TÜV SÜD America Appoints Curt Panter as Chief Ropeway Engineer for the Americas

WAKEFIELD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TÜV SÜD America today announced the appointment of Curt Panter as Chief Ropeway Engineer within its Amusement Rides, Water Parks, and Ropeways Division. In this role, Curt will oversee the technical delivery of TÜV SÜD’s internationally accredited ropeway services portfolio throughout the Americas. He will report to Robert Vignec, Director, Amusement Rides, Water Parks and Ropeways at TÜV SÜD America, Inc.

As Chief Ropeway Engineer, Curt will be responsible for the execution and approval of technical reviews, audits, and consultation services related to ropeway and ropeway systems, including ski lifts, urban transport systems, and more. Curt will also represent TÜV SÜD America at industry events, coordinate expert technical resources across markets, and ensure the efficient, consistent delivery of TÜV SÜD’s full suite of ropeway services.

Curt brings more than 35 years of engineering and ropeway safety experience, including over two decades with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, where he provided civil and structural engineering oversight across the Intermountain, Northern, and Pacific Southwest Regions. As a registered professional engineer since 1994, he ensured ropeways on National Forest lands complied with national safety standards and technical requirements and contributed to the development and enforcement of ASTM International F24 safety standards for recreational facilities throughout the Western United States.

In addition to his regulatory expertise, Curt has played influential roles within national and international ropeway safety organizations, including the ANSI B77.1 Committee, the Utah Passenger Ropeway Safety Committee, OITAF, and ITTAB. Earlier in his career, he served as a Civil and Safety Engineer with the Utah Department of Transportation, supporting design, construction, inspection, and licensing for passenger ropeways across the state.

Curt’s technical leadership has earned him multiple industry accolades, including the 2025 Ski California Association and LMOE Conference Industry Impact Award, the USDA Forest Service Intermountain Region Technical Engineer of the Year Award (2008, 2025), and the Intermountain Region Forester’s Honor Award. He has maintained his Professional Engineer license in the State of Utah since 1994.

“We are thrilled to welcome Curt to TÜV SÜD America,” said Robert Vignec, Director, Amusement Rides, Water Parks and Ropeways. “His deep technical background, regulatory experience, and decades of leadership across national and international safety committees strengthen our ability to support operators and advance ropeway safety across the Americas.”

TÜV SÜD America’s Amusement Industry Hub

Curt’s appointment comes as TÜV SÜD America continues expanding its amusement industry capabilities, supported by its U.S.-based hub in Tampa, Florida, which serves as a central base for testing, inspection, certification, and training needs within the amusement ride and theme park industry. Located near some of the world’s most renowned theme parks, the team provides comprehensive support to clients across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

As a globally recognized inspection and certification body for over 95 years, TÜV SÜD has worked on more than 100 amusement park projects with over 95% of global manufacturers, inspected 18,000+ rides, and certified more than 5,000 rides worldwide. Through its Tampa hub, TÜV SÜD America offers one-stop technical services that support the design, manufacturing quality, commissioning, operational and maintenance surety of amusement rides, water rides and ropeways—delivering all-around assurance and helping safeguard reliable operation.

About TÜV SÜD America

TÜV SÜD America Inc. is a subsidiary of TÜV SÜD (Munich, Germany), a global leader in testing, inspection and certification. TÜV SÜD’s Business Assurance division provides management system certification services to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, AS9100, Safe Quality Food (SQF), and more. TÜV SÜD’s Product Service division offers electrical and mechanical product safety, Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) testing, environmental testing, NRTL and SCC certification, CE marking assistance, restricted substance services, international compliance services, and more. TÜV SÜD America also provides a comprehensive suite of services for the medical device sector as a European Union notified body for the medical device, active implantable medical device and in-vitro diagnostic device directives, and a complete service portfolio including ISO 13485 and MDSAP certification, FDA 510(k) and third-party inspections. The company’s Industry Services division offers a full suite of services for pressure equipment manufacturers and materials producers exporting products to the European Community. The Industry Services division also includes TÜV SÜD Global Risk Consultants, the leading global provider of unbundled property loss control services.