Gimar Montaz Mautino
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerial lift manufacturing |
| Predecessor | Gimar, Montaz-Mautino |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Founder | Jean-Claude Giraud, Dominique Marceau, Pierre Montaz, Victor Mautino |
| Headquarters | Échirolles , France |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Gilles Kraan (current head), Didier Serre (owner since 1994), François Montes (former director) |
| Products | Ski lifts, chairlifts, gondolas, cable cars, retractors |
Gimar Montaz Mautino (GMM) is a French manufacturer specializing in aerial lift systems, established through the fusion of Gimar—founded on 5 June 1980 by Jean-Claude Giraud and Dominique Marceau—and Montaz-Mautino, which originated in 1952 by Pierre Montaz and Victor Mautino. The company's main office is located in Échirolles, near Grenoble. GMM focuses on producing ski lifts and two-seater chairlifts. During the 1970s and 1980s, Montaz-Mautino was a prominent player in the ski lift market, particularly known for its two- and three-seat chairlift models.
The entity as it exists today was formed in 1990 when Gimar, under industrialist Bernard Drevet, acquired Montaz-Mautino following its judicial liquidation in 1989. Originally situated in Fontaine, Isère, Montaz-Mautino saw its founders exit the business between 1986 and 1987. Its product lineup included fixed-grip and detachable chairlifts, gondolas, cable cars, and notably the Brévent cable car installed in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc in 1987.
Initially, Gimar concentrated on industrial cable transport systems with minimal involvement in tourism-related lifts until Bernard Drevet's acquisition in 1988 revitalized the company’s focus.
Since 1994, GMM has maintained NF EN ISO 9001 certification. After encountering difficulties linked to operations in India, the firm was purchased in 1994 by Lyon-based entrepreneur Didier Serre. He appointed François Montes—formerly Secretary-General of Lafuma—to direct a strategic reorientation emphasizing core competencies: manufacturing chairlifts and ski lifts alongside servicing existing Montaz-Mautino and Gimar installations. Presently, the company is overseen by Gilles Kraan.
Products
GMM’s primary production includes four-seater chairlifts with fixed attachments and ski lifts mounted on rollers or poles. The company also offers after-sales support for legacy equipment from both Montaz-Mautino and Gimar. Although not as dominant as major competitors such as Doppelmayr, Leitner, and Poma, GMM has delivered more than 2,500 aerial lift installations worldwide across five continents, with nearly 780 located within France. A key focus lies on minimizing the ecological footprint of their ski lifts through the use of demountable structures and recycled components.
The current range of chairlifts from GMM incorporates over seven station designs along with mini 7 motor types or compact motor-voltage systems mounted on concrete foundations. The inaugural model—the Lievre Blanc chairlift—was commissioned in 1998 at Alpe d'Huez.
Additionally, GMM provides a selection of pole-mounted lifts—both fixed and detachable—a segment historically associated with Montaz-Mautino. Since the 1950s, more than 600 such lifts have been installed. In 2005, the company introduced four new station designs to modernize this product line.
More recently, GMM launched retractors under their "E" series offering three driving-voltage configurations. These lighter units are designed primarily for beginner-level applications; the first installation took place in 2010 at Parlour in the Fore (Massif Central). These retractors incorporate magnetic braking plates which were initially sourced from Loipolder Seilbahn Technik until 2015. Since 2016, GMM has manufactured its own reels through its internal design division.
GMM’s equipment can be found at resorts such as Puy-Saint-Vincent, including gondolas and surface lifts bearing resemblance to POMA designs. However, aggressive market growth by competitors POMA and Leitner within France has resulted in numerous Montaz-Mautino lifts being replaced by higher-capacity alternatives. Despite this trend, GMM continues to produce surface lifts alongside a newly developed four-person chairlift model.