teams.
• The Pipeline ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLPOA is a proud sponsor of The Pipeline Project, an initiative addressing the ski industry's need to connect the next generation of workers with career opportunities. LPOA participated in the industry's first-ever dedicated high school career event at Pat's Peak, NH (October 15), giving nearly 90 students hands-on experience with gondolas, chairlift systems, and resort operations. LPOA's Michael Manley: 'We're invested in the long-term health of this industry.' Tiffany Whitcomb, founder of The Pipeline Project: 'Companies like Leitner Poma are recognizing that if we want talented people, we need to meet students where they are and show them what's possible.'
• HTI Group (High Technology Industries)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHTI Group is the parent umbrella organization uniting Leitner AG (Italy, founded 1888), Poma S.A. (France), Leitner-Poma of America (North America), PRINOTH (snow groomers and tracked utility vehicles), DEMACLENKO (snowmaking systems), LEITWIND (wind turbines), AGUDIO (material ropeways), and SKYTRAC (aerial ropeway manufacturing). The merger of Leitner and Poma occurred in 2002. HTI Group collectively installs more than 10,000 transportation systems in 61 countries and safely transports eight million passengers per hour. LPOA collaborates with Pomagalski S.A. engineers in Voreppe, France for technology and engineering.
• Leitner AGflagshipTechnology or IntegrationLeitner AG, headquartered in Vipiteno/Sterzing, Italy, is the parent company of Leitner-Poma. Founded by Gabriel Leitner in 1888, Leitner AG developed the DirectDrive technology and other core ropeway innovations that LPOA benefits from. Leitner AG and Poma S.A. merged in 2002 to form the HTI Group.
• Poma S.A.flagshipTechnology or IntegrationPoma S.A., headquartered in Voreppe, France, is the parent company of Leitner-Poma of America's French operations and sister company to Leitner AG. Founded in the 1930s by Jean Pomagalski, Poma developed key ropeway technologies including the detachable grip system. Poma came to the U.S. in the early 1950s as Pomalift, Inc. and installed lifts at Squaw Valley for the 1960 Winter Olympics.
• PininfarinaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLPOA is collaborating with Pininfarina, a global styling and design firm, on the next-generation terminal design for North American lifts. Pininfarina's involvement brings a more modern, refined aesthetic to lift station design, elevating the visual identity of lift infrastructure while enhancing the overall guest and operator experience. Daren Cole: 'With options that align with global styling partners such as Pininfarina, we're introducing a more modern, refined aesthetic.'
• NSAA (National Ski Areas Association)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerLPOA actively participates in NSAA events including the Western Winter Conference at Snowbird, Eastern Winter Conference at Killington, and the NSAA National Convention. LPOA President and CEO Daren Cole hosts events and presents spotlight sessions. The company also sponsors NSAA initiatives and uses these events to network with industry professionals and showcase products including Skadii Workspace and Skytrac lifts.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• PRINOTH: Sister company of LPOA under HTI Group, headquartered in Sterzing, Italy. Manufactures snow groomers and tracked utility vehicles for ski resorts. Comparable as an HTI affiliate that often co-sells into the same ski resort customer base as LPOA, though its products are complementary rather than directly competitive.
• Sigma Cabins: HTI Group brand producing cabins and components for ropeway installations, often integrated into Leitner, Poma, and LPOA lift systems. Comparable as a captive supplier within the same parent ecosystem and a relevant peer for cabin innovation, ergonomics, and aesthetics affecting LPOA's premium product positioning.
• CWA (Constructions and Wire Ropeways Access): Swiss cabin manufacturer and sister company of Doppelmayr, supplying gondola cabins to the global ropeway industry. Comparable to LPOA as a sister-company supplier within the HTI/Doppelmayr ecosystem that competes on a key component (cabins) of the same end-product LPOA sells.

Direct peers

• Intamin Amusement Rides: Swiss designer and manufacturer of amusement rides, people movers, and ropeway systems. Directly comparable as a supplier of urban passenger transit, gondolas, and specialized cable transport to theme parks, resorts, and cities — overlapping with LPOA's amusement park and urban cable business.
• Bartholet Maschinenbau AG: Swiss family-owned ropeway and amusement ride manufacturer based in Flums. Comparable as a niche premium OEM of aerial tramways, funiculars, and custom ropeway installations, competing with LPOA in the urban, tourist, and theme park segments rather than in volume ski lift sales.
• Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group: World market leader in ropeway engineering, headquartered in Wolfurt, Austria. Direct head-to-head competitor on detachable chairlifts, gondolas, tramways, and urban cable transit projects globally (e.g., Las Vegas High Roller, La Paz, Mexico City). The single most comparable competitor to LPOA across ski, urban, and amusement park verticals.
• Skytrac: Wholly-owned subsidiary of LPOA (based in Tooele, Utah), specializing in aerial ropeway manufacturing for community ski areas and now leading the new North American-built surface lift line. Most directly comparable on product, end market, and operating geography as a low-cost, community-focused surface lift OEM within the LPOA footprint.
• Leitner AG: Italian sister company under HTI Group, founded 1888 in Sterzing/Vipiteno. Develops the DirectDrive gearless motor and LeitDrive frequency inverter technologies that LPOA commercializes in North America. Comparable as a ropeway OEM with the same product portfolio (chairlifts, gondolas, tramways, surface lifts) operating in adjacent geographies.
• MND Group: French publicly-listed group (Sainte-Hélène-du-Lac) active in ropeways, snowmaking, and leisure infrastructure. Comparable as an integrated competitor offering detachable gondolas and surface lifts alongside snowmaking systems, similar in scope to the broader HTI portfolio.
• Poma S.A. French sister company of LPOA under HTI Group, headquartered in Voreppe, France. Operates the European and global ropeway business for the HTI umbrella (alongside Leitner AG). Directly comparable as a same-parent OEM selling the same underlying detachable grip and DirectDrive technologies into the same ski and urban cable markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Leitner_Poma
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• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/leitner-poma-of-america
• Instagraminstagram.com/leitner_poma_of_america

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Leitner-Poma