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[[File:Kingda Ka tower.jpg|thumb|265x265px|Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure, the world's tallest rollercoaster ]]
[[File:Kingda Ka tower.jpg|thumb|265x265px|Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure, was the world's tallest rollercoaster for 19 years ]]
'''Intamin Amusement Rides''' is a design and manufacturing company in [[Schaan]], [[Liechtenstein]], best-known for designing and constructing [[Amusement ride|thrill rides]] and [[roller coaster]]s at dozens of international [[theme park]]s, [[amusement park]]s and other establishments. The Intamin brand name is a [[syllabic abbreviation]] for "'''int'''ernational '''am'''usement ''' in'''stallations". The company has corporate offices across the world, including three in Europe, three in Asia, and two in the United States.
'''Intamin Amusement Rides''' is a design and manufacturing company in [[Schaan]], [[Liechtenstein]], best-known for designing and constructing [[Amusement ride|thrill rides]] and [[roller coaster]]s at dozens of international [[theme park]]s, [[amusement park]]s and other establishments. The Intamin brand name is a [[syllabic abbreviation]] for "'''int'''ernational '''am'''usement '''in'''stallations". The company has corporate offices across the world, including three in Europe, three in Asia, and two in the United States.

Primarily, Intamin is known for their roller coaster portfolio. Through working closely with their clients, Intamin addresses each project's unique prerequisites; in addition to the basic type of attraction desired, the company assesses the client's property, the surrounding terrain and works within the confines of local regulations, such as building height restrictions, and more. Their roller coaster models range from children's [[Kiddie ride|"kiddie" coasters]] and family-style [[Mine train roller coaster|mine train]]s to some of the tallest and fastest [[steel roller coaster]]s in the world. Intamin has also manufactured pre-fabricated [[wooden roller coaster]] models, a concept which ultimately facilitates with ease of construction, as well as providing a superior ride experience. Prefabricated wooden coasters are computer-designed with pre-measured lumber; most traditional wooden coasters are built using hand-measured, manually-cut lumber.

Among the many unique ride concepts and [[Patent|patents]] to their name, Intamin designed and constructed the first-ever river rapids ride (known as [[Thunder River (ride)|Thunder River]]), and marketed the first [[Freefall (ride)|freefall ride]] (developed by [[Giovanola]]) and [[drop tower]].

Beyond roller coasters, Intamin is well-known for their design and construction of [[vertical ride]]s and [[drop tower]]s, [[water ride]]s (including [[log flume]]s and [[river rapids ride|river rapids]]), unique [[Water coaster (roller coaster)|water coaster]]s, immersive [[dark ride]]s, large [[swing ride]]s, and different [[observation tower]] attractions. With such an extensive portfolio, Intamin is known as one of the top most-innovative and sought-after amusement ride firms in operation today. The company has installed scores of roller coasters and other rides in many countries and territories, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, México, Japan, China, Vietnam, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, [[United Arab Emirates]], Turkey, Finland, South Korea, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Guatemala and Poland, among others.


==Products and technologies==
==Products and technologies==
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====Roller coasters====
====Roller coasters====
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2015}}
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2015}}
Intamin created the first [[hydraulic]] launch system (known as the [[Accelerator Coaster]]), which catapults roller coaster trains from standstill to speeds upwards of {{Convert|240|km/h}} in a few seconds before climbing to immense heights. [[Kingda Ka]] at [[Six Flags Great Adventure]], for instance, is North America's tallest and fastest coaster, launching riders from 0–{{Convert|128|mi/h|abbr=on}} in 3.5 seconds.<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Records |url=https://www.intamin.com/company/records-awards/world-records/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=Intamin Amusement Rides |language=en-US}}</ref>
Intamin created the first [[hydraulic]] launch system (known as the [[Accelerator Coaster]]), which catapults roller coaster trains from standstill to speeds upwards of {{Convert|240|km/h}} in a few seconds before climbing to immense heights. [[Kingda Ka]] at [[Six Flags Great Adventure]], for instance, was North America's tallest and fastest coaster, launching riders from 0–{{Convert|128|mi/h|abbr=on}} in 3.5 seconds.<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Records |url=https://www.intamin.com/company/records-awards/world-records/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=Intamin Amusement Rides |language=en-US}}</ref>

Intamin is also known for its massive Mega and Giga Coasters, Intamin's terms for a [[hypercoaster]]. Intamin Giga Coasters (roller coasters between 300 and 399ft) and Mega Coasters (Intamin’s model name for any roller coaster between 100 and 299ft) currently occupy three of the top five [[Golden Ticket Awards]] with perennial favorites [[Millennium Force]], [[Superman the Ride]] and [[Expedition GeForce]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://goldenticketawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/2016-GTA-issue_complete.pdf|title=Cedar Point welcomes 2016 Golden Ticket Awards|date=September 2016|magazine=Amusement Today|access-date=September 11, 2016}}</ref>


Intamin uses computerized and industrialized engineering and manufacturing methods for its wooden coasters, rather than traditional on-site fabrication.<ref name="RC85">{{cite magazine | last1 = Pan | first1 = Phil | year = 2003 | title = Colossos: Can a coaster be too good for itself | journal = RollerCoaster! Magazine |volume = 24| issue = 3 | pages = 24 | publisher=American Coaster Enthusiasts | location=Mission, Kansas | issn = 0896-7261}}</ref> Coasters such as [[Colossos (Heide Park)|Colossos]] at [[Heide Park]], [[Balder (roller coaster)|Balder]] at [[Liseberg]] and [[El Toro (Six Flags Great Adventure)|El Toro]] at [[Six Flags Great Adventure]] utilized this manufacturing technique. Unlike other traditional wood coasters, these rides use prefabricated track sections made of a high-strength wooden laminate that can be secured on-site when the superstructure is completed. This design enables the coaster to reach speeds and navigate course elements smoothly, like a steel roller coaster, while retaining the look and some of the traditional feel of common wooden coasters.<ref name="RC85"/>
Intamin uses computerized and industrialized engineering and manufacturing methods for its wooden coasters, rather than traditional on-site fabrication.<ref name="RC85">{{cite magazine | last1 = Pan | first1 = Phil | year = 2003 | title = Colossos: Can a coaster be too good for itself | journal = RollerCoaster! Magazine |volume = 24| issue = 3 | pages = 24 | publisher=American Coaster Enthusiasts | location=Mission, Kansas | issn = 0896-7261}}</ref> Coasters such as [[Colossos (Heide Park)|Colossos]] at [[Heide Park]], [[Balder (roller coaster)|Balder]] at [[Liseberg]] and [[El Toro (Six Flags Great Adventure)|El Toro]] at [[Six Flags Great Adventure]] utilized this manufacturing technique. Unlike other traditional wood coasters, these rides use prefabricated track sections made of a high-strength wooden laminate that can be secured on-site when the superstructure is completed. This design enables the coaster to reach speeds and navigate course elements smoothly, like a steel roller coaster, while retaining the look and some of the traditional feel of common wooden coasters.<ref name="RC85"/>

Another development by Intamin is the ZacSpin, a type of [[4th Dimension roller coaster]] first seen in 2007. [[Kirnu]] at [[Linnanmäki]] in Finland was the first ZacSpin in the world and opened on April 27, 2007.<ref name="Kirnu">{{cite RCDB|coaster_name=Kirnu|location=Linnanmäki (Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland)|rcdb_number=3613|access-date=December 26, 2018}}</ref> It has individual cars, each with 8 seats, arranged in two pods coming off the sides of the car, each with 2 seats facing forward and two facing backward. This car is either lifted to the highest point by a conventional chain lift, or propelled around the course at a constant speed by a [[Linear Motor]] system.

[[File:Maverick hill Cedar Point.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Maverick (roller coaster)|Maverick]] at [[Cedar Point]]]]
[[File:Hyperion, Energylandia - 2018 Aug 06.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[Hyperion (roller coaster)|Hyperion]] at [[Energylandia]]]]
The company is known for being the original home to [[Bolliger & Mabillard]] (B&M). The two engineers worked for [[Giovanola]] who in turn were frequently contracted by Intamin for their early stand-up roller coasters (Giovanola eventually started producing roller coasters independently). B&M broke away from Giovanola to form their own company which now supplies roller coasters as well. Similarities between the two companies are often apparent, such as the style of track used by B&M, which was used in a number of early Giovanola installations which were contracted by Intamin.


====Ferris wheels====
====Ferris wheels====
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===Transportation===
===Transportation===
Outside the amusement realm, Intamin supplies [[monorail]] [[transportation system]]s which are used in both public transport networks and at tourist attractions across the world. Intamin was responsible for the design and building of the [[Moscow Monorail]] ({{lang-ru|Московская Монорельсовая Транспортная Система (ММТС)}}), which is {{convert|4.7|km}} long and is located in the [[North-Eastern Administrative Okrug]] of [[Moscow]], [[Russia]], running from the [[Timiryazevskaya (Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya Line)|Timiryazevskaya]] metro station to Sergeya Eisensteina street. Planning of the monorail started in 1998. It has six stations.
Outside the amusement realm, Intamin supplies [[monorail]] [[transportation system]]s which are used in both public transport networks and at tourist attractions across the world. Intamin was responsible for the design and building of the [[Moscow Monorail]] ({{langx|ru|Московская Монорельсовая Транспортная Система (ММТС)}}), which is {{convert|4.7|km}} long and is located in the [[North-Eastern Administrative Okrug]] of [[Moscow]], [[Russia]], running from the [[Timiryazevskaya (Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya Line)|Timiryazevskaya]] metro station to Sergeya Eisensteina street. Planning of the monorail started in 1998. It has six stations.


In 2016, two monorails using Intamin equipment were opened, the {{convert|5.2|km|mi}} [[Ashgabat Monorail]] in [[Turkmenistan]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqaOd33HXds|title = - YouTube|website = [[YouTube]]}}</ref> and the {{convert|1.1|km|mi}} [[Calabar Monorail]] in the [[Cross River State]], [[Nigeria]], which connects the [[Calabar International Convention Centre]] to the [[Tinapa Resort]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Buhari to inaugurate multi-billion Naira Calabar monorail |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/buhari-to-inaugurate-multi-billion-naira-calabar-monorail/ |access-date=2 July 2021 |publisher=Vanguard |date=20 August 2016}}</ref>
In 2016, two monorails using Intamin equipment were opened, the {{convert|5.2|km|mi}} [[Ashgabat Monorail]] in [[Turkmenistan]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqaOd33HXds|title = - YouTube|website = [[YouTube]]}}</ref> and the {{convert|1.1|km|mi}} [[Calabar Monorail]] in the [[Cross River State]], [[Nigeria]], which connects the [[Calabar International Convention Centre]] to the [[Tinapa Resort]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Buhari to inaugurate multi-billion Naira Calabar monorail |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/buhari-to-inaugurate-multi-billion-naira-calabar-monorail/ |access-date=2 July 2021 |publisher=Vanguard |date=20 August 2016}}</ref>
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{{See also|List of Intamin rides|Category:Roller coasters manufactured by Intamin}}
{{See also|List of Intamin rides|Category:Roller coasters manufactured by Intamin}}


==Incidents==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Accomplishment !! Ride !! Location !! Notes
|-
| 1981 || First wooden coaster built by Intamin || [[American Eagle (roller coaster)|American Eagle]] || [[Six Flags Great America]]||
* When opened it featured the longest drop in the world and fastest speed on a wooden coaster.
|-
| 1985 || First (and only) Spacediver coaster || [[Flashback (Six Flags Magic Mountain)|Z-Force]] || [[Six Flags Great America]], [[Six Flags Over Georgia]], [[Six Flags Magic Mountain]]||
* Opened in '85 at Great America, was relocated to Over Georgia in '88, then to Magic Mountain and opened there as Flashback in '92; demolished and scrapped in mid-December 2007 after sitting idle since 2003
* First coaster to feature four-abreast seating
|-
| 1994 || First and only stand up coaster to feature a Zero G Roll || [[Shockwave (Drayton Manor)|Shockwave]] || [[Drayton Manor Resort]] ||
* The ride closed in November 2023 to be converted to a sit-down coaster
|-
| 1997 || First coaster to go above {{convert|300|ft|m|-1|abbr=on}}<br />First coaster to go {{convert|100|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} || [[Tower of Terror II]] || [[Dreamworld (Australian theme park)|Dreamworld]] ||
* Not a complete circuit; the train does not reach the top of the vertical spike
|-
| 1997 || First coaster with a structure to reach beyond {{convert|400|ft|m|-1|abbr=on}} || [[Superman: Escape from Krypton]] || [[Six Flags Magic Mountain]] ||
* Not a complete circuit; the train does not reach the top of the vertical spike; formerly Superman: the Escape
|-
| 1998 || First [[Linear induction motor|LIM]]-launched inverted coaster<br />First Impulse shuttle coaster || [[Impulse roller coaster|Linear Gale]] || [[Tokyo Dome City]] ||
* Closed in 2010 and subsequently removed
|-
| 1998 || First complete-circuit, LIM-launched inverted coaster || [[Volcano, The Blast Coaster]] || [[Kings Dominion]] ||
* Fastest inverted coaster at {{convert|70|mi/h|km/h|-1|abbr=on}} when first opened
* Closed in 2018
|-
| 2000 || First Giga Coaster (over 300&nbsp;ft)<br />First coaster to drop {{convert|300|ft|m|-1|abbr=on}} || [[Millennium Force]] || [[Cedar Point]] ||
* First complete circuit coaster to stand over 300&nbsp;ft (310&nbsp;ft)
* Drop is exactly {{convert|300|ft|m|-1|abbr=on}}
|-
| 2000 || First LIM-launched Twisted Impulse coaster || [[Possessed (roller coaster)|Possessed]] || [[Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom]] ||
* Previously operated at [[Geauga Lake]] as Superman: Ultimate Escape and Steel Venom
|-
|2000|| First Stand Up Drop Tower || [[Apocalypse (Drayton Manor)|Apocalypse]] || [[Drayton Manor]] ||
*5 Towers with 3 stand up towers & 2 sit down towers
*Tower 5 was modified in 2002 to feature the World's First Stand Up Floorless drop tower
*The ride was closed in 2022
|-
| 2001 || First coaster to utilize a LIM launch hill || [[Incredicoaster|California Screamin']] || [[Disney California Adventure Park]] ||
* Has a magnetic launch followed by a magnetic non-cable/chain lift hill (this, along with scream tunnels, was done to reduce noise)
* Currently the longest coaster with inversions
|-
| 2001 || First wooden coaster with prefabricated track || [[Colossos (Heide Park)|Colossos]] || [[Heide Park]] ||
|-
| 2002 || First coaster to do 10 inversions || [[Colossus (Thorpe Park)|Colossus]] || [[Thorpe Park]] ||
* Has 10 inversions - in order: 1 Loop, 1 Cobra Roll (counts as 2), 2 Corkscrews, and 5 [[heartline roll]]s
|-
| 2002 || First hydraulic catapult launch coaster || [[Xcelerator]] || [[Knott's Berry Farm]]
||
* Accelerates from 0 to 82 miles per hour, covering 157 feet of launch track, in just 2.3 seconds.
|-
| 2003 || First Strata coaster (over 400&nbsp;ft) || [[Top Thrill Dragster]] || [[Cedar Point]] ||
* Tallest and fastest coaster in the world when opened at {{convert|420|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} and {{convert|120|mi/h|km/h|-1|abbr=on}}
|-
| 2004 || First accelerator coaster to feature inversions || [[Storm Runner]] || [[Hersheypark]] ||
* Reaches a height of 150&nbsp;ft and catapults riders from 0 to 72&nbsp;mph in 2 seconds
* Features a top hat and three inversions
|-
| 2005 || World's tallest coaster (2005–present); was world's fastest coaster (2005–2010) || [[Kingda Ka]] || [[Six Flags Great Adventure]] ||
* 456 feet high; launch speed {{convert|128|mi/h|km/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| 2007 || First [[4th Dimension roller coaster|4th Dimension design]] ZacSpin Coaster by Intamin<br />First Intamin coaster to include curved hydraulic chain lift hill || [[Kirnu]] || [[Linnanmäki]] ||
* First compact 4-D coaster in the world
* Features redesigned restraints (lap bar with safety belt shoulder harness system) and non-friction magnetic brakes
|-
| 2007 || Intamin's first Wing Rider<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intaminworldwide.com/amusement/RollerCoasters/Wing+Rider+Coaster/tabid/138/ProductNumber/Wing+Rider+Coaster/language/de-DE/Default.aspx|title=Wing Rider Coaster|access-date=2014-01-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130920180628/http://www.intaminworldwide.com/amusement/RollerCoasters/Wing+Rider+Coaster/tabid/138/ProductNumber/Wing+Rider+Coaster/language/de-DE/Default.aspx|archive-date=2013-09-20|url-status=dead}}</ref> coaster|| [[Furius Baco]] || [[PortAventura Park]] at [[PortAventura World]] ||
* Accelerates from 0 to {{Convert|135|km/h|abbr=on}} in 3.5 seconds
* Was fastest coaster in Europe until 2017.
|-
| 2008 || At 97 degrees, steepest drop of all Intamin coasters || [[Fahrenheit (roller coaster)|Fahrenheit]] || [[Hersheypark]] ||
* Ascends chain lift hill at a 90-degree angle
* Features a 121-foot Norwegian loop and six inversions
|-
| 2008 || Record holder at the time for the steepest wooden coaster in the world<br />Currently the highest, fastest, longest coaster in South Korea || [[T Express (Everland)|T Express]] || [[Everland]] ||
* Maximum 77 degrees
* Height 183.75&nbsp;ft (56.01m)
* Top speed 64.6&nbsp;mph (104&nbsp;km/h)
* Length 5383.10&nbsp;ft (1641m)
* 12 airtime hills
|-
| 2010 || World's first freefall drop coaster || [[Thirteen (roller coaster)|Thirteen]] || [[Alton Towers]] ||
* Horizontal track falls vertically down in the crypt
* Train is launched into a backward helix after drop.
|-
| 2010 || Current record holder for the world's fastest coaster || [[Formula Rossa]] || [[Ferrari World]] || |
* Top speed {{convert|150|mi/h|km/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| 2011 || First ZacSpin built in the U.S. ||[[Green Lantern: First Flight (Six Flags Magic Mountain)|Green Lantern: First Flight]] || [[Six Flags Magic Mountain]] || |
* Closed in 2017, subsequently relocated to La Ronde, scheduled to open as Vipère for the 2020 season. The project was eventually scrapped in 2022.
|-
| 2014 || First Special Effects Coaster/Dark Ride Hybrid || [[Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts]] || [[Universal Studios Florida]] || |
|-
|-
| 2014 || First Drop Tower to tilt riders 90 degrees toward the ground || [[Falcon's Fury]] || [[Busch Gardens Tampa Bay]] || |
* Currently North America's tallest freestanding drop tower
* Tilts rider face down and drops them at speeds of {{convert|60|mph|m/s|abbr=off}}
|-
|-
| 2016 || Fastest multi-launch coaster (forward only)|| [[Taron (roller coaster)|Taron]] || [[Phantasialand]] ||
* Multi-launch coaster
* Held three world records at opening: Fastest multi-launch coaster, longest multi-launch coaster without inversions, greatest number of intersecting track points at 58 .<ref name=RCDB-speed>{{cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/r.htm?ty=1&el=12170&order=-19&ot=2|website=rcdb.com|title=Roller Coaster Search Results, Element=LSM launch, sorted by speed|access-date=December 1, 2018}}</ref>
|-
|-
| 2016 || Fastest multi-launch coaster (bi-directional)||Soaring with Dragon ||Hefei Wanda Theme Park ||
* Fastest multi-launch coaster at 77.7&nbsp;mph (train is launched three times — forward, backward and forward again).<ref name=RCDB-speed/>
|-
|
|-
| 2017 || Fastest LSM-launch coaster|| [[Red Force (roller coaster)|Red Force]] || [[Ferrari Land]] at [[PortAventura World]] ||
* Currently fastest LSM-launched coaster in the world.<ref name=RCDB-speed/>
|-
|
|
|-
|2019
|Most LSM-Launches on a rollercoaster
|[[Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure]]
|[[The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Universal Orlando Resort)|Hogsmeade]] at [[Universal Islands of Adventure|Universal's Islands of Adventure]]
|
* When it opened, it was the worlds most expensive coaster at a whopping $300 Million
* It features 7 launches on the ride with a max speed of 50 mph
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|-
| 2021 || First [[single-rail roller coaster]] for Intamin. || Big Dipper || [[Luna Park Sydney]] ||
* Hot Racer model<ref name="SMH 2020">{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/big-dipper-to-return-as-sydney-s-luna-park-gets-30-million-overhaul-20201124-p56he1.html|title='Big Dipper' to return as Sydney's Luna Park gets $30 million overhaul|date=24 November 2020|last=Gorrey|first=Megan|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|publisher=[[Nine Entertainment Co.]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124023751/https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/big-dipper-to-return-as-sydney-s-luna-park-gets-30-million-overhaul-20201124-p56he1.html|archive-date=24 November 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="RCDB Big Dipper">{{cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/18808.htm|title=Big Dipper – Luna Park|last=Marden|first=Duane|work=[[Roller Coaster DataBase]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124204855/https://rcdb.com/18808.htm|archive-date=24 November 2020|url-status=live|access-date=25 November 2020}}</ref>
|-
|}

==Safety incidents==
{{undue weight|section|date=February 2023}}
{{undue weight|section|date=February 2023}}
{{See also|Amusement park accidents}}
{{See also|Amusement park accidents}}
Intamin has been in the news for a number of safety-related incidents.
Intamin has been in the news for a number of safety-related incidents.
* In 1984, three passengers riding [[Incidents at Six Flags parks#The Edge|The Edge]] at [[Six Flags Great America]] were injured and briefly hospitalized. The ride experienced a malfunction that caused it to fall backward down the wrong shaft.<ref name="auto">{{cite news|url=http://www.library.ca.gov/CRB/97/12/97012aa.html|title=EVOLUTION OF CALIFORNIA'S AMUSEMENT RIDES SAFETY LAWS|publisher=California Research Bureau, California State Library|date=1997-08-01|access-date=2006-12-21}}</ref>
* In 1984, three passengers riding [[Incidents at Six Flags parks#The Edge|The Edge]] at [[Six Flags Great America]] were injured and briefly hospitalized. The ride experienced a malfunction that caused it to fall backward down the wrong shaft.<ref name="auto">{{cite news|url=http://www.library.ca.gov/CRB/97/12/97012aa.html|title=EVOLUTION OF CALIFORNIA'S AMUSEMENT RIDES SAFETY LAWS|publisher=California Research Bureau, California State Library|date=1997-08-01|access-date=2006-12-21}}</ref>
* On June 9, 1991, 32-year-old Candy Taylor of [[Toledo, Ohio]], fell to her death from Flight Commander, an Intamin Flight Trainer, located at [[Kings Island]]. Investigators determined that a design flaw in the seat divider could allow a rider to slide into an unoccupied seat and become free from the restraint. A coroner's report later revealed that the victim had a blood-alcohol level of 0.30 which may have also contributed. Speculation suggests the rider lost consciousness during the ride and slid out from the restraints.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/176541/DESPITE-RECENT-DEATHS-PARKS-SAY-RIDES-ARE-SAFE.html |title=DESPITE RECENT DEATHS, PARKS SAY RIDES ARE SAFE |newspaper=Deseret News |date=1991-08-06 |access-date=June 3, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.emerson-associates.com/ParkSafetySite3.pdf |title=Ride-Related Fatalities |publisher=Emerson Associates|date=2006-10-03 |access-date=June 3, 2011}}</ref>
* On June 9, 1991, 32-year-old Candy Taylor of [[Toledo, Ohio]], fell to her death from Flight Commander, an Intamin Flight Trainer, located at [[Kings Island]]. Investigators determined that a design flaw in the seat divider could allow a rider to slide into an unoccupied seat and become free from the restraint. A coroner's report later revealed that the victim had a blood-alcohol level of 0.30 which may have also contributed. Speculation suggests the rider lost consciousness during the ride and slid out from the restraints.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/176541/DESPITE-RECENT-DEATHS-PARKS-SAY-RIDES-ARE-SAFE.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023083945/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/176541/DESPITE-RECENT-DEATHS-PARKS-SAY-RIDES-ARE-SAFE.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 23, 2012 |title=DESPITE RECENT DEATHS, PARKS SAY RIDES ARE SAFE |newspaper=Deseret News |date=1991-08-06 |access-date=June 3, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.emerson-associates.com/ParkSafetySite3.pdf |title=Ride-Related Fatalities |publisher=Emerson Associates|date=2006-10-03 |access-date=June 3, 2011}}</ref>
* On May 16, 1999, a {{Convert|365|lb|abbr=on}} guest was unable to close his lap bar on [[Ride of Steel]] at [[Six Flags Darien Lake]]. As a result, he was ejected, fell approximately 9 feet as the ride went over a camel hump hill, and suffered serious injuries. He sued the park and the ride manufacturer for negligence and was awarded US$3.95 million.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.verdictsearch.com/jv3_news/newsletter/nat/052604/3.jsp |title=Theme-park patron ejected from roller coaster |date=2004-03-12 |access-date=2007-10-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928135146/http://www.verdictsearch.com/jv3_news/newsletter/nat/052604/3.jsp |archive-date=2007-09-28 }}</ref>
* On May 16, 1999, a {{Convert|365|lb|abbr=on}} guest was unable to close his lap bar on [[Ride of Steel]] at [[Six Flags Darien Lake]]. As a result, he was ejected, fell approximately 9 feet as the ride went over a camel hump hill, and suffered serious injuries. He sued the park and the ride manufacturer for negligence and was awarded US$3.95 million.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.verdictsearch.com/jv3_news/newsletter/nat/052604/3.jsp |title=Theme-park patron ejected from roller coaster |date=2004-03-12 |access-date=2007-10-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928135146/http://www.verdictsearch.com/jv3_news/newsletter/nat/052604/3.jsp |archive-date=2007-09-28 }}</ref>
* In August 1999, a 12-year-old mentally disabled boy fell from the 207-foot (63 m) high [[Drop Tower: Scream Zone]], at [[California's Great America]], and died. The victim's family claimed his harness was not locked properly. An investigation was inconclusive and no charges were filed.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Courier-Journal|date=23 June 2007|url=http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Date=20071129&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=111290002&SectionCat=&Template=printart|title=Thrill ride lawsuits|access-date=4 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rideaccidents.com/1999.html#nov5|title=Drop Zone death: no charges, no explanation|date=5 November 1999|publisher=RideAccidents.com|access-date=4 December 2011}}</ref>
* In August 1999, a 12-year-old mentally disabled boy fell from the 207-foot (63 m) high [[Drop Tower: Scream Zone]], at [[California's Great America]], and died. The victim's family claimed his harness was not locked properly. An investigation was inconclusive and no charges were filed.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Courier-Journal|date=23 June 2007|url=http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Date=20071129&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=111290002&SectionCat=&Template=printart|title=Thrill ride lawsuits|access-date=4 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rideaccidents.com/1999.html#nov5|title=Drop Zone death: no charges, no explanation|date=5 November 1999|publisher=RideAccidents.com|access-date=4 December 2011}}</ref>
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* In June 2007, a 13-year-old girl lost both feet at the ankles on Superman: Tower of Power, at [[Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom]], when a ride malfunction and improper maintenance caused a cable to snap.<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2008-04-14 |title=Deposition: Maintenance Guide Ignored on Ride that Injured Kentucky Teen |url=https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2008/04/15/89148.htm |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=Insurance Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> She was brought to the hospital in critical condition,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/19370592|title=Teen's feet severed while on thrill ride - US news - Life - NBC News|work=NBC News}}</ref> but survived, with doctors being able to re-attach her right foot. The park was later fined $1,000 for not properly maintaining the ride; an undisclosed settlement was later reached with Six Flags, which will provide for her for the remainder of her life.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/articles/amusement-park-accident/amusement-park-accident-theme-accidents-10-16244.html|title=Aftermath of a Horrific Amusement Park Accident|author=Gordon Gibb|date=14 March 2011|publisher=lawyersandsettlements.com|access-date=24 December 2012}}</ref>
* In June 2007, a 13-year-old girl lost both feet at the ankles on Superman: Tower of Power, at [[Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom]], when a ride malfunction and improper maintenance caused a cable to snap.<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2008-04-14 |title=Deposition: Maintenance Guide Ignored on Ride that Injured Kentucky Teen |url=https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2008/04/15/89148.htm |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=Insurance Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> She was brought to the hospital in critical condition,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna19370592|title=Teen's feet severed while on thrill ride - US news - Life - NBC News|work=NBC News|date=22 June 2007 }}</ref> but survived, with doctors being able to re-attach her right foot. The park was later fined $1,000 for not properly maintaining the ride; an undisclosed settlement was later reached with Six Flags, which will provide for her for the remainder of her life.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/articles/amusement-park-accident/amusement-park-accident-theme-accidents-10-16244.html|title=Aftermath of a Horrific Amusement Park Accident|author=Gordon Gibb|date=14 March 2011|publisher=lawyersandsettlements.com|access-date=24 December 2012}}</ref>
* On September 16, 2009, two guests were injured when a cable snapped on [[Xcelerator]] at [[Knott's Berry Farm]]. The train launches riders from 0 to 80 miles per hour in a matter of seconds, ascends a vertical top-hat, and descends down the other side. The 12-year-old victim had [[wound|lacerations]] on his leg, while the adult victim complained of back injuries.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local-beat/Knotts-Berry-Farm-Rollercoaster-Accident-Injures-Guests-59751017.html|title=Caught on Tape: Coaster Attacks Two at Knott's Berry Farm|publisher=NBC Los Angeles|author=Scott Weber|date=2009-09-18|access-date=2009-09-18}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
* On September 16, 2009, two guests were injured when a cable snapped on [[Xcelerator]] at [[Knott's Berry Farm]]. The train launches riders from 0 to 80 miles per hour in a matter of seconds, ascends a vertical top-hat, and descends down the other side. The 12-year-old victim had [[wound|lacerations]] on his leg, while the adult victim complained of back injuries.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local-beat/Knotts-Berry-Farm-Rollercoaster-Accident-Injures-Guests-59751017.html|title=Caught on Tape: Coaster Attacks Two at Knott's Berry Farm|publisher=NBC Los Angeles|author=Scott Weber|date=2009-09-18|access-date=2009-09-18}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
* On April 29, 2010, a ride train on [[Expedition GeForce]] partially derailed from the track, fully occupied with passengers. Riders were stranded 20m in the air, with eight of them complaining of nausea and bruising.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bild.de/news/leserreporter/leserreporter/in-holiday-park-hassloch-12375060.bild.html|title= FULL STEAM OUT OF THE TRACK POPPED: AGONY IN THE ROLLER COASTER|author=Bild.de|date=29 April 2010}}</ref>
* On April 29, 2010, a ride train on [[Expedition GeForce]] partially derailed from the track, fully occupied with passengers. Riders were stranded 20m in the air, with eight of them complaining of nausea and bruising.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bild.de/news/leserreporter/leserreporter/in-holiday-park-hassloch-12375060.bild.html|title=FULL STEAM OUT OF THE TRACK POPPED: AGONY IN THE ROLLER COASTER|author=Bild.de|date=29 April 2010}}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
* On July 8, 2011, a 29-year-old guest was killed when he was ejected from [[Superman – Ride of Steel|Superman: Ride of Steel]]. The rider, an Iraq War veteran whose legs had been amputated, was on the front row of the roller coaster when he was thrown from the train during the course of the ride. Park officials stated that the ride was in proper mechanical order and that the various safety restraints were also working normally at the time of the incident, but that the attraction would remain closed pending an investigation. It was determined that ride operators at the time should not have permitted the man to get on the ride, due to his status as a double amputee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.9wsyr.com/news/local/story/Iraq-War-vet-dies-on-Darien-Lake-Rollercoaster/jM-zd3jWt0yhuwkx4Y1i4A.cspx|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716123250/http://www.9wsyr.com/news/local/story/Iraq-War-vet-dies-on-Darien-Lake-Rollercoaster/jM-zd3jWt0yhuwkx4Y1i4A.cspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-07-16|title=Iraq War vet dies on Darien Lake Rollercoaster|work=9WSYR.com|date=2011-07-08|access-date=2011-07-09}}</ref>
* On July 8, 2011, a 29-year-old guest was killed when he was ejected from [[Superman – Ride of Steel|Superman: Ride of Steel]]. The rider, an Iraq War veteran whose legs had been amputated, was on the front row of the roller coaster when he was thrown from the train during the course of the ride. Park officials stated that the ride was in proper mechanical order and that the various safety restraints were also working normally at the time of the incident, but that the attraction would remain closed pending an investigation. It was determined that ride operators at the time should not have permitted the man to get on the ride, due to his status as a double amputee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.9wsyr.com/news/local/story/Iraq-War-vet-dies-on-Darien-Lake-Rollercoaster/jM-zd3jWt0yhuwkx4Y1i4A.cspx|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716123250/http://www.9wsyr.com/news/local/story/Iraq-War-vet-dies-on-Darien-Lake-Rollercoaster/jM-zd3jWt0yhuwkx4Y1i4A.cspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-07-16|title=Iraq War vet dies on Darien Lake Rollercoaster|work=9WSYR.com|date=2011-07-08|access-date=2011-07-09}}</ref>
* On February 24, 2012, a 14-year-old girl died in an accident at [[Hopi Hari]], [[Vinhedo]], [[São Paulo State]], [[Brazil]]. She fell from the [[La Tour Eiffel (Hopi Hari)|La Tour Eiffel]] [[drop tower]] ride, suffered cranial trauma, and died on the way to hospital. Initial investigations suggested the possibility of mechanical failure in a restraint latch.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://g1.globo.com/sp/campinas-regiao/noticia/2012/02/adolescente-morre-apos-acidente-em-parque-de-diversoes-no-interior-de-sp.html|title=Adolescente morre após acidente em parque de diversões no interior de SP|date=24 February 2012|access-date=2012-02-24}}</ref>
* On February 24, 2012, a 14-year-old girl died in an accident at [[Hopi Hari]], [[Vinhedo]], [[São Paulo State]], [[Brazil]]. She fell from the [[La Tour Eiffel (Hopi Hari)|La Tour Eiffel]] [[drop tower]] ride, suffered cranial trauma, and died on the way to hospital. Initial investigations suggested the possibility of mechanical failure in a restraint latch.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://g1.globo.com/sp/campinas-regiao/noticia/2012/02/adolescente-morre-apos-acidente-em-parque-de-diversoes-no-interior-de-sp.html|title=Adolescente morre após acidente em parque de diversões no interior de SP|date=24 February 2012|access-date=2012-02-24}}</ref>
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* On July 7, 2014, a teenager was killed after his harness sprung open on Inferno, a ZacSpin [[fourth-dimension roller coaster]] at [[Terra Mítica]] in [[Benidorm, Spain]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/british-teenager-killed-after-being-3825478|title=Teenager killed after being thrown from roller-coaster called Hell at Benidorm theme park|author=Gerard Couzens|date=8 July 2014|work=mirror}}</ref>
* On July 7, 2014, a teenager was killed after his harness sprung open on Inferno, a ZacSpin [[fourth-dimension roller coaster]] at [[Terra Mítica]] in [[Benidorm, Spain]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/british-teenager-killed-after-being-3825478|title=Teenager killed after being thrown from roller-coaster called Hell at Benidorm theme park|author=Gerard Couzens|date=8 July 2014|work=mirror}}</ref>
* On May 9, 2017, an 11-year-old girl, Evha Jannath, died from her injuries after she fell from the Splash Canyon ride and into the water at [[Drayton Manor Theme Park]] in [[England]]. The water ride has remained closed for the foreseeable future, following the HSE safety examination.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39862996 |title=Girl, 11, dies after Drayton Manor theme park fall |publisher=BBC}}</ref>
* On May 9, 2017, an 11-year-old girl, Evha Jannath, died from her injuries after she fell from the Splash Canyon ride and into the water at [[Drayton Manor Theme Park]] in [[England]]. The water ride has remained closed for the foreseeable future, following the HSE safety examination.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39862996 |title=Girl, 11, dies after Drayton Manor theme park fall |publisher=BBC}}</ref>
*On July 3, 2021, an 11-year-old boy died and five others were injured on the Raging River at Adventureland Park in Altoona, Iowa when their raft flipped over. The raft was found to be under inflated, and the ride's emergency drainage system failed.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Parents speak out after 11-year-old son killed at amusement park: 'It is a nightmare'|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/parents-speak-out-after-11-year-old-son-killed-at-amusement-park-it-is-a-nightmare/ar-AALPKoC?li=BBnb7Kz|access-date=2021-07-07|website=www.msn.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Spencer |date=2021-07-21 |title=Lack of Maintenance and Disregard for Industry-Recommended Safety Procedures May Have Contributed… |url=https://medium.com/@spennydc/lack-of-maintenance-and-disregard-for-industry-recommended-safety-procedures-may-have-contributed-bfe6a22cd232 |access-date=2023-05-09 |website=Medium |language=en}}</ref>
*On July 3, 2021, an 11-year-old boy died and five others were injured on the Raging River at Adventureland Park in Altoona, Iowa when their raft flipped over. The raft was found to be under inflated by the park staff, and the ride's emergency drainage system failed due to lack of maintenance.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Parents speak out after 11-year-old son killed at amusement park: 'It is a nightmare'|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/parents-speak-out-after-11-year-old-son-killed-at-amusement-park-it-is-a-nightmare/ar-AALPKoC?li=BBnb7Kz|access-date=2021-07-07|website=www.msn.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Spencer |date=2021-07-21 |title=Lack of Maintenance and Disregard for Industry-Recommended Safety Procedures May Have Contributed… |url=https://medium.com/@spennydc/lack-of-maintenance-and-disregard-for-industry-recommended-safety-procedures-may-have-contributed-bfe6a22cd232 |access-date=2023-05-09 |website=Medium |language=en}}</ref>
<!-- Please DO NOT add the 25 October 2016 Thunder River Rapids Ride incident at Dreamworld, Queensland. No sources confirm Intamin was the ride manufacturer -->
<!-- Please DO NOT add the 25 October 2016 Thunder River Rapids Ride incident at Dreamworld, Queensland. No sources confirm Intamin was the ride manufacturer -->
*On August 15, 2021, a female guest was seriously injured while standing in line at Cedar Point when a metal object dislodged from Top Thrill Dragster and struck her in the head.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Guest struck by metal piece that fell off roller coaster at Cedar Point |url=https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/2021/08/16/guest-struck-metal-piece-fell-off-roller-coaster-cedar-point/8147199002/ |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=Akron Beacon Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> The ride was shut down following the incident, and remained standing but not operating until Cedar Point announced its retirement in 2022, with plans of an updated ride experience.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cedar Point permanently closing Top Thrill Dragster, world's second-tallest roller coaster |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/cedar-point-permanently-closing-top-thrill-dragster/ |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
*On August 15, 2021, a female guest was seriously injured while standing in line at Cedar Point when a metal object dislodged from Top Thrill Dragster and struck her in the head.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Guest struck by metal piece that fell off roller coaster at Cedar Point |url=https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/2021/08/16/guest-struck-metal-piece-fell-off-roller-coaster-cedar-point/8147199002/ |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=Akron Beacon Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> The ride was shut down following the incident, and remained standing but not operating until Cedar Point announced its retirement in 2022, and reopened in 2024 as Top Thrill 2.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cedar Point permanently closing Top Thrill Dragster, world's second-tallest roller coaster |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/cedar-point-permanently-closing-top-thrill-dragster/ |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=www.cbsnews.com |date=6 September 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref>
*On April 7, 2023, two female guests were injured at Futuroscope, France when a lithium battery on a train car caught fire. The guests suffered burns and were hospitalised. Park employees exposed to lithium fumes were treated on premises. The ride has been closed since.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Attraction Objectif Mars prend feu et blesse deux femmes |url=https://twitter.com/futuroscope/status/1644325970726252550?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1644325970726252550%7Ctwgr%5E48759054d54043ab19e50aa62962df3ed365bfff%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.20minutes.fr%2Ffaits_divers%2F4031735-20230407-poitiers-wagon-attraction-objectif-mars-prend-feu-futuroscope-deux-femmes-blessees |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=twitter |language=fr-FR}}</ref>
*On April 7, 2023, two female guests were injured at Futuroscope, France when a lithium battery on a train car caught fire. The guests suffered burns and were hospitalized. Park employees exposed to lithium fumes were treated on premises. The ride has reopened in June without the spinning feature.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Attraction Objectif Mars prend feu et blesse deux femmes |url=https://twitter.com/futuroscope/status/1644325970726252550?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1644325970726252550%7Ctwgr%5E48759054d54043ab19e50aa62962df3ed365bfff%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.20minutes.fr%2Ffaits_divers%2F4031735-20230407-poitiers-wagon-attraction-objectif-mars-prend-feu-futuroscope-deux-femmes-blessees |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=twitter |language=fr-FR}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 00:28, 8 December 2024

Intamin
IndustryManufacturing
Founded1967[1]
Founder
  • Robert Spieldiener
  • Reinhold Spieldiener
  • Alfons Saiko
Headquarters
Schaan
,
Liechtenstein
Number of locations
8
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Patrick Spieldiener (CEO)
Products
Amusement rides
Divisions
    • Intamin Amusement Rides
    • Intamin Transportation
Subsidiaries
    • ABC Engineering AG
    • ABC Rides
Websitewww.intamin.com Edit this at Wikidata
Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure, was the world's tallest rollercoaster for 19 years

Intamin Amusement Rides is a design and manufacturing company in Schaan, Liechtenstein, best-known for designing and constructing thrill rides and roller coasters at dozens of international theme parks, amusement parks and other establishments. The Intamin brand name is a syllabic abbreviation for "international amusement installations". The company has corporate offices across the world, including three in Europe, three in Asia, and two in the United States.

Products and technologies

[edit]

Intamin's product range spans two broad categories: rides and transportation.

Amusement rides

[edit]
Roaring Rapids river ride at Six Flags Over Texas (2007)

Roller coasters

[edit]

Intamin created the first hydraulic launch system (known as the Accelerator Coaster), which catapults roller coaster trains from standstill to speeds upwards of 240 kilometres per hour (150 mph) in a few seconds before climbing to immense heights. Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure, for instance, was North America's tallest and fastest coaster, launching riders from 0–128 mph (206 km/h) in 3.5 seconds.[2]

Intamin uses computerized and industrialized engineering and manufacturing methods for its wooden coasters, rather than traditional on-site fabrication.[3] Coasters such as Colossos at Heide Park, Balder at Liseberg and El Toro at Six Flags Great Adventure utilized this manufacturing technique. Unlike other traditional wood coasters, these rides use prefabricated track sections made of a high-strength wooden laminate that can be secured on-site when the superstructure is completed. This design enables the coaster to reach speeds and navigate course elements smoothly, like a steel roller coaster, while retaining the look and some of the traditional feel of common wooden coasters.[3]

Ferris wheels

[edit]
Giant Wheel, a double wheel at Hersheypark
Sky Whirl, a triple wheel at Six Flags Great America
Incredicoaster, a Custom Intamin Looper at Disney California Adventure

Intamin brokered a number of rides that were manufactured by Waagner-Biro. These included a series of rides for Marriott Corporation, each comprising a vertical column supporting multiple horizontal arms, with each arm supporting a Ferris wheel. The first was Giant Wheel which operated at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania, from 1973 until 2004. Similar Intamin supplied Waagner-Biro wheels included Zodiac (Kings Island, Mason, Ohio) and Scorpion (Parque de la Ciudad, Buenos Aires, Argentina). All are now defunct.

Sky Whirl, the world's first triple Ferris wheel, which debuted at both Marriott's Great America parks (now Six Flags Great America, Gurnee, Illinois, and California's Great America, Santa Clara) in 1976, was also manufactured by Waagner-Biro and brokered by Intamin. Also known as a triple Ferris wheel,[4] Triple Giant Wheel,[5] or Triple Tree Wheel, it was 33 metres (108 ft) in height.[6] The Santa Clara ride, renamed Triple Wheel in post-Marriott years, closed on 1 September 1997. The Gurnee ride closed in 2000.[7]

The Orlando Eye, which opened in April 2015, was designed and built by Intamin.[8]

Transportation

[edit]

Outside the amusement realm, Intamin supplies monorail transportation systems which are used in both public transport networks and at tourist attractions across the world. Intamin was responsible for the design and building of the Moscow Monorail (Russian: Московская Монорельсовая Транспортная Система (ММТС)), which is 4.7 kilometres (2.9 mi) long and is located in the North-Eastern Administrative Okrug of Moscow, Russia, running from the Timiryazevskaya metro station to Sergeya Eisensteina street. Planning of the monorail started in 1998. It has six stations.

In 2016, two monorails using Intamin equipment were opened, the 5.2 kilometres (3.2 mi) Ashgabat Monorail in Turkmenistan[9] and the 1.1 kilometres (0.68 mi) Calabar Monorail in the Cross River State, Nigeria, which connects the Calabar International Convention Centre to the Tinapa Resort.[10]

In 2020, the Marconi Express Monorail opened as a shuttle between the Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport and the Bologna Centrale railway station.

Intamin has also constructed monorails at amusement parks Xi'an and Ningbo in China and the Asia Park Monorail in Da Nang in Vietnam.[11]

Notable Intamin rides

[edit]
See also: List of Intamin rides and Category:Roller coasters manufactured by Intamin

Incidents

[edit]
See also: Amusement park accidents

Intamin has been in the news for a number of safety-related incidents.

  • In 1984, three passengers riding The Edge at Six Flags Great America were injured and briefly hospitalized. The ride experienced a malfunction that caused it to fall backward down the wrong shaft.[12]
  • On June 9, 1991, 32-year-old Candy Taylor of Toledo, Ohio, fell to her death from Flight Commander, an Intamin Flight Trainer, located at Kings Island. Investigators determined that a design flaw in the seat divider could allow a rider to slide into an unoccupied seat and become free from the restraint. A coroner's report later revealed that the victim had a blood-alcohol level of 0.30 which may have also contributed. Speculation suggests the rider lost consciousness during the ride and slid out from the restraints.[13][14]
  • On May 16, 1999, a 365 lb (166 kg) guest was unable to close his lap bar on Ride of Steel at Six Flags Darien Lake. As a result, he was ejected, fell approximately 9 feet as the ride went over a camel hump hill, and suffered serious injuries. He sued the park and the ride manufacturer for negligence and was awarded US$3.95 million.[15]
  • In August 1999, a 12-year-old mentally disabled boy fell from the 207-foot (63 m) high Drop Tower: Scream Zone, at California's Great America, and died. The victim's family claimed his harness was not locked properly. An investigation was inconclusive and no charges were filed.[16][17]
  • In September 2001, a 40-year-old woman fell from Perilous Plunge (Knott's Berry Farm) into the water, was hit by the boat, and died. An investigation showed that the 300 lb (140 kg) woman had loosened the safety restraints, so she could fit more comfortably into the ride.[18]
  • On April 16, 2004, a 16-year-old girl from Pontypool was killed after falling approximately 30 m (100 ft) into shallow water from the top of Hydro (now called Drenched) at Oakwood Leisure Park, Narberth, Pembrokeshire, United Kingdom.[19] During a lawsuit brought by the victim's family against Oakwood, a jury returned a narrative verdict stating that the victim had fallen out due to being improperly restrained.[20]
  • The second incident of 2004 was on one of Intamin's mega coasters, Superman: Ride of Steel, at Six Flags New England in Massachusetts. The ride, again with lap bar restraints, was dispatched with a rider who had cerebral palsy in the front seat; this passenger subsequently died after being ejected from his seat. According to an investigation,[21] the ride operators were primarily to blame, for not ensuring the rider was properly secured. Intamin was also partially blamed, as the ride's safety system allowed the train to be dispatched without all of the restraints properly secured.
  • The third incident of 2004 happened on July 14 and involved one of Intamin's launched stratacoasters. Four people were injured while riding on Cedar Point's Top Thrill Dragster. The riders were struck by metal debris that sheared off from the coaster's launch cable; during the initial launch, the train accelerates from 0 to 120 miles per hour (190 km/h) in 4 seconds, before climbing up the 420 feet (130 m) foot vertical structure and back down again. The majority of guests waiting in the queue line would be standing no more than 10 to 15 feet from the track, at closest range. They were treated at the park's first aid station. Two were further treated at Firelands Regional Medical Center.[22]
  • In June 2007, a 13-year-old girl lost both feet at the ankles on Superman: Tower of Power, at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, when a ride malfunction and improper maintenance caused a cable to snap.[23] She was brought to the hospital in critical condition,[24] but survived, with doctors being able to re-attach her right foot. The park was later fined $1,000 for not properly maintaining the ride; an undisclosed settlement was later reached with Six Flags, which will provide for her for the remainder of her life.[25]
  • On September 16, 2009, two guests were injured when a cable snapped on Xcelerator at Knott's Berry Farm. The train launches riders from 0 to 80 miles per hour in a matter of seconds, ascends a vertical top-hat, and descends down the other side. The 12-year-old victim had lacerations on his leg, while the adult victim complained of back injuries.[26]
  • On April 29, 2010, a ride train on Expedition GeForce partially derailed from the track, fully occupied with passengers. Riders were stranded 20m in the air, with eight of them complaining of nausea and bruising.[27]
  • On July 8, 2011, a 29-year-old guest was killed when he was ejected from Superman: Ride of Steel. The rider, an Iraq War veteran whose legs had been amputated, was on the front row of the roller coaster when he was thrown from the train during the course of the ride. Park officials stated that the ride was in proper mechanical order and that the various safety restraints were also working normally at the time of the incident, but that the attraction would remain closed pending an investigation. It was determined that ride operators at the time should not have permitted the man to get on the ride, due to his status as a double amputee.[28]
  • On February 24, 2012, a 14-year-old girl died in an accident at Hopi Hari, Vinhedo, São Paulo State, Brazil. She fell from the La Tour Eiffel drop tower ride, suffered cranial trauma, and died on the way to hospital. Initial investigations suggested the possibility of mechanical failure in a restraint latch.[29]
  • On July 24, 2012, the launch cable of the accelerator coaster Rita at Alton Towers, Staffordshire, UK, snapped during a morning test run. There were no passengers aboard at the time and no injuries occurred.[30]
  • On July 19, 2013, a boat on the Shoot the Rapids log flume (at Cedar Point) rolled back down the ride's lift hill and flipped over, injuring seven, and was said to leave them stranded under water for a few minutes before guests and park employees could get them out. Six were cleared by park medical staff, and one was examined at a local hospital before being released. The ride closed during the investigation. Cedar Point reopened the ride in May 2014 but it would close in 2015.[31]
  • On July 7, 2014, a teenager was killed after his harness sprung open on Inferno, a ZacSpin fourth-dimension roller coaster at Terra Mítica in Benidorm, Spain.[32]
  • On May 9, 2017, an 11-year-old girl, Evha Jannath, died from her injuries after she fell from the Splash Canyon ride and into the water at Drayton Manor Theme Park in England. The water ride has remained closed for the foreseeable future, following the HSE safety examination.[33]
  • On July 3, 2021, an 11-year-old boy died and five others were injured on the Raging River at Adventureland Park in Altoona, Iowa when their raft flipped over. The raft was found to be under inflated by the park staff, and the ride's emergency drainage system failed due to lack of maintenance.[34][35]
  • On August 15, 2021, a female guest was seriously injured while standing in line at Cedar Point when a metal object dislodged from Top Thrill Dragster and struck her in the head.[36] The ride was shut down following the incident, and remained standing but not operating until Cedar Point announced its retirement in 2022, and reopened in 2024 as Top Thrill 2.[37]
  • On April 7, 2023, two female guests were injured at Futuroscope, France when a lithium battery on a train car caught fire. The guests suffered burns and were hospitalized. Park employees exposed to lithium fumes were treated on premises. The ride has reopened in June without the spinning feature.[38]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Our History | Intamin | Rollercoaster Supplier & Amusement Ride Manufacturer". Archived from the original on 2019-05-13. Retrieved 2017-06-12.
  2. ^ "World Records". Intamin Amusement Rides. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  3. ^ a b Pan, Phil (2003). "Colossos: Can a coaster be too good for itself". RollerCoaster! Magazine. Vol. 24, no. 3. Mission, Kansas: American Coaster Enthusiasts. p. 24. ISSN 0896-7261.
  4. ^ Need Six Flags Great America Tickets? Archived 2015-10-17 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "Theme Park Timelines". Archived from the original on 2015-01-18.
  6. ^ Zoning Board Minutes - 10-25-00 Archived March 12, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "SKY WHIRL at Marriott's GREAT AMERICA parks". 24 March 2018.
  8. ^ 360: Construction continues on the Orlando Eye Archived 2014-05-27 at archive.today
  9. ^ "- YouTube". YouTube.
  10. ^ "Buhari to inaugurate multi-billion Naira Calabar monorail". Vanguard. 20 August 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  11. ^ "First-ever elevated monorail launched in Da Nang". vietnam.net. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  12. ^ "EVOLUTION OF CALIFORNIA'S AMUSEMENT RIDES SAFETY LAWS". California Research Bureau, California State Library. 1997-08-01. Retrieved 2006-12-21.
  13. ^ "DESPITE RECENT DEATHS, PARKS SAY RIDES ARE SAFE". Deseret News. 1991-08-06. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved June 3, 2011.
  14. ^ "Ride-Related Fatalities" (PDF). Emerson Associates. 2006-10-03. Retrieved June 3, 2011.
  15. ^ "Theme-park patron ejected from roller coaster". 2004-03-12. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-10-15.
  16. ^ "Thrill ride lawsuits". Courier-Journal. 23 June 2007. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  17. ^ "Drop Zone death: no charges, no explanation". RideAccidents.com. 5 November 1999. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  18. ^ "Ergonomics and a Deadly Ride on the "Perilous Plunge"". 2001-11-06. Archived from the original on 2002-03-08. Retrieved 2007-04-05.
  19. ^ "Girl dies in 100ft rollercoaster fall". BBC Wales News. 2004-04-16. Retrieved 2007-08-29.
  20. ^ "Family unhappy after ride inquest". BBC Wales News. 2006-05-19. Retrieved 2007-08-29.
  21. ^ "Coaster riders question safety steps".
  22. ^ "Riders Injured on Top Thrill Dragster". WTOL-TV. July 13, 2004. Archived from the original on December 25, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2006.
  23. ^ admin (2008-04-14). "Deposition: Maintenance Guide Ignored on Ride that Injured Kentucky Teen". Insurance Journal. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
  24. ^ "Teen's feet severed while on thrill ride - US news - Life - NBC News". NBC News. 22 June 2007.
  25. ^ Gordon Gibb (14 March 2011). "Aftermath of a Horrific Amusement Park Accident". lawyersandsettlements.com. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  26. ^ Scott Weber (2009-09-18). "Caught on Tape: Coaster Attacks Two at Knott's Berry Farm". NBC Los Angeles. Retrieved 2009-09-18. [dead link‍]
  27. ^ Bild.de (29 April 2010). "FULL STEAM OUT OF THE TRACK POPPED: AGONY IN THE ROLLER COASTER".[permanent dead link‍]
  28. ^ "Iraq War vet dies on Darien Lake Rollercoaster". 9WSYR.com. 2011-07-08. Archived from the original on 2012-07-16. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
  29. ^ "Adolescente morre após acidente em parque de diversões no interior de SP". 24 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-24.
  30. ^ "Rita Launch Cable Snaps -> COASTER-net.com: Amusement Park and Roller Coaster News, Information, Photographs, & more!". Archived from the original on 2012-07-31.
  31. ^ Kara Sutyak (July 19, 2013). "Person Released From Hospital After Cedar Point Ride Malfunction". fox8.com. Local TV, LLC. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  32. ^ Gerard Couzens (8 July 2014). "Teenager killed after being thrown from roller-coaster called Hell at Benidorm theme park". mirror.
  33. ^ "Girl, 11, dies after Drayton Manor theme park fall". BBC.
  34. ^ "Parents speak out after 11-year-old son killed at amusement park: 'It is a nightmare'". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  35. ^ Thompson, Spencer (2021-07-21). "Lack of Maintenance and Disregard for Industry-Recommended Safety Procedures May Have Contributed…". Medium. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  36. ^ "Guest struck by metal piece that fell off roller coaster at Cedar Point". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
  37. ^ "Cedar Point permanently closing Top Thrill Dragster, world's second-tallest roller coaster". www.cbsnews.com. 6 September 2022. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
  38. ^ "Attraction Objectif Mars prend feu et blesse deux femmes". twitter (in French). Retrieved 2023-05-23.
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