Zai AG
| zai AG
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|---|---|
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| legal form | Aktiengesellschaft (Switzerland) |
| founding | 2003 (in Disentis / Mustér ) |
| Seat | Vicosoprano , Switzerland |
| management | Benedict Germanier |
| Number of employees | 7 (August 2020) |
| sales | 1.5 million CHF (2019) |
| Branch | Skis , ski clothing |
| Website | http://www.zai.ch |
The Zai AG is a company based in the Swiss canton of Grisons , the ski manufacturing. Zai is the only manufacturer of skis with a gneiss core . The name "Zai" comes from Romansh and means "tough".
history
Zai was founded in 2003. In the first year, 200 hand-made prototypes were built and unusual combinations of materials were tried out. In 2004, Zai sold the first four models. For the first time, the usual Titanal was replaced by Dyneema in a handmade ski .
In 2006 the "Zai spada" (= sword) was created, which according to the company is the only ski in the world with a core made of gneiss , which is surrounded by a sheath of carbon fiber . The ski was developed together with the Munich-based company “TechnoCarbon Technologies”, based on the CFS (CarbonFiberStein) material composite, which was invented by TechnoCarbon and is exclusively manufactured. CFS puts the stone under tension, which makes the stone flexible. TechnoCarbon patented the idea and the process.
From 2008 Zai developed a ski together with the Swiss watch brand Hublot , in which the surface of the ski is covered with the vulcanized natural rubber of the Hublot bracelets.
In the summer of 2009, the economist and financial researcher Benedikt Germanier [] became CEO of Zai. Together with the English car manufacturer Bentley , Zai developed new technologies that are implemented in ski models. The use of “Zaiìra”, a composite made of carbon fibers newly developed by Zai, is intended to increase driving performance and reduce weight. A 1.7 meter long Bentley Zai weighs 1,550 kilograms.
In 2010 Zai produced the «Nezza» (= blade) with longitudinal slots for the first time. The ski is milled from a block of connected carbon fibers using a new process. Zai was the official supplier for the Alpine Ski World Championships in 2011, 2013 and 2015.
Zai applied for a patent for the DT (double tip) tip geometry, which was newly developed for freeride skis: the ski should turn more easily thanks to the smaller area at the tip. Another - already granted - patent deals with a new type of ski technology in which the two skis have a tread that is slightly twisted against one another.
Zai has been a contractual partner of Moncler since 2016 and of Saint Laurent since 2018 . Zai creates its own ski collections for both brands.
Since 2017, zai skis have been manufactured in Vicosoprano in Bergell in Graubünden in collaboration with local craftsmen. The zai Atelier in Vicosoprano emerged from the joint venture with the Italian company.
In 2019 the zai stone was launched, the world's first stone ski. Zai skis have included stone as a material since 2007. The zai stone brings the stone to the surface. Thanks to the bond with the carrier material, the slate is pressure-resistant, cushioning and flexible. The result is a ski that is easy to turn, yet smooth and easy to grip. This is ensured by modern sandwich technology with materials made of ash / poplar wood and now again Titanal to increase dimensional stability.
In the zai Lab, founded in Spreitenbach near Zurich in 2019, zai works together with engineers from the HSR University of Applied Sciences Rapperswil and the High-Tech Center Aarau on innovative materials and new shapes.
Benedikt Germanier, CEO zai AG
The zai studio in Graubünden
production
The skis are manufactured using a manufacturing process. The basic models “zai stone” and “zai wood” consist of 50 individual parts, earlier models from over 100 parts. The skis are heated to around 110 degrees under the pressure of 40 tons and pressed for 30 minutes. They are then prepared by hand. Depending on the model, the entire manufacturing process takes 3 to 10 hours. Annual production is around 700 (as of 2019).
materials
Different materials are used depending on the model:
- In the past poplar and ash wood were used, today it is native walnut and oak wood for the surface and Canadian cedar wood for the core.
- Porphyry gneiss from Andeer , Biasca and the Calanca valley .
- Carbon fiber composite "Zaiìra"
- Dyneema synthetic fiber
- Carbon fiber laminate with which the stone core of the «Spada» is wrapped
- UD carbon fiber
- vulcanized natural rubber for the surface
- Steel for the lower edges, rustproof stainless steel for the upper edges and inlays
Every Zai ski is equipped with a nanohigh-speed racing base.
equipment
Zai also offers ski poles, helmets, bindings etc. that are manufactured by suppliers (e.g. CP, Tyrolia, Komperdell) according to Zai's specifications.
Zai models (selection)
zai wood with a surface made of handcrafted ash veneer
zai stone: the only ski in the world with the stone upper belt
The entry-level model zai disruptor with a rubber surface
swell
- Bartholomè Hunger: Zai-Ski - the one with the stone core , in: Terra Grischuna 1/2013, p. 10 f.
- Natalia Godglück: On boards that mean a lot of money , in: Neue Zürcher Zeitung January 6, 2008
- Catherine Moye: An equipment upgrade leads to a skiing epiphany - The skis that give you wings , howtospendit.ft.com February 14, 2011
- René Allemann and Olivia El Sayed: The Brander - Brands and their Makers , Eden Books, March 2013, ISBN 978-3-944296-00-5
- Renate Freiling: In Graubünden there are skis with a stone core , Die Welt December 24, 2009
- Style icons , Ski Magazin issue 5/2007 [1]
- Allroundcarver , Stern.de 11/2006 [2]
- Rien ne va plus ... , SkiEXCLUSIV 1/2013 [3]
- Dénériaz: il n'y a que Zaï qui lui aille! , SkiChrono, February 8, 2011
- Anne Glusker: 'All Black' goes from watches to skis , New York Times, November 28, 2008
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ From another world , Süddeutsche Zeitung v. February 12, 2011, p. 30 ( Memento from August 15, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF; 91 kB)
- ↑ Pledari Grond ( Memento of the original dated December 7, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ TechnoCarbon (PDF; 400 kB)
- ↑ Bündner luxury ski Zai on the way to becoming a cult brand (Südostschweiz.ch from February 2, 2011)
- ↑ Outlook 2020 by Benedikt Germanier: Swissness, Innovation, Design and Craft (zai.ch, January 2, 2020)
- ↑ Autoblog
- ↑ Balance from January 29, 2010
- ↑ Zai Website: Zaiira ( Memento of October 3, 2013 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ Zai is the official ski at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2011 (presseanzeiger.de)
- ↑ The brander ( Memento of the original from December 15, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Patent application CH705162 dated December 31, 2012, see swissreg.ch
- ↑ Patent CH701003 from March 15, 2012, see swissreg.ch
- ↑ zai & MONCLER GRENOBLE HIGH PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE (monclergroup.com)
- ↑ ZAI SAINT LAURENT SKIS (ysl.com)
- ↑ Blossom Ski
- ↑ From spring there will be luxury skis from Bergell ( suedostschweiz.ch from November 16, 2018)
- ↑ BERG.PUR: Winter start with the first stone ski (graubuenden.ch)
- ↑ zai is committed to Graubünden (press release zai.ch)
- ↑ Hightech Center Aargau: The Hightech Center Aargau offers innovation advice for SMEs | High-tech center Aargau. Retrieved on August 22, 2020 (Swiss Standard German).
