Vekoma Rides Manufacturing is a Dutch 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. 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. 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.
In 2006, Vekoma formed an alliance with U.S.-based manufacturer Chance Morgan. 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.
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.
On 17 October 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 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. Dutch Wheels BV was not a component of the sale, so Dutch Wheels BV was spun off into its own company at the same time.
Roller coasters
, there have been over 450 roller coasters around the world built by Vekoma. Some of these are either under construction or have been removed.
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. 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, located at E-DA Theme Park in Taiwan. Boomerang 1984 a type of Shuttle roller coaster with three inversions, height of , and speed of . Corkscrew with Bayerncurve (discontinued) 1979 An adaptation of the standard Arrow Development corkscrew roller coaster. Dive Pretzel Coaster 2014 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. The last one, Batwing, closed in 2025. 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. 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 using LSM technology. Only three installations of this model exists.Space Warp Launch coaster2016A 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. 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. 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. 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 Coaster2020The successor to the Suspended Looping Coaster which features a different track style and layout. Debuted with Hals-über-Kopf at Erlebnispark Tripsdrill. Tornado (loop-corkscrew) 1986 A modified version of the MK-1200. The layout contains a turn to the left out of the station, a lift hill, a drop curved to the right, a loop, a turn to the right, a corkscrew, another turn to the right, the brake run and a final turn to the left. It uses a standard track. Three of these have been installed, of which two are still operating. Mine train coaster 1992 A roller coaster with a Western, mountain or mine themed style. and MK-900 M models. Junior coaster 1990 Roller coaster aimed at children. 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. Thrill glider coaster 2026/7 Combination of a Flying roller coaster and a motorbike coaster 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-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.
Other attractions Ferris wheels The Dutch Wheels product range includes the R40, R50, and R60 models, each available in three different types.
Notable installations Ferris wheel name Location Opened Status ReferenceGiant WheelSix Flags Darien Lake, Darien, New York, US Closed Giant Wheel Morey's Piers, Wildwood, New Jersey, US Operating Navy Pier Ferris Wheel Pier Park, Navy Pier, Chicago, US Relocated Delhi Eye (R50) Kalindi Kunj Park, Okhla, Delhi, India Hong Kong Observation Wheel Central, Hong Kong Operating Branson Ferris Wheel (former Navy Pier Wheel) Branson, Missouri Operating Grande roue de Montréal Montreal, Canada Operating
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
References
External links