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Here's
the lowdown on the people that made the rides at Thorpe Park:
| Manufacturer
Name: Bolliger and Mabillard Consulting Engineers |
| Based: Switzerland |
| Rides
at Thorpe Park: Nemesis Inferno |
| Official
Website: N/A |
| Other
Info: Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard are
the eponymous founders of Bolliger and Mabillard. The pair
were originally involved with Intamin AG, but split off
and became the company that is very well known in the 'Coaster
world today. Formed in 1990, B&M are responsible for
the Steel Freeform and Inverted 'Coaster (Nemesis Inferno
is an example of the latter). B&M are incredibly detailed
in what they do - they really are perfectionists. They
maintain that their 'Coasters always work first
time, which is something that can't be said of other Designers.
Perhaps B&M's finest work is to be found at Alton Towers,
in the form of Nemesis. It was 10 years old in 2004, and
it is still one of the best examples of a 'Coaster. |
| Manufacturer
Name: Fabbri Group |
| Based: Italy |
| Rides
at Thorpe Park: Detonator, Quantum |
| Official
Website: Fabbri
Group |
Other
Info: The Fabbri Group came about because after
WW2, a man called Romolo Fabbri created an attraction
using surplus war material. His brother took the attraction, "Telecombat",
around the Italian fairs. In the 70's, Romolo broadened
his horizons and took his rides to Europe. Other companies
began to join Mr. Fabbri, and this is became the Fabbri
Group.
Fabbri
make thrill rides - not Roller Coasters. They are very
experienced at it, and although their relaibility and
build quality is questionable, they have designed some
of the best rides at Thorpe Park today. |
| Manufacturer
Name: Hopkins Rides |
| Based: USA |
| Rides
at Thorpe Park: Tidal Wave |
| Official
Website: Hopkins |
| Other
Info: Hopkins create water rides. Their three
main ride types are Shoot the Chute (Tidal Wave is one),
Flume Ride and River Raft Ride. Hopkins are the leading
company in the world to focus exclusively on water attractions,
and have now been manufacturing water rides for over 30
years. |
| Manufacturer
Name: HUSS Maschinenfabrik |
| Based: Germany |
| Rides
at Thorpe Park: Zodiac |
| Official
Website: HUSS |
| Other
Info: HUSS began in 1919 in Germany, and originally
manufactured ship equipment. Strangely, 50 years later,
HUSS created its first amusement park ride, and from there,
made more. Today, HUSS really is a market leader when it
comes to the manufacture and distribution of rides for
fairs and Theme Parks. HUSS have a reputation for being
reliable and innovative, and are sure to be around for
many years to come. |
| Manufacturer
Name: Intamin AG |
| Based: Switzerland |
Rides
at Thorpe Park: Colossus, Ribena Rumba Rapids,
Stealth |
| Official
Website: Intamin
AG |
Other
Info: Intamin really come out ahead of the competition.
They create not only 'Coaster sand Water Rides, but also
a wide range of Thrill Rides, too. They are split into
Intamin AG and Intamin Ride Trade. Intamin have broken
many records with their innovative rides, including creating
the tallest 'Coaster and the 'Coaster with the most inversions.
The former is Kinga Ka at Six Flags Great America, which
reaches speeds of 128mph and is 456ft tall! Stealth is
a smaller version of this ride. The latter is Thorpe
Park's very own Colossus.
Intamin
also created the very first River Rapids Ride - Ribena
Rumba Rapids is one of them. Be sure to watch Intamin
over the coming years - they are arguably the most exciting
manufacturers of this time! |
| Manufacturer
Name: Kermis Machinebouw Gaasendam |
| Based: Holland |
| Rides
at Thorpe Park: Vortex |
| Official
Website: KMG |
| Other
Info: KMG make thrill rides, mostly for fairs,
but do make permanent versions too. Founded in 1991, over
150 KMG rides are operated today, and on average, 13-14
rides are created and distributed by the KMG factory each
year. Their "Afterburner"
ride is one of their finest - Vortex is a good example of this. |
| Manufacturer
Name: Mack Rides |
| Based: Germany |
Rides
at Thorpe Park: Logger's Leap, Rocky Express,
Storm in a Teacup |
| Official
Website: Mack |
Other
Info: Mack have a deep history. The company
was founded by Paul Mack in 1780, who created horse wagons
and carriages! It wasn't until 140 years later that Mack
started to develop amusement rides. In 1975, Franz Mack
opened Europa Park in Germany as a showcase for Mack's
rides. Europa Park is today one of the most notable Theme
Parks in Europe. It's well worth a visit!
Today,
Mack make 'Coasters, water rides and thrill rides, and
are very good at it, too. |
| Manufacturer
Name: Mondial Rides |
| Based: Netherlands |
Rides
at Thorpe Park: Samurai |
| Official
Website: Mondial |
Other
Info: Mondial was founded in 1987, and quickly
established itself as a quality manufacturer of rides
for Fairs and Amusement Parks. It's success was accelerated
when the Mondial Giant Wheel was produced, and from there
many well known flat rides came about, such as the Sky
Flyer, Shake, Roll Over, Swinger, Revolution and Top
Scan (Samurai).
Mondial
rides are more likely to be found in travelling Fairs
and Carnivals over Theme Parks, as most of them are transportable
- including Samurai. They carry an impressive reputation
in the industry, always inventing unique and innovative
rides. |
| Manufacturer
Name: S&S Power, Inc |
| Based: USA |
| Rides
at Thorpe Park: Slammer, Rush |
| Official
Website: S&S
Power |
Other
Info: "The world's leading manufacturer
of vertical amusement rides". Fronted by Stan Checketts,
an incredibly enthusiastic adrenaline-junkie, S&S
Power made it's debut in the amusement industry in 1989
and has grown ever since. In fact, S&S is now considered
right up there with B&M, Intamin and Vekoma because
of their innovative ride ideas and great reputation.
S&S build flat thrill rides and 'Coasters, too. In
2003 S&S bought out Arrow Dynamics, who were forced
into bankruptcy.
Arrow
made many of today's great 'Coasters and rides. S&S
look set to continue this trend. |
| Manufacturer
Name: Vekoma Rides Manufacturing |
| Based: The
Netherlands |
| Rides
at Thorpe Park: Mr Monkey's Banana Ride, X:\ No
Way Out |
| Official
Website: Vekoma |
Other
Info: Vekoma was founded in 1926 by Hendrik
Op het Veld in Vlodrop as "King of the Fields".
He manufactured farming tools, and in 1948, the name
was changed to
"First Dutch Steel Plough and Pumps Factory". The
farming industry diminished, though, and so they turned their
attentions to mining in the 1950s, with the name "Machinefabriek
Vekoma". In 1961, Vekoma went into the petrochemical industry
- and was particularly good at building industrial heaters.
In 1967, Vekoma went into the amusement industry, building
a Giant Wheel. In 1983, Vekoma saw the opportunity for building
Roller Coasters, and so it was here that they became serious
about ride manufacture.
Vekoma
today do everything; 'Coasters, Water Rides, People Movement
and Thrill Rides. Even now, it is still a family run
business! |
| Manufacturer
Name: Whitewater West Industries |
| Based: Canada |
| Rides
at Thorpe Park: Depth Charge |
| Official
Website: Whitewater
West |
| Other
Info: Whitewater West create water rides - for
swimming pools and complexes, and dry rides for amusement
parks. It was founded in 1981 and today offers the industry's
largest selection of water rides. |
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