Vekoma

Vekoma is a Dutch amusement-ride manufacturer whose best-known products are roller coasters, although its portfolio also includes other large-scale and specialized attractions. The business traces its origins to 1926, when Hendrik op het Veld established Veld Koning Machinefabriek in the Netherlands. The name Vekoma developed as a shortened, syllabic form of that original company name. The company did not begin as a theme-park specialist. Its early activities centered on agricultural machinery. During the 1950s, Vekoma moved into steel construction for the coal-mining sector, responding to changes in Dutch industrial demand. After Dutch coal mines closed in 1965, the company adapted again and produced steel pipes for the petrochemical industry. This history of working with heavy steel fabrication became important when Vekoma entered the amusement-ride sector. In the 1970s, Vekoma was contracted by the American ride manufacturer Arrow Development to fabricate steel structures for roller coasters installed in Europe. As the relationship developed, Arrow taught Vekoma coaster-track construction methods and licensed relevant technology to the Dutch company. Vekoma subsequently moved from being primarily a fabricator for another manufacturer to developing and marketing rides under its own name. In 1979, it entered the roller-coaster market independently, opening three European coasters under the Vekoma Rides Manufacturing name. Vekoma became associated with a broad range of coaster formats, including looping coasters, suspended and inverted designs, family coasters, boomerangs, powered coasters, wild-mouse rides and other specialized concepts. Its installations have appeared at amusement parks and resort destinations in multiple regions. By May 2018, more than 387 Vekoma roller coasters had been recorded worldwide, including operating, removed and then-under-construction installations. The company experienced a major financial setback when it filed for bankruptcy on 23 August 2001. It later continued operating and expanded its relationships with other ride manufacturers. In 2006, Vekoma formed an alliance with Chance Morgan in the United States. Chance Rides represented Vekoma in North America, while Chance Morgan manufactured steel track for selected projects; four Vekoma-designed family coasters were produced during the arrangement. The partnership ended in 2012. Vekoma also broadened its activities beyond roller coasters. In 2008, it acquired the Wheels of Excellence Ferris-wheel range from Ronald Bussink. The transaction led to the creation of Dutch Wheels BV for smaller wheels, while Bussink continued supplying wheels of 100 metres and above. Dutch Wheels was not included in Vekoma's later sale to Sansei Technologies and was separated as an independent company in 2018. On 30 March 2018, Sansei Technologies acquired Vekoma. The agreed structure allowed Vekoma to retain its existing business model and continue operating and marketing rides as a separate entity. Since the acquisition, Vekoma has remained a recognizable international supplier of custom and model-based attractions. Its more recent technology includes highly controlled ride systems and bespoke attractions such as Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT, which uses Vekoma-designed omni-coaster vehicles capable of controlled turning and spinning. The brand's current positioning combines large-scale steel engineering, ride-system development and international theme-park project delivery.

Vekoma began in 1926 as Veld Koning Machinefabriek, a Dutch engineering company founded by Hendrik op het Veld. The original business made agricultural equipment. As the Netherlands' industrial requirements changed, the company moved into steel construction during the 1950s, particularly for coal mining. The closure of Dutch coal mines in 1965 prompted another change in direction, leading Vekoma to manufacture steel pipes for the petrochemical industry. The company's entry into amusement rides came through industrial contracting rather than an original plan to become a theme-park brand. During the 1970s, the American manufacturer Arrow Development hired Vekoma to construct steel supports and structures for roller coasters in Europe. Vekoma gained practical knowledge of coaster-track fabrication through this relationship, and Arrow eventually licensed coaster-building technology to the Dutch company. In 1979, Vekoma began selling and opening roller coasters under its own name, establishing Vekoma Rides Manufacturing as an independent participant in the international amusement industry. Over subsequent decades, Vekoma developed and supplied many coaster types, ranging from large looping and suspended designs to family-oriented attractions. Its catalog also included models such as Wild Mouse, Hyper Space Warp, Firestorm, Swinging Turns, Enigma, Illusion, Family Boomerang, Tilt Coaster, Energy Storm and Powered Coasters. The company became particularly visible in the global theme-park market because its rides were installed across multiple continents and because it could combine standardized models with project-specific engineering. Vekoma entered bankruptcy proceedings on 23 August 2001. The company nevertheless continued its commercial activities and pursued partnerships that expanded its international reach. In 2006, it allied with Chance Morgan, with Chance Rides representing Vekoma in North America and Chance Morgan producing steel track for selected projects. Four Vekoma-designed family coasters were built within that arrangement. The agreement ended on 17 October 2012, after which Chance Rides received a separate North American license from Dutch Wheels BV for the R60 Ferris wheel through Chance American Wheels. Diversification into observation wheels occurred in 2008, when Vekoma acquired the Wheels of Excellence range from Ronald Bussink. The transaction covered wheels in the 40-to-80-metre range through the new Dutch Wheels division, while Bussink retained responsibility for wheels of 100 metres and taller. Dutch Wheels was later excluded from the 2018 Vekoma acquisition and became a separate company. Vekoma reached another major turning point on 30 March 2018, when Sansei Technologies acquired the company. The transaction preserved Vekoma's separate business model and allowed it to continue manufacturing and marketing attractions under its own identity. Vekoma also entered a 2013 agreement with Rocky Mountain Construction that enabled it to sell that company's coaster products outside North America. The brand's engineering work has included bespoke attractions rather than only catalog models. For Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT, Vekoma designed an omni-coaster system whose vehicles can turn and spin under controlled operation. This type of project illustrates Vekoma's evolution from a steel fabricator into a full amusement-ride developer capable of designing ride vehicles, track systems and integrated attractions for major theme-park operators.

• 2018

  Acquisition by Sansei Technologies

  [1]Vekomaen.wikipedia.org

  Sansei Technologies acquired Vekoma, while Vekoma continued as a separate operating and marketing entity.

• 2013

  Rocky Mountain Construction sales agreement

  [1]Vekomaen.wikipedia.org

  Vekoma obtained rights to sell Rocky Mountain Construction roller coasters outside North America.

• 2012

  End of Chance Rides production agreement

  [1]Vekomaen.wikipedia.org

  The Chance Rides and Vekoma cooperation for North American production ended.

• 2008

  Ferris-wheel business expansion

  [1]Vekomaen.wikipedia.org

  Vekoma acquired the Wheels of Excellence product range from Ronald Bussink and established Dutch Wheels BV for smaller wheels.

• 2006

  Alliance with Chance Morgan

  [1]Vekomaen.wikipedia.org

  The companies cooperated on North American representation and selected family-coaster projects.

• 2001

  Bankruptcy filing

  [1]Vekomaen.wikipedia.org

  Vekoma Rides Manufacturing filed for bankruptcy on 23 August.

• 1979

  Vekoma enters the roller-coaster market independently

  [1]Vekomaen.wikipedia.org

  After working with Arrow Development, Vekoma began opening and marketing its own roller coasters in Europe.

• 1965

  Shift toward petrochemical steel pipes

  [1]Vekomaen.wikipedia.org

  Following the closure of Dutch coal mines, the company began producing steel pipes for petrochemical applications.

• 1950

  Expansion into coal-mining steel construction

  [1]Vekomaen.wikipedia.org

  The company expanded from agricultural machinery into steel construction for the coal-mining industry during the 1950s.

• 1926

  Veld Koning Machinefabriek is established

  [1]Vekomaen.wikipedia.org

  Hendrik op het Veld founded the Dutch engineering company that later became known as Vekoma.

International designer and manufacturer of engineered amusement rides, with particular strength in roller coasters, custom theme-park attractions and large steel ride structures.

• Roller coaster systems · 1979

  Roller coasters

  Vekoma's principal product category comprises steel roller coasters for amusement parks and destination resorts. The portfolio spans large thrill rides, suspended and inverted configurations, looping layouts, family coasters and powered systems. Vekoma has supplied both repeatable model designs and custom-engineered attractions, with installations distributed internationally.

• Family roller coaster

  Family Boomerang

  Family Boomerang is a family-oriented adaptation of the boomerang concept. It is intended to provide a compact, repeatable ride experience for a broader age range than the largest thrill coasters, and it formed part of Vekoma's cooperation with Chance Morgan on selected family-coaster projects.

• Flat ride

  Madhouse

  A Vekoma madhouse is an illusion-based flat ride. Riders sit in a vehicle or room while the surrounding chamber rotates, creating the visual impression that the riders or the room are turning upside down. The design relies on synchronized movement and visual framing rather than an actual inversion of the passenger vehicle.

• Ferris wheel · 2008

  Dutch Wheels

  The Dutch Wheels range originated from the Wheels of Excellence product family acquired from Ronald Bussink. Models identified in the reference material include the R40, R50 and R60, each available in multiple configurations. Dutch Wheels BV was separated from Vekoma during the 2018 Sansei acquisition.

• Custom omni-coaster

  Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

  For EPCOT at Walt Disney World, Vekoma designed an omni-coaster system with vehicles capable of controlled turning and spinning. The attraction demonstrates Vekoma's work on bespoke ride technology in which vehicle movement, track geometry and show presentation are integrated into a large themed experience.

• 2018

  Join Sansei TechnologiesM&A

  Background

  Sansei Technologies acquired Vekoma to expand its position in the international amusement-ride manufacturing sector.

  Action taken

  Sansei Technologies completed the acquisition while maintaining Vekoma's separate business model and excluding Dutch Wheels BV from the transaction.

  Aftermath

  Vekoma continued to manufacture and market rides under its own brand as part of the Sansei Technologies group.

  Source

• 2012

  Terminate the Chance Rides cooperationStrategy

  Background

  Vekoma and Chance Rides had cooperated on North American representation and selected coaster manufacturing since 2006.

  Action taken

  The companies discontinued their joint production and market arrangement on 17 October 2012.

  Aftermath

  Chance later obtained a separate North American license from Dutch Wheels BV for the R60 wheel through Chance American Wheels.

  Source

• 2008

  Acquire the Wheels of Excellence rangeM&A

  Background

  Vekoma sought to broaden its attraction portfolio beyond roller coasters by entering the Ferris-wheel and observation-wheel segment.

  Action taken

  The company acquired Ronald Bussink's Wheels of Excellence range and transferred smaller-wheel production and sales into Dutch Wheels BV.

  Aftermath

  Bussink continued supplying wheels of 100 metres and taller, while Dutch Wheels handled smaller products before later becoming independent.

  Source

1. 1Vekomaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Vekoma official websitevekoma.com