In a world first, AJ Hackett Bungy launched its most innovative bungy experience - a dedicated bungy gondola - in July this year.
Not for the faint-hearted, the new Nevis Highwire Bungy is a revolutionary purpose-built gondola and highwire system that challenges thrillseekers with an exhilarating jump from a gondola suspended 134m (440ft) above the rugged Nevis River near Queenstown, one of New Zealand's most popular tourist destinations. At this height the Nevis Highwire Bungy is New Zealands highest bungy. The jump gondola hangs from four high tensile cables, stretching 362m (1100ft) across the Nevis gorge. Jumpers and spectators are ferried to the jump gondola by cable car. The gondola holds a maximum of 20 jumpers, crew and spectators. Built-in glass wall and floor panels ensure spectators have 360-degree views of the vast gorge, as well as views of the full jump experience. With accurate control, speed and reliability paramount to hoist bungy jumpers back up, it was only natural that AJ Hackett chose motor control equipment from the Southern Hemisphere's leading manufacturer of AC motor controllers, PDL Electronics Ltd. The mechanical requirement for the winch was to lower a coupling down to the end of the Bungy and by reversing the drive, lift the jumper back into the jumping pod. This operation requires the hoist to provide full motor torque over a variety of motor speeds. The transmission suppliers, Maud Kirk Machinery in Christchurch, New Zealand, used a 5.5kW motor fitted with an encoder and fail-safe brake, which was built in their Lower Hutt workshop. This motor was used to drive a capstan winch via a Cylcodrive gearbox and an Autoguard ball and ramp torque limiting coupling which accurately controlled torque to the winch head.
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