K'Nex

K'Nex /kəˈnɛks/ is a construction toy system founded by Joel Glickman. It was first introduced in America in 1992. K'Nex is designed and produced by K'Nex Industries Inc. of Hatfield, Pennsylvania. K'Nex was purchased by Florida-based company Basic Fun! in 2018.[1]

K'Nex
TypeConstruction set
Inventor(s)Joel Glickman
CompanyBasic Fun!
CountryUnited States
AvailabilityOctober 1992 (1992-10)–present
SloganImagine, Build, Play
Building Worlds Kids Love
The K'Nex Big Thing
Where Creativity Clicks
Official website

The toy's building system consists of interlocking plastic rods, connectors, blocks, gears, wheels, and other components, which can be assembled to form a wide variety of models, machines, and architectural structures. While K'Nex is designed for children ages 5–12, a larger version, Kid K'Nex, is aimed towards children 5 and younger.

History

The first K'Nex Box was launched in the U.S. market in 1993. Original models with moving parts had a handcrank to make things move, but soon, gears and motors allowed models to move on their own.[2]

A bridge made from K'Nex

The company's products were sold at Toys "R" Us, starting in early October 1992. By 2011, K'Nex was distributed in over 25 countries, including the United States.

In 2018, all of K'Nex's assets were purchased by Basic Fun!, a Florida-based toy company.[3][4][5] The acquisition was valued at around $21 million.[6][7][8]

Pieces

The basic K'Nex pieces used to make models include rods, connectors, and bricks. Basic K'Nex pieces are made out of polyoxymethylene plastic.[9]

Display models and exhibits

Concordia University's Engineering and Computer Science Association (ECA)[10] has erected models of a Space Shuttle, the Sears Tower, the Eiffel Tower, Habitat 67, and mazes out of K'Nex.[11] The U.S. Space and Rocket Center held a Guinness Book of World Records Award for the "World's Largest K'Nex Sculpture" and also has a huge space shuttle and rocket in their gift shop in Huntsville, Alabama. The Guinness World Record for "World's Largest K'Nex Sculpture" was broken in 2014 by a team in the UK with a 13.38-meter-long K'Nex replica of the Bloodhound 1600 km/h Supersonic Car. K'Nex also has a traveling exhibit, K'Nex: Build Thrill Rides, that visits schools and museums across the country.

Computer games

K'NEX The Lost Mines: Adventure Begins, was released in 1998 by EAI Interactive for Windows 95,[12] and Virtual K'Nex was also released in 1998 by Fox Interactive for Windows 3.x.[13]

See also

References
  1. "K'Nex Brands sold to Florida-based toy company". Plastics News. February 12, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  2. "History of K'Nex". Knex.com. Archived from the original on February 23, 2012. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
  3. Whyte, Alexandra (February 11, 2018). "Basic Fun! buys K'NEX". Kidscreen. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  4. "Basic Fun! Acquires K'NEX". Basic Fun!. February 12, 2018. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  5. "Basic Fun! buys K'Nex". Toyworldmag.co.uk. February 12, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  6. Savana, Freda (February 10, 2018). "Hatfield toymaker K'NEX sold". The Intell.com. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  7. "Basic Fun Keeps K'Nex Licenses". Licensing International. April 19, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  8. "Basic Fun Buys K'NEX". Consumergoods.com. February 18, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  9. "Ticona Polymer and Processing Expertise Helps Rodon Deliver Successes, Including K'Nex® Toys". celanese.com. Celanese Corporation. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
  10. "Concordia Engineering and Computer Science Association". ECA. June 15, 2014. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  11. "Concordia's Women in Engineering chapter construct massive K'Nex shuttle". The Concordian. March 8, 2011. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
  12. "K'NEX The Lost Mines: Adventure Begins". legendsworld.net. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  13. "VIRTUAL K'NEX". Retrieved April 3, 2023.
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