Project Success in Willingen: Grand Opening of the New 50SA Mühlenkopf Liner

A new chapter for the Mühlenkopfschanze in Willingen: With the grand opening of the new Mühlenkopfliner on June 26, 2026, a modern, accessible transportation link was put into service, combining winter sports, tourism, and sustainability. For Melzer & Hopfner, this marks the first official project opening of the year—and a project we look back on with particular pride.

After an intensive planning and construction phase, the new Mühlenkopfliner replaces the previous funicular, which was built in 2001, and sets new standards in terms of comfort, capacity, and energy efficiency. As the cable car engineering firm Melzer & Hopfner, we had the privilege of providing comprehensive support for this forward-looking project by the Ski-Club Willingen e.V. (SCW). Our scope of services ranged from structural engineering and coordination with regulatory authorities to on-site construction management.

More capacity. More comfort. More sustainability.

The new, fully automatic, and unmanned Mühlenkopf Liner climbs an impressive 128 meters in elevation over a distance of 295 meters, with a maximum gradient of 33 degrees. The new cabin can now accommodate up to 50 passengers, up from 20 previously. Thanks to a travel speed of 2 m/s and optimized boarding and alighting systems, the capacity has increased from 100 to up to 425 passengers per hour.

A photovoltaic system at the mountain station delivers a peak output of 22.5 kilowatts, while a modern energy recovery system feeds up to 50 kilowatts directly back into the power grid during the descent. For World Cup operations, special intermediate stations (including one at the judges’ tower and another for food service at the “Hasenstall”) were also seamlessly integrated into the course.

The new Mühlenkopfliner will create a convenient, fully accessible year-round connection between the Mühlenkopfschanze, the hiking trails on the Ettelsberg, and the Willingen Skywalk. As a result, the project will not only strengthen the World Cup venue but also boost tourism in the region in the long term.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Willingen Ski Club for the trust they have placed in us, as well as to all project partners for their outstanding cooperation. Together, we have created a project that uniquely combines technology, functionality, and sustainability.

Scope of Services

• Ropeway technology award
• Structural engineering planning including design
• Coordination of authorities
• Site management