Vekoma
{{Short description|Dutch amusement ride manufacturer}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Vekoma Rides Manufacturing
| logo = Vekoma logo.png
| type = Subsidiary
| parent = Sansei Technologies
| foundation = 1926
| founder = Hendrik op het Veld
| location_city = Vlodrop (Roerdalen)
| location_country = The Netherlands
| area_served = Worldwide
| products = Amusement rides
| services =
| owner =
| num_employees =
| homepage = {{Official URL}}
}}
Vekoma Rides Manufacturing is an 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.
History
The company originally manufactured farm equipment and later made steel constructions for the coal mining industry in the 1950s.{{in lang|nl}} [https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Vekoma&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd%3A010637588%3Ampeg21%3Aa0183&resultsidentifier=ddd%3A010637588%3Ampeg21%3Aa0183 Vekoma neemt bedrijf over], Limburgschs Dagblad, July 13, 1993 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.{{cite web|url=http://themeparkfreaks.eu/bouwers/vekoma/|language=nl|title=Fabrikanten » Bouwer in de kijker: Vekoma|last=Van Dyck|first=Bob|date=3 November 2014 |access-date=February 4, 2021}} 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.
On 23 August 2001, Vekoma filed for bankruptcy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/news/archives/august01/stories/082301_02.shtml|title=Vekoma files for bankruptcy|date=August 23, 2001|access-date=January 26, 2023}}
In 2006, Vekoma formed an alliance with U.S.-based manufacturer Chance Morgan.{{cite web | title = Vekoma Rides Manufacturing BV - Sales & Marketing| url = http://www.vekoma.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=71&Itemid=58| access-date = February 4, 2021}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://amusementtoday.com/2012/10/chance-rides-vekoma-rides-decide-to-discontinue-north-america-cooperation/|title=Chance Rides & Vekoma Rides decide to discontinue North America cooperation|publisher=Amusement Today|location=Arlington, Texas|date=October 17, 2012|access-date=February 4, 2021}}
In 2008, Vekoma Rides Manufacturing acquired the Wheels of Excellence range of Ferris wheels from Ronald Bussink. Under the agreement, Bussink continued to supply wheels 100 meters and taller. Smaller wheels in the 40- to 80-meter range transitioned to a new manufacturing division of Vekoma, Dutch Wheels BV.{{cite web|url=https://www.parkworld-online.com/giant-wheels-go-dutch/|title=Giant Wheels go Dutch - Vekoma takes over Bussink range|author=|date=October 26, 2014|access-date=February 4, 2021}}
On 17 October 2012, Chance Rides and Vekoma discontinued the agreement to produce rides together for the North American market.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.amusementtoday.com/?p=2758 |title=Chance Rides & Vekoma Rides decide to discontinue North America coop |date=October 17, 2012 |magazine=Amusement Today |access-date=October 18, 2012}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://amusementtoday.com/2012/10/dutch-wheels-expands-its-activities-into-the-north-american-market/|title=Dutch Wheels expands its activities into the North American market|date=October 31, 2012|publisher=Amusement Today|location=Arlington, Texas|access-date=February 4, 2021}}
On 30 March 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.parkworld-online.com/vekoma-rides-aqcuired-by-sansei-technologies/|title=Vekoma Rides {{sic|aqc|uired|hide=y}} by Sansei Technologies|author=|date=April 3, 2018|publisher=Park World|access-date=February 4, 2021}}
Roller coasters
{{Main|List of Vekoma roller coasters}}
{{Asof|2018|05}}, there are over 387 roller coasters around the world from Vekoma, some of which are either under construction or have been removed.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rcdb.com/6836.htm|title=Vekoma (Vlodrop, Limburg, Netherlands)|website=rcdb.com}}
=Models=
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
| Model | First produced | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Bermuda Blitz | 2017 | A 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.{{cite RCDB|coaster_name=Lech Coaster|location=Legendia Śląskie Wesołe Miasteczko rcdb_number=11034|access-date=November 14, 2018}} |
| Big Air | 2010 | Formerly 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.{{cite RCDB|coaster_name=Big Air|location=E-DA Theme Park|rcdb_number=8656|access-date=May 18, 2015}} |
| Boomerang | 1984 | a type of Shuttle roller coaster with three inversions, height of {{convert|117|ft|m|2}}, and speed of {{cvt|47|mph|km/h}}. |
| Corkscrew with Bayerncurve (discontinued) | 1979 | An adaptation of the standard Arrow Development corkscrew roller coaster. |
| Dive Pretzel Coaster{{cite web|url=http://www.looopings.nl/weblog/3741/Raadselachtige-nieuwe-achtbaan-opgebouwd-in-Limburg.html|title=Raadselachtige nieuwe achtbaan opgebouwd in Limburg|work=looping.nl|language=nl|date=April 23, 2015|access-date=May 14, 2015}}{{cite RCDB|coaster_name=Unknown|location=Great Mall of China|rcdb_number=10786|access-date=May 14, 2015}} | 2014{{cite RCDB|coaster_name=Dive Pretzel Coaster|location=Limburg|rcdb_number=11923|access-date=May 14, 2015}} | A roller coaster with a 90 degree climb and several pretzel loop elements. |
| Double Loop-Corkscrew | 1981 | A modified version of the MK-1200, it consisted of four inversions (two vertical loopings and two corkscrews and a standard track. |
| Flying Dutchman | 2000 | First large-scale flying roller coaster built. There is only one of these coasters still in operation. |
| Giant Inverted Boomerang | 2001 | Like Invertigo but with vertical lift hills and slightly different layout. |
| Hurricane | 1989 | Has a vertical loop and a double corkscrew. There were only 2 installations ever.{{cite web|url=https://coasterpedia.net/wiki/Hurricane_(Vekoma_model)|title=Hurricane (Vekoma Model)|access-date=31 May 2019}} |
| Invertigo | 1996 | An inverted model of the Boomerang. |
| Motorbike roller coaster | 2004 | Vekoma-launched roller coaster with trains like motorbikes. |
| LSM Launch coaster | 1999 | Roller coaster with three inversions. Launched around {{cvt|55|mph|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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vekoma.com/sitdown-thrill-coasters/space-warp-launch-coaster|title=Space Warp Launch Coaster {{!}} Vekoma Rides Manufacturing BV|website=www.vekoma.com|access-date=2019-11-07}} | ||
| Splash Party | 2013 | An inverted slower-paced roller coaster that is designed with several water gun and water bomb placements. Only one installation of this model exists.{{cite RCDB|coaster_name=Bandit Bomber|location=Yas Waterworldrcdb_number=6536|access-date=May 18, 2015}} |
| Stingray | 2009 | A 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.{{Cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/8560.htm|title=Stingray - Flying Dutchman - Vekoma (Vlodrop, Limburg, Netherlands)|website=rcdb.com}} |
| Suspended Family Coaster | 2001 | Inverted family coaster very similar to the Suspended Looping Coaster |
| Suspended Looping Coaster | 1994 | Inverted coaster with several different models. |
| Suspended Thrill Coaster
|2020 |The successor to the Suspended Looping Coaster which features a different track style and layout.{{Cite web |title=Roller Coaster DataBase |url=https://rcdb.com/ |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=rcdb.com}} Debuted with Hals-über-Kopf at Erlebnispark Tripsdrill. | ||
| Loop-Corkscrew | 1986 | A modified version of the MK-1200, it consisted of two inversions (a vertical looping and a corkscrew) and a standard track.{{cite RCDB|rcdb_number=8201|location=Vlodrop|coaster_name=Tornado|access-date=May 27, 2015}} Three installations exist in the world and are all still operating. |
| Mine train coaster | 1992 | A roller coaster with a Western, mountain or mine themed style. {{cvt|785|m|ft}} and MK-900 M models. |
| Junior coaster | 1990 | Roller coaster aimed at children. {{cvt|207 and 335|m|ft}} models. |
| Shockwave coaster | 2019 | |A 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 coaster | 2020 | |A sit down LSM launch coaster built with new-generation track and trains but with a different layout and multiple inversions. |
| Wooden roller coaster | 2000 | Classic 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.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}
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.{{cite journal|title=Vekoma rides on|journal=Park World Magazine|date=November 2013|page=30}}
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.
Other attractions
=Ferris wheels=
The Dutch Wheels product range includes the R40, R50, and R60 models, each available in three different types.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dutchwheels.com/index.php/specs/r-seriesproduct-range|title=Dutch Wheels - our product range|access-date=2013-09-23|archive-date=2013-10-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004222545/http://www.dutchwheels.com/index.php/specs/r-seriesproduct-range|url-status=dead}}
==Notable installations==
=Madhouse=
{{main|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.
Gallery
{{Cleanup gallery|date=March 2012}}
Image:Mind Eraser (Sidewinder).JPG|Suspended Looping Coaster, a popular Vekoma design
Image:Vekomaboomerang.jpg|Boomerang, another of Vekoma's most popular ride models
Image:Invertigo_(Kings_Island).jpg|Invertigo, a variation on the Boomerang design
Image:Six Flags Magic Mountain Deja Vu.jpg|Giant Inverted Boomerang, a more extreme version of Invertigo
Image:SFKK-Roller Skater.jpg|Vekoma Roller Skater, a small family coaster design
Image:Thundercoaster.jpg|Wooden Coaster, One of Vekoma's wooden coasters (Thundercoaster Tusenfryd)
Image:Velocitytrain.jpg|Motorbike roller coaster, a specially designed coaster with seats that are like motorbikes
Image:PKI-Rugrat's Runaway Reptar.jpg|Suspended Family Coaster
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Official website}}
- {{RCDB|6836}}
{{Vekoma}}
{{Roller coaster manufacturers}}
{{Amusement rides}}
Category:Roller coaster manufacturers
Category:Multinational companies headquartered in the Netherlands
Category:Design companies established in 1926
Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1926
Category:1926 establishments in the Netherlands
Category:Amusement ride manufacturers
Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2001