Vekoma

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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.<ref>Template:In lang Vekoma neemt bedrijf over, Limburgschs Dagblad, July 13, 1993</ref> 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.<ref name="TPF">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref name=TPF/>

On 23 August 2001, Vekoma filed for bankruptcy.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2006, Vekoma formed an alliance with U.S.-based manufacturer Chance Morgan.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On 17 October 2012, Chance Rides and Vekoma discontinued the agreement to produce rides together for the North American market.<ref name=Vekoma>Template:Cite magazine</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Roller coasters

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

Template:Asof, there are over 387 roller coasters around the world from Vekoma, some of which are either under construction or have been removed.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Models

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.<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Boomerang	1984	a type of Shuttle roller coaster with three inversions, height of Template:Convert, and speed of Template:Cvt.
Corkscrew with Bayerncurve (discontinued)	1979	An adaptation of the standard Arrow Development corkscrew roller coaster.
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> || 2014<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> || 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	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
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 Template:Cvt using LSM technology. Only three installations of this model exists.
Space Warp Launch coaster	2016	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Stingray	2009	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
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	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> 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. Template:Cvt and MK-900 M models.
Junior coaster	1990	Roller coaster aimed at children. Template:Cvt 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.Template:Citation needed

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.<ref name="Vekoma rides on">Template:Cite journal</ref>

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Notable installations

Ferris wheel name	Location	Opened	Status	Reference
Giant Wheel	Six Flags Darien Lake, Darien, New York, US	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Closed	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Giant Wheel	Morey's Piers, Wildwood, New Jersey, US	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Operating	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Navy Pier Ferris Wheel	Pier Park, Navy Pier, Chicago, US	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Relocated	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>10 millionth rider goes for spin on Navy Pier ferris wheel</ref>
Delhi Eye (R50)	Kalindi Kunj Park, Okhla, Delhi, India	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Hong Kong Observation Wheel	Central, Hong Kong	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Operating	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Branson Ferris Wheel (former Navy Pier Wheel)	Branson, Missouri	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Operating	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Grande roue de Montréal	Montreal, Canada	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Operating	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Madhouse

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} 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

• Mind Eraser (Sidewinder).JPG

  Suspended Looping Coaster, a popular Vekoma design

• Vekomaboomerang.jpg

  Boomerang, another of Vekoma's most popular ride models

• Invertigo (Kings Island).jpg

  Invertigo, a variation on the Boomerang design

• Six Flags Magic Mountain Deja Vu.jpg

  Giant Inverted Boomerang, a more extreme version of Invertigo

• SFKK-Roller Skater.jpg

  Vekoma Roller Skater, a small family coaster design

• Thundercoaster.jpg

  Wooden Coaster, One of Vekoma's wooden coasters (Thundercoaster Tusenfryd)

• Velocitytrain.jpg

  Motorbike roller coaster, a specially designed coaster with seats that are like motorbikes

• PKI-Rugrat's Runaway Reptar.jpg

  Suspended Family Coaster

External links

• Template:Official website
• Template:RCDB