History
PowerBully presents new vehicle generation
At the bauma 2022 Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug AG presents a new generation of high-terrain PowerBully track vehicles. The new generation includes two vehicle models with a payload of up to 9.0 metric tons in Series 9 and two vehicle models with a payload of up to 13.2 metric tons in Series 12. Every model is available as mobile platform for attaching different implements (Chassis) and, for the first time, as dump track (Dumper) ex works.
PistenBully 400
The new PistenBully 400 completes the family: A clean engine, intuitive operating concept, maximum comfort, appealing design – from the small PistenBully 100 to its big brother, the PistenBully 600, everything is the same – and at the highest level! With various assistance systems, that make operation even easier and more efficient. For the ParkPro, a version with a winch is available for the first time. Also available is new, improved auxiliary equipment offering everything that you could want for grooming snow parks professionally.
HVO – 90 % less CO2 emissions
Another milestone in sustainability: The use of clean HVO fuel to support ski resorts in their efforts for more climate neutrality. Every PistenBully from the 2022 model year onwards will make their way onto the world's slopes with pure HVO fuel (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil). This is based on hydrogenated vegetable and animal fat waste and reduces CO2 emissions by around 90% for every hour of operation compared with conventional diesel.
PistenBully 100 E
Is it possible that slopes will soon be groomed 100% emission-free? At INTERALPIN 2019 in Innsbruck, the international leading trade fair for Alpine technologies, PistenBully is celebrating its 50th birthday – and in doing so, gives the industry an answer. With the study of the first electrically driven snow groomer, the PistenBully 100 E, this answer is a clear "Yes!".
50 Years PistenBully
50 years commitment by PistenBully – and the end of history is far from over! We look forward to many innovations, celebrations, encounters – in the anniversary year and long beyond.
SNOWsat Analytics
Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug AG is entering an important cooperation with leading companies in their business segments with a focus on the future. The objective of the cooperation partners Geocloud AG / Schlieren, Weisse Arena Bergbahnen AG / Laax, Grünenfelder and Partner AG / Domat/Ems is to develop a product, that, in simple terms, manages the information and data flow at the ski resorts and thereby delivers a true competitive advantage
The new generation of the PistenBully 600
The new PistenBully 600 is already writing technology history. The world's first snow groomer with EU Stage 5 engine - it doesn't get cleaner and quieter than this! The latest generation of snow groomers is packed with all the experience and enthusiasm of PistenBully's engineers. The large number of patents is impressive proof of this.
Acquisition of KK Composites GmbH
Effective April 01, 2018 Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug AG assumes control of the activities of KK Composites GmbH, headquartered in Micheldorf, Austria. The company has specialized in fiber composites since 1982. With this acquisition of a supplier which effects parts insourcing in a classic reverse integration Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug AG is pursuing its strategy of reducing its dependence on external suppliers. Production depth is currently running at about 10 % and the aim is to improve this figure.
BeachTech acquires Cherrington
Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug AG is expanding the BeachTech division as they officially announce the acquisition of United States based Cherrington Beach Cleaners.
The new generation of the PistenBully 100
New generation: Quality and reliability remain while the vehicle concept of the PistenBully 100 has been overhauled in close collaboration with international customers. Completely new features include intuitive operation developed according to the latest ergonomic findings, the most powerful engine in its class and environmentally friendly exhaust technology.
PRO ACADEMY
With the PRO ACADEMY Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug AG has developed a manufacturer-independent training concept: 5 different modules for economical and eco-friendly snow management
PowerBully
Kässbohrer All Terrain Vehicles, Inc. (KATV) purchases Soft Track Supply, Inc. – a well-known manufacturer of customized all terrain, low ground pressure carriers. The PowerBully business unit is created.
The 20,000 PistenBully
The 20,000 PistenBully is produced! Good grounds for celebration.
PistenBully 600 E+
PistenBully remain impressive today thanks to their innovation and standard-setting. A success story, the youngest child of which is the PistenBully 600 E+ with diesel-electric drive.
SNOWsat
A professional slope and fleet management system with snow depth measurement is being developed. High saving plus many additional benefits, make SNOWsat a worthwhile investment in the future for any ski resort.
BeachTech at the oil catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico
In the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the BeachTech beach cleaners are also able to separate softer oil blobs and solid tar balls almost completely from the sand without picking up a lot of sand at the same time, a skill they had already demonstrated during past incidents like the Prestige tragedy off the Atlantic coast or the oil disaster on Australia's Sunshine Coast.
PistenBully Paana
Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug AG took over cross-country ski-trail specialists Keiteleen Latukone Oy. Having established themselves on the market over 25 years ago, Paana machines are the outright leaders in the Scandinavian cross-country ski-trail segment. Robust technology, reliability, an excellent price-performance ratio and low running and maintenance costs all argue in favour of the PistenBully Paana. With its two-stage tilling system, it prepares ski trails to meet FIS requirements in a single work cycle. At just 2.2-metres wide, the PistenBully Paana really comes into its own on narrow forest tracks or when preparing winter hiking trails.
PistenBully 400
When it went into series production in 2007, the new design naturally met all nationally and internationally applicable safety and emission standards, but also marked a major step forward in technical terms. The most important innovations included a new main frame made of high-strength, cold-resistant steel, adapted to the performance and size; the drive was provided by a new Cummins diesel unit.
PistenBully 600
The PistenBully 600 vehicle generation was a new design from the ground up, with special care taken in the design of the main frames. Here, a lightweight sheet metal box construction made of high-strength steel was used, which was prepared for any load case and could easily accommodate the base vehicle, winch and all additional equipment up to the extremely heavy front attachments such as halfpipe milling machine, milling skidder and transport skips. The PistenBully 600 combined the latest technology with maximum ease of operation.
BeachTech 2800
The newly launched BeachTech 2800 combines the advantages pf the BeachTech 3000 with those of the BeachTech 2000 in an effective and economical way. High-tech beach cleaning at an affordable price.
Antarctic mission in the eternal ice
Endurance test: the PistenBully also masters the most extreme conditions. No nation now conducts research in the Antarctic without PistenBully. In 2004, more than 80 PistenBully are in operation in Antarctica.
New company location in Laupheim
At the beginning of the 2000s, all company divisions were bundled at one location – in Laupheim. This naturally involved an optimization of the production process.
BeachTech Marina
A new vehicle in the range: The product introduction of the self-propelled BeachTech Marina.
PistenBully 100
The new PistenBully 100 was created within the new Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug AG: Using the latest CAD technology, the PistenBully 100 was designed as a completely new cross-country vehicle. This was because the market was in a state of upheaval, emission regulations had become stricter and customer requirements had changed; as a result, economy and consumption played a much greater role in the purchasing decision than before.
PistenBully 200
The PistenBully 200 was developed as a lighter version of the 300 series. Thanks to the modular system, a large proportion of the components came from this machine. However, some of the components were adapted to the reduced output in order to save weight and costs. This new development with 208 kW (278 hp) and a torque of 1100 Nm at 1300 rpm met the strict Euro 2 and US EPA emissions standards in force at the time.
The 10,000 PistenBully
The 10,000 PistenBully is produced!
BeachTech 2000
Launch of the BeachTech 2000 – the agile and smaller alternative to the powerful BeachTech 3000.
Spin-off and restart
The all terrain vehicle business area, which had been small but highly successful until this time, is spun off and becomes independent. Under the leadership of Erwin Wieland, the management group of Gerhard Krone, Karl Knab, Hans-Peter Müller, Franz Beer and Karl Glatzmaier boldly risked a management buy-out: Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug GmbH. Four successful years later, in 1998, the company went public.
PistenBully 300 / 300 W
Launch of the new PistenBully 300 and 300 W vehicle generation. Until the end of the 1990s, this remained the most successful series in Alpine use. It is the company’s “bread and butter” machine.
BeachTech
Kässbohrer once again demonstrates its innovative strength with introduction of the BeachTech. The patented screening, raking and combined cleaning technique sets new standards.
PistenBully 200 DW
The PistenBully 200 DW is the first vehicle on the market with winch support for steep slope preparation. A winch supports and secures the vehicle on its extreme up and downhill rides.
The Flexmobile
For on and off-road: the Flexmobil is developed as a fast working and transport vehicle for summer use.
PistenBully at the XI Olympic Winter Games
The PistenBully head off to the 11th Winter Olympics in Sapporo, garnering praise and recognition. A short time later, PistenBully begins to attract attention in the USA too. This successful appearance paved the way for the global market expansion. In this year, 177 vehicles are built.
The structure of the distribution
Key figures: alongside designer Walter Haug, it is Erwin Wieland who is a major influence on PistenBully. The important factors in the Sales are personal friendships, quality and service.
First prototype takes off for test drive
The first PistenBully: In December, the first prototype takes off for a test drive – with Hydrostatic power transmission, steering wheel control, a large loading platform. The first vehicle’s powerful, chiseled appearance immediately inspires Kässbohrer to call it the PistenBully!
A short time later it goes into series production with a diesel engine. The very first PistenBully went to Reit im Winkl, Germany. Head Designer Walter Haug personally brought the vehicle to the Winklmoos-Alm ski resort on December 19, 1969.
Skiing develops into a popular sport
With the increasing popularity of skiing, so too grow the demands for quality slopes. The simple rollers are soon replaced by motorised devices.
First Winter Olympics
Taking to the slopes: skiing comes into fashion thanks to the first Winter Olympics in Chamonix. It is to develop into a mass sport within a short time.
The Kässbohrer sons take over the company
After the death of their father, Karl and his brother Otto take over the company. With a great deal of audacity and success: Trailer construction and numerous inventions are put in motion.
Karl Kässbohrer studies at the technical university Stuttgart
An engineer of passion: Karl Heinrich Kässbohrer fulfils the wish of his son Karl to study mechanical engineering at the technical university Stuttgart, rather than a banking course.
Omnibus line is established
Karl Heinrich Kässbohrer opens the omnibus line between Ulm and Wiblingen.
Foundation of a wagon factory
With the founding of his wagon factory in 1893, Karl Heinrich Kässbohrer laid the foundation for an impressive success story.
Everything begins with Georg Kässbohrer. He comes from a ship building family and builds the "Ulmer Schachtel", as its deriders like to call it: a type of single-use boat for goods, passenger and troop transport on the Danube downstream to Vienna. After the trip the boats are dismantled and recycled – a return trip would be too expensive.
Georg sees no future in traditional ship building, however, and sends four of his six sons into other professions. One of these is Karl Heinrich, a master wainwright, who is interested in and enthusiastic about new modes of transport. He founds the family company in Ulm with the "Wagenfabrik Kässbohrer". The story begins.