KÄSSBOHRER GELÄNDEFAHRZEUG AG
The new PistenBully 600 causes a sensation at SAM!

Laupheim, 8 May, 2006. PistenBully laid another cornerstone in the development of slope grooming at the most important trade fair on French-speaking territory, SAM 2006 in Grenoble.

The PistenBully 600 has launched the future of slope grooming. The new machine focuses firmly on the driver, and this is evident from the very first glance into the driver-friendly cockpit. Kässbohrer’s concept for the new PistenBully 600 is a study in ergonomics, ride comfort and ease of operation.
All the details of the spacious driver’s cab, from the ergonomic driver’s seat, through the new semicircular steering wheel to the revolutionary joystick, are designed with the driver in mind. He no longer has to hold the joystick but instead places his hand on top of it. As a result, the joystick can incorporate more functions while at the same time enabling comfortable operation without fatigue. A new control panel allows all functions to be selected directly at the press of a button. Large, deep windows afford outstanding visibility to all sides. The enlarged side windows in particular provide an excellent view of the tracks. Another plus is the noise-optimised sandwich structure, which ensures a quiet workplace. The lighting system of the PistenBully 600 offers optimal visibility to the front and rear – optionally with Xenon headlights. The standard SideFinder lights illuminate the side and rear working area of the clearing blade.
All of the machine’s electronic components has been engineered for maximum availability, optimal dependability and functionality. The PistenBully 600 boasts a 6-cylinder engine that develops 400 hp. This new engine has an enormous torque at low speeds and offers a huge output to provide outstanding pushing power. And it has low fuel consumption values. The power hydraulics with proportionally controlled heavy-duty valves and integrated CAN technology ensure that the tiller is raised and lowered smoothly at any speed. The large tiller pump powers the MultiFlex tiller at a tiller shaft speed of up to 1,850 rpm, thereby guaranteeing optimal slope quality.

On show at SAM 2006 were the new PistenBully 600 with winch and a ParkBully with the standard-equipment ParkBlade. For a long time now, winch machines have been used not only on steep downhill applications, but also for pushing large quantities of snow uphill. In the winch version, the PistenBully is the optimal machine for pushing work. The travel speed and pulling force have three settings and are electronically controlled. The winch has a pulling force of up to 4 tonnes. The hydraulic slewing ring drive allows the winch to be slewed through 360°. The driver can swing the winch arm in any direction. The PistenBully winch has an early warning system that permanently monitors rope take-up and winding and thus detects the smallest wire and strand breakages. The driver can then inspect the rope. The drum-drive winch system minimises rope wear, while large deflection rollers and capstan heads minimise rope torsion. The winch is straightforward to mount and dismantle. Market statistics confirm the popularity of the PistenBully winch: today almost 70% of all PistenBully machines on the market are winch machines.

The ParkBlade is the perfect solution for all those who wish to redesign their FunPark at regular intervals. It enables objects of all kinds be moved easily and quickly, whether FunPark features such as obstacles, FunBoxes or rails, or containers, refuse bins and other objects with the appropriate attachment points. Lashing straps are only required to secure the load in extreme cases. The ParkBlade can easily handle loads weighing up to 1,000 kg. The loading capacity per prong is 500 kg. The driver activates the additional function of the ParkBlade via a foot pedal. This holds the side sections of the clearing blade in the given position. The ParkBlade’s two prongs can then be opened out hydraulically. The prongs are located directly beneath the ParkBlade’s snow grid and can be clearly seen from the driver’s seat. The good view of the lashings and the absence of manual controls enable one person alone to move a wide variety of objects. A further advantage of the ParkBlade is its serrated finisher bar, which, when backblading, allows the driver to give groomed FunPark features such as bank turns, tables or jumps an appropriate surface structure in one work operation.

A further attachment for constructing FunParks is the PipeMagician, which was on display in Grenoble in conjunction with a PistenBully 200. The PipeMagician can create not only pipes up to six metres in height, but also boardercross bank turns. The required slope gradient can be set individually. The PipeMagician’s versatility is particularly appreciated by regions with little snow. Indeed, the PipeMagician’s radius makes it possible to start constructing a pipe with a small quantity of snow that can then be built up to over six metres during the winter, without altering the radius of the pipe. The Pipe Magician also has outstanding forming characteristics in icy snow conditions. One special feature is that work can be carried out to both the right and the left. In short, the PipeMagician is a versatile tool for drivers with sophisticated demands.
The PistenBully 200 is a machine that pays for itself. It represents the perfect combination of size and power and is thus an economic alternative. Developing 330 hp and with a beefy torque of 1,300 Nm at 1,200 – 1,600 rpm, the PistenBully ensures that FunPark operators are well-equipped.

Another innovation when it comes to attachments is the VarioTrackDesigner, which is revolutionising professional trail grooming. This newly developed ski-trail tiller was presented at a trade fair for the first time. The VarioTrackDesigner is integrated in the trail plates. The entire right-hand trail plate can be moved hydraulically by 600 mm in the sideways direction on the machine rail. What is more, the distance between the blades can also be adjusted widthways. On downhill sections with a wide track, this affords cross-country skiers considerably better grip. Both settings are continuously variable and can be adjusted from the driver’s workplace. The new VarioTrackDesigner is in a class of its own. It works at a depth of 5 cm and is capable of re-loosening even highly iced-up trails. No other attachment on the market takes comparable account of the needs of the various user groups – competitive athletes, amateurs and children.

Personnel in the PistenBully service area at SAM in Grenoble were, of course, also on hand to provide technical tips and advice on spare parts. New products in the spare parts area are ...

PistenBully fans again had the opportunity to secure an autograph from French skiing star Luc Alphand. Hervé Flandin and Julie Pomagalski were also in Grenoble, representing cross-country skiing and snowboarding respectively.

Featuring a plethora of innovative solutions, SAM 2006 once again provided clear proof of PistenBully’s evident leading role in the world market for slope machines.