Vekoma today launched their new website just in time for the IAAPA in Orlando! The revamp not only displays their new logo and branding, but most importantly displays their exciting new concepts: https://www.vekoma.com

Among the revelations are a layout for the Suspended Thrill Coaster, the next generation of SLCs:


 

Quote

Thunderbird is a new, exciting and extremely smooth Suspended Thrill Coaster. This new suspended family coaster based design with no less than 2 inversions, 5 airtime hills and 6 exciting twists and turns makes it possible to offer inversions for young and old from 1.20 m tall and up. Combinations of high speed turns and low force inversions prepare the small riders for the real work. This ride will thrill the seasoned rollercoaster enthusiast, but is equally fun and accessible to the youngest among thrill seekers.

(Soon to be announced)

Finally some info about the Next Gen Flying coaster has been shown too:


 

Quote

On this really unique ride, riders are comfortably and safely harnessed in a prone position. Riders start in a sit-down position and are transported sideways to a dark ride section. They are immersed in a story to save the world using their flying super powers. Prepared to get launched, the track and seats are turns 90 degrees creating a smooth transformation from dark ride to flying coaster from where the flight begins and riders experience inversions, air time moments, near miss moments and a lot more.  With their arms stretched out, face down and parallel to the track, this is as close as it gets to flying like superman!

The combination of the different positions of riders, creating a free view dark ride section in combination with a thrill, makes this ride type a one of a kind in the roller coaster industry.

(Soon to be announced)

Also announced are an upcoming Next Gen Motorbike coaster, and the Lech Coaster (Bermuda Blitz) and Formula designs are finally present online too.


(Lech photo by Flex)

Super excited about the developments at Vekoma as you may know. Lech is my personal favourite coaster in Europe (above the likes of Helix, Taron, Expedition GeForce and Nemesis...) and the improvements in smoothness and ride elements from the company are spectacular. I actually met their new lead engineer Benjamin Bloemendaal for a video interview last September, and he's definitely very talented but also skilled at communicating his passion and ideas for designing rides (shameless self-advertisement there, but hey it's an insightful vid I swear!)

😍

Edited November 12, 20187 yr by Coaster Hipster

Quote

Thunderbird is a new, exciting and extremely smooth Suspended Thrill Coaster. This new suspended family coaster...

Is it a thrill or a family coaster...? In my mind they're not the same thing... and I wouldn't call a coaster with inversions a family coaster.

Quote

5 airtime hills

Seems like an odd element to be so prominent on a suspended coaster. But I look forward to seeing where this goes!

35 minutes ago, Santa07 said:

Is it a thrill or a family coaster...? In my mind they're not the same thing... and I wouldn't call a coaster with inversions a family coaster.

Seems like an odd element to be so prominent on a suspended coaster. But I look forward to seeing where this goes!

Very good points actually. From my understanding Vekoma now creates several designs for each type of coaster (it's actually one topic I discussed in the interview linked above). Basically a customer ask for a layout which is then available for other parks to re-use/'clone' unless specifically forbidden by the original customer in a non-compete clause. So Thunderbird is actually only the first of several Next Gen SLC layouts to be revealed.

My educated guess is that the park who ordered that Suspended coaster wanted something intermediate between tame family and extreme intense experiences and Vekoma came up with this design. Hence the relatively smaller 1.2m height requirement and presumably a softer force profile. Just like their new Sitdown coasters come in several sizes and elements, there are certainly bigger and more daring Suspended Thrill Coaster layouts arriving eventually...

Edited November 12, 20187 yr by Coaster Hipster

Interesting Vekoma is selling Brogent's I-Ride.

Part of the Vekoma Rides’ success is having integrated strong partnerships in both our sales and purchasing process. In Brogent Technologies we have found a strong partner for media based attractions, enabling us to expand our product portfolio with well sought-after attractions, such as the very popular Panoramic Flying Theatre i-Ride, the v-Ride 306, m-Ride, d-Ride and many other innovative attractions.

Based on Brogent’s years of experience both in the Entertainment industry and motion simulation technology, I-ride has become the leading Flying Theatre with a respectful number of projects world-wide. I-ride is a great addition to any venue and suitable for Theme and Amusement Parks, Shopping Centers, Zoos, Museums as well as Stand-alone attractions.

The Theme and Amusement Park industry is continuously looking for creative solutions, safe and innovative high quality coasters and attractions that bring a high marketing value to their parks. The partnership between Vekoma and Brogent has already proven to be a great added value to both our companies.

So since coaster models such as the boomerang and tilt coasters are not on their website does this mean they are not manufacturing them anymore.

I remember that they used to sell a 'I-ride' very similar to the Disney ones which are on the 'rails' and slide up into the air.

1 hour ago, Mc coaster said:

So since coaster models such as the boomerang and tilt coasters are not on their website does this mean they are not manufacturing them anymore.

They have a custom coaster section - so they will build you whatever you like.

That said, they weren't really selling many (if any) boomerangs anyway.  There are so many of them at various parks, and some that have been removed and put in storage, that it is cheaper to buy one second-hand from another park or for a chain like Six Flags to move them between parks. 

But here's some possible reasons for why they wouldn't be making them anymore:

• Vekoma is now owned by S&S Worldwide - who produce 4D Freespins, El-Locos, and other Small Footprint launch coasters that are more exciting, smoother, and more popular than boomerangs.
• Most of the images on the website seem to indicate that Vekoma is abandoning the Arrow-style track design (wheels running inside the track like on SLCs and boomerangs) in favour of their new track design that makes better track profiling possible for a smoother ride and more exciting elements. The exception appears to be Mine Train coasters, but they have a different track design anyway.
• Offering new rides using the new track design means culling old designs that might be cheaper. If you want to sell a more expensive (but better) product, you simply stop offering an cheaper alternative.  This also streamlines fabrication by focusing on one style of track and train.
• Vekoma seem to be targeting a 'mid-thrill' market rather than trying to out-thrill their competitors.  Fun, family-style rides with a couple of 'thrill' elements that Parents and Tweens/teens can enjoy together.  This is something that a lot of parks in Asia will be wanting.

These reasons might be completely correct or completely wrong.  It's just speculative reasoning on my part.

But personally, I'm excited to see some new designs and better technology from Vekoma.  They've been installing the same painful coasters all over the world for decades and trying to 'fix' them with new train designs, while companies like Gerstlauer and Mack eclipsed them on almost every front.

I think some of these new rides would be a great fit for parks like Dreamworld and Sea World.  Dreamworld could create an 'aviation' themed area with a flying coaster, the iRide and Tailspin.  Sea World is not a 'thrill' park, so Thunderbird model would be a great fit (especially if MW removes AA in the coming years).

 

11 hours ago, Santa07 said:

Is it a thrill or a family coaster...? In my mind they're not the same thing... and I wouldn't call a coaster with inversions a family coaster.

I think what they are referring to in this case is that the ride is based off the Vekoma Suspended Family coaster track and vehicle design, rather than the Arrow-based coathanger track they have used for every other SLC they have built. The ride experience will be likely similar to the Cylon side of Battlestar Galactica at Universal Singapore.

Edited November 13, 20187 yr by XxMrYoshixX

Really good stuff going on at Vekoma in recent years. I think Hyperion would have been better as the Vekoma model, and Lech Coaster looks like one of the best in the world.