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.[2] 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.[3] 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.[3]
On August 23, 2001, Vekoma filed for bankruptcy.[4]
In 2006, Vekoma formed an alliance with U.S.-based manufacturer Chance Morgan.[5]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.[6]
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.[7]
On October 17, 2012, Chance Rides and Vekoma discontinued the agreement to produce rides together for the North American market.[8] 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.[9]
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.[10]
As of May 2018[update], there are over 387 roller coasters around the world from Vekoma, some of which are either under construction or have been removed.[11]
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.[12]
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.[13]
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.[18]
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.[19]
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.[20]
The successor to the Suspended Looping Coaster which features a different track style and layout.[21] 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.[22] Three installations exist in the world and are all still operating.
Roller coaster aimed at children. 207 and 335 m (679 and 1,099 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.
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.
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.[23]
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.[24]
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