Vekoma

Vekoma Rides Manufacturing is a Dutch amusement ride manufacturer. Vekoma is a syllabic abbreviation of Veld Koning Machinefabriek (Veld Koning Machine Factory) which was established in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld.

Vekoma Rides Manufacturing
TypeSubsidiary
Founded1926
FounderHendrik op het Veld
Headquarters
Vlodrop
,
The Netherlands
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsAmusement rides
ParentSansei Technologies
Websitewww.vekoma.com

History

The company originally manufactured farm equipment and later made steel constructions for the coal mining industry in the 1950s.[1] As business shifted from farming equipment to steel construction, Veld Koning Machinefabriek was shortened to Vekoma. After the closure of Dutch mines in 1965, Vekoma manufactured steel pipes for the petrochemical industry.[2] In the 1970s Vekoma was contracted by U.S. amusement ride manufacturer Arrow Development to build the steel structure for its roller coasters in Europe. As demand increased, Arrow instructed Vekoma in track building techniques and eventually licensed its coaster-building technology. In 1979 Vekoma entered the market on its own, opening three coasters in Europe under the name Vekoma Rides Manufacturing BV.[2]

On August 23, 2001, Vekoma filed for bankruptcy.[3]

In 2006, Vekoma formed an alliance with U.S.-based manufacturer Chance Morgan.[4] Chance Rides represented Vekoma in North America and Chance Morgan manufactured the steel track for select projects. During this agreement, Chance built four Vekoma-designed family coasters.[5]

In 2008, Vekoma Rides Manufacturing acquired the Wheels of Excellence range of Ferris wheels from Ronald Bussink. Under the agreement, Bussink will continue to supply wheels 100 meters and taller. Smaller wheels in the 40- to 80-meter range will be manufactured by a new division of Vekoma, Dutch Wheels BV.[6]

On October 17, 2012, Chance Rides and Vekoma discontinued the agreement to produce rides together for the North American market.[7] However, shortly after terminating that agreement, Chance Rides was given an exclusive license from Dutch Wheels BV to manufacture and sell R60 wheels in the North American market under a new affiliate, Chance American Wheels.[8]

On March 30, 2018, Vekoma was acquired by Sansei Technologies, the parent company of American ride manufacturer S&S Sansei. The conditions stipulated that Vekoma's business model remain unchanged after the acquisition. Vekoma continues to manufacture and market rides as a separate entity.[9]

Roller coasters
Main article: List of Vekoma roller coasters

As of May 2018, there are over 387 roller coasters around the world from Vekoma, some of which are either under construction or have been removed.[10]

Models
ModelFirst producedDescription
Bermuda Blitz2017A sit down multi-inversion roller coaster with new generation trains and restraints. An off the shelf layout is available replicating Lech Coaster, which is the only installation of the model that currently exists. Lech Coaster is in Legendia in Poland.[11]
Big Air2010Formerly known as a hammerhead stall due to the spinning function it previously possessed. There is only one installation of this roller coaster, It is in E-DA Theme park in Taiwan.[12]
Boomerang1984a type of Shuttle roller coaster with three inversions, height of 117 feet (35.66 m), and speed of 47 mph (76 km/h).
Corkscrew with Bayerncurve (discontinued)1979An adaptation of the standard Arrow Development corkscrew roller coaster.
Dive Pretzel Coaster[13][14]2014[15]A roller coaster with a 90 degree climb and several pretzel loop elements.
Double Loop-Corkscrew1981A modified version of the MK-1200, it consisted of four inversions (two vertical loopings and two corkscrews and a standard track.
Flying Dutchman2000First large-scale flying roller coaster built. There are two of these coasters.
Giant Inverted Boomerang2001Like Invertigo but with vertical lift hills and slightly different layout.
Hurricane1989Has a vertical loop and a double corkscrew. There were only 2 installations ever.[16]
Invertigo1996An inverted model of the Boomerang.
Motorbike roller coaster2004Vekoma-launched roller coaster with trains like motorbikes.
LSM Launch coaster1999Roller coaster with three inversions. Launched around 55 mph (89 km/h) using LSM technology.

Only three installations of this model exists.

Space Warp Launch coaster 2016 A sit down LSM launch coaster built with new-generation track and trains in a layout with multiple inversions. Only one installation of this model exists.[17]
Splash Party2013An inverted slower-paced roller coaster that is designed with several water gun and water bomb placements. Only one installation of this model exists.[18]
Stingray2009A compact flying roller coaster designed as the successor to the Flying Dutchman. Only one example has been installed, being Stingray at Giant Wheel Park of Suzhou.[19]
Suspended Family Coaster2001Inverted family coaster very similar to the Suspended Looping Coaster
Suspended Looping Coaster1994Inverted coaster with several different models.
Suspended Thrill Coaster 2020 The successor to the Suspended Looping Coaster which features a different track style and layout.[20] Debuted with Hals-über-Kopf at Erlebnispark Tripsdrill.
Loop-Corkscrew1986A modified version of the MK-1200, it consisted of two inversions (a vertical looping and a corkscrew) and a standard track.[21] Three installations exist in the world and are all still operating.
Mine train coaster1992A roller coaster with a Western, mountain or mine themed style. 785 m (2,575 ft) and MK-900 M models.
Junior coaster1990Roller coaster aimed at children. 207 and 335 m (679 and 1,099 ft) models.
Shockwave coaster2019A sit down LSM launch coaster built with new-generation track and trains with multiple inversions and features sometimes tunnels. 1095m and 1320m models.
Top Gun Launch coaster2020A sit down LSM launch coaster built with new-generation track and trains but with a different layout and multiple inversions.
Wooden roller coaster2000Classic wooden coaster produced by Vekoma. There are two examples: the Thundercoaster at TusenFryd, and Loup-Garou at Walibi Belgium. Previously, there was one of these models at Walibi Holland called Robin Hood, however, it became an RMC hybrid coaster called Untamed in 2019.

Other Vekoma coaster models include Wild Mouse, Hyper Space Warp, Firestorm, Swinging Turns, Enigma, Illusion, Family Boomerang, Tilt Coaster, Energy Storm and Powered Coasters.

In 2013, Vekoma signed a deal with Idaho-based Rocky Mountain Construction. The agreement allows Vekoma to sell Rocky Mountain Construction's roller coasters outside the North American market.[22]

Vekoma is also the constructor of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT in Walt Disney World, designing innovative new "omni-coaster" cars with the capability for controlled turns and spins. Opening in 2022, this is one of the longest and most ambitious indoor coasters ever constructed.

Other attractions

Ferris wheels

The Dutch Wheels product range includes the R40, R50, and R60 models, each available in three different types.[23]

Notable installations
Ferris wheel nameLocationOpenedStatusReference
Giant Wheel Six Flags Darien Lake, Darien, New York, US
1983-2019
Closed[24][25]
Giant WheelMorey's Piers, Wildwood, New Jersey, US
1985
Operating[26]
Navy Pier Ferris WheelPier Park, Navy Pier, Chicago, US
1995
Relocated[27][28][29]
Delhi Eye (R50)Kalindi Kunj Park, Okhla, Delhi, India
2014
[30][31]
Hong Kong Observation WheelCentral, Hong Kong
2014
Operating[32]
Branson Ferris Wheel (former Navy Pier Wheel)Branson, Missouri
2016
Operating[33]
Grande roue de MontréalMontreal, Canada
2017
Operating[34]

Madhouse
Main article: Madhouse (ride)

A madhouse is a flat ride that gives the impression that the rider is upside-down, when in reality the room they are in rotates around them.

References
  1. (in Dutch) Vekoma neemt bedrijf over, Limburgschs Dagblad, July 13, 1993
  2. Van Dyck, Bob (3 November 2014). "Fabrikanten » Bouwer in de kijker: Vekoma" (in Dutch). Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  3. "Vekoma files for bankruptcy". August 23, 2001. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  4. "Vekoma Rides Manufacturing BV - Sales & Marketing". Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  5. "Chance Rides & Vekoma Rides decide to discontinue North America cooperation". Arlington, Texas: Amusement Today. October 17, 2012. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  6. "Giant Wheels go Dutch - Vekoma takes over Bussink range". October 26, 2014. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  7. "Chance Rides & Vekoma Rides decide to discontinue North America coop". Amusement Today. October 17, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
  8. "Dutch Wheels expands its activities into the North American market". Arlington, Texas: Amusement Today. October 31, 2012. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  9. "Vekoma Rides aqcuired by Sansei Technologies". Park World. April 3, 2018. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  10. "Vekoma (Vlodrop, Limburg, Netherlands)". rcdb.com.
  11. Marden, Duane. "Lech Coaster  (Legendia Śląskie Wesołe Miasteczko rcdb_number=11034)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  12. Marden, Duane. "Big Air  (E-DA Theme Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  13. "Raadselachtige nieuwe achtbaan opgebouwd in Limburg". looping.nl (in Dutch). April 23, 2015. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  14. Marden, Duane. "Unknown  (Great Mall of China)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  15. Marden, Duane. "Dive Pretzel Coaster  (Limburg)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  16. "Hurricane (Vekoma Model)". Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  17. "Space Warp Launch Coaster | Vekoma Rides Manufacturing BV". www.vekoma.com. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  18. Marden, Duane. "Bandit Bomber  (Yas Waterworldrcdb_number=6536)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  19. "Stingray - Flying Dutchman - Vekoma (Vlodrop, Limburg, Netherlands)". rcdb.com.
  20. "Roller Coaster DataBase". rcdb.com. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  21. Marden, Duane. "Tornado  (Vlodrop)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  22. "Vekoma rides on". Park World Magazine: 30. November 2013.
  23. "Dutch Wheels - our product range". Archived from the original on 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2013-09-23.
  24. "Giant Wheel". Archived from the original on November 7, 2019.
  25. Owen, Chris (May 23, 2021). "Say 'Goodbye' To The Giant Ferris Wheel at Six Flags Darien Lake?". WYRK. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  26. "Ride experts call 11-year-old Pleasantville girl's fatal fall from Wildwood's Morey's Pier Ferris wheel a freak occurrence". Press of Atlantic City.
  27. Navy Pier's new attractions deemed 'critical' to luring variety of patrons.
  28. "Historic Navy Pier Attractions - Pier Park". Archived from the original on 2012-10-12. Retrieved 2012-09-11.
  29. 10 millionth rider goes for spin on Navy Pier ferris wheel
  30. "Delhi Eye thrown open to the public". The Hindu.
  31. "Giant wheel a monumental treat | Delhi News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  32. "Partners - The Hong Kong Observation Wheel". Archived from the original on 2016-02-23. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  33. Mayes, Jeff (June 24, 2016). "Historic Navy Pier Ferris Wheel moving to resort town of Branson, Missouri". Chicago, Illinois: Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  34. "Accueil | La Grande roue de Montréal". www.lagranderouedemontreal.com.
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