Vekoma Rides Manufacturing is a Dutch
amusement ride
Amusement rides, sometimes called carnival rides, are mechanical devices or structures that move people especially kids to create fun and enjoyment.
Rides are often perceived by many as being scary or more dangerous than they actually are. This ...
manufacturer. Vekoma is
syllabic abbreviation
An abbreviation (from Latin ''brevis'', meaning ''short'') is a shortened form of a word or phrase, by any method. It may consist of a group of letters or words taken from the full version of the word or phrase; for example, the word ''abbrevia ...
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
Coal mining is the process of extracting coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from ...
industry in the 1950s. 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.
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.
[
In 2006, Vekoma formed an alliance with U.S.-based manufacturer ]Chance Morgan
Chance Morgan Coasters, Inc. is a roller coaster and amusement ride manufacturer. It was formed on June 14, 2001 when Michael Chance, grandson of Chance Rides founder Richard H. Chance, acquired the assets of roller coaster builder D. H. Morgan ...
. Chance Rides
Chance Rides Manufacturing is a roller coaster and amusement ride manufacturer. The company was formed on May 16, 2002, when the former Chance Industries Inc. emerged from bankruptcy. The main office and manufacturing facility are located in Wi ...
represented Vekoma in North America and Chance Morgan
Chance Morgan Coasters, Inc. is a roller coaster and amusement ride manufacturer. It was formed on June 14, 2001 when Michael Chance, grandson of Chance Rides founder Richard H. Chance, acquired the assets of roller coaster builder D. H. Morgan ...
manufactured the steel track for select projects. During this agreement, Chance built four Vekoma-designed family coasters.
In 2008, Vekoma Rides Manufacturing acquired the Wheels of Excellence range of Ferris wheel
A Ferris wheel (also called a Giant Wheel or an observation wheel) is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating upright wheel with multiple passenger-carrying components (commonly referred to as passenger cars, cabins, tubs, gondolas, capsule ...
s from Ronald Bussink
Ronald A. Bussink has been a leading designer of giant Ferris wheels and similar structures for over 25 years. Bussink entered the amusement industry market in 1985 and designed, manufactured, and delivered more than 60 giant observation wheel ...
. 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.
On October 17, 2012, Chance Rides and Vekoma discontinued the agreement to produce rides together for the North American market. 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.
On March 30, 2018, Vekoma was acquired by Sansei Technologies
Sansei Technologies, Inc. (formerly Sansei Yusoki Co., Ltd.) is a manufacturing firm based in Osaka, Japan. The company specialises in the manufacturing of amusement rides, stage equipment, and elevators.
History
Sansei Yusoki was founded on F ...
, 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.
Roller coasters
, there are over 387 roller coaster
A roller coaster, or rollercoaster, is a type of amusement ride that employs a form of elevated railroad track designed with tight turns, steep slopes, and sometimes inversions. Passengers ride along the track in open cars, and the rides are ...
s around the world from Vekoma, some of which are either under construction or have been removed.
Models
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
Idaho ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. To the north, it shares a small portion of the Canada–United States border with the province of British Columbia. It borders the states of Monta ...
-based Rocky Mountain Construction. The agreement allows Vekoma to sell Rocky Mountain Construction's roller coasters outside the North American market.
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.Dutch Wheels - our product range
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Notable installations
Madhouse
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
Image:Mind Eraser (Sidewinder).JPG, Suspended Looping Coaster, a popular Vekoma design
Image:Vekomaboomerang.jpg, Boomerang
A boomerang () is a thrown tool, typically constructed with aerofoil sections and designed to spin about an axis perpendicular to the direction of its flight. A returning boomerang is designed to return to the thrower, while a non-returning ...
, another of Vekoma's most popular ride models
Image:Invertigo_(Kings_Island).jpg, Invertigo
Invertigo were an Australian four-piece pop, rock group active in the early 2000s. They originally formed as Vertigo in 1996, by the three Leigh brothers: Gerry (born 10 May 1966) on guitar, James (born 1 December 1967) on keyboards and Vince ( ...
, 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
External links
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{{Amusement rides
Roller coaster manufacturers
Multinational companies headquartered in the Netherlands
Design companies established in 1926
Manufacturing companies established in 1926
1926 establishments in the Netherlands
Amusement ride manufacturers