Lift Engineering, more commonly known as Yan Lifts, was a major ski lift manufacturer in North America. Founded in 1965 and based in Carson City, Nevada, the firm came under scrutiny by state safety officials after a fatal accident in 1985, and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July bankrupt in July 1996. The founder, Yanik Kunczynski, moved to La Paz, Mexico, to avoid any possible prosecution after a fatal accident involving the Angels Flight funicular in Los Angeles, and is in the process of selling the YANTRAK facilities in Carson City, Nevada.
The company built at least 200 fixed-grip chairlifts, as well as 31 high-speed quads, while becoming one of the most successful yet controversial lift firms in the ski industry. The company's high speed quads have been involved in the deaths of five people and the injury of 70, the worst record of any ski-lift maker operating in North America. Yan fixed-grip chairlifts however, continue to have a somewhat decent reputation.
Read more about Lift Engineering: Controversies and Accidents
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