Last year, I e-mailed Giovanola about the Intamin coasters on their site and other questions. They replied to me with the following (copied and pasted from the e-mail):
"Dear Mr Godsey,
Referring to your mail dated January 30, 2002, we can answer as follows:
The 4 abreast inverted is in fact the Eurostar. Concerning marketing that was Intamin who looked for but GTec Giovanola Technologies developed and manufactured this ride. The Mine Diver and the Terror Tilt are not
the same installations, there are quite different.
It is really possible to add an inverstion before the vertical drop, like a half loop before the drop, so that basically it would be like a twist and ride.
Bolliger & Mabillard is a separate firm and we do not have any contact with them.
Currently we have no project for USA and hope receiving soon new orders.
With best regards
GTec S.A.
Giovanola Technologies"
*** This post was edited by Chris Godsey on 12/18/2002. ***
Vekoma didn't actually use this system on her own flying as far as I know. You can look at the patent at the website of a European patent office. The system was patented in 1998, the first protodesigns of the systems date back to approximately 1996 or earlier.
Nate, why don't you just for a minute think before you go insulting people? B&M started the development of their prone coaster around 1996 or 1997. Vekoma patented the first flying dutchman designs in 1996, and has been working on the project since 1994 or 1995. I was under the impression that 1994 was earlier than 1996, but I'm apparently wrong. Sorry! What a foolish Dutchman I am..
Just for the record, GTec claimes the Intamin rides because they are responsible for the ride technology.
-----------------
Dutch Coastin' :: European coasters, thrills and theming!
*** This post was edited by DRNK on 12/19/2002. ***
As I said, it's common knowledge B&M had been working on the project before Vekoma. Believe it or not, but that's your choice.
As for the Giovanola stuff, I may be willing to believe that the first generation freefalls were their design and product, but I don't believe the rest of the products (Flashback, Intamin standups) were. And I do not believe B&M worked for Giovanola.
Sorry for the harsh tone previously. I'm not looking to make enemies; I have better things to do.
-Nate
*** This post was edited by coasterdude318 on 12/19/2002. ***
Vekoma had a very early prototype working around 1998. That was just a couple of meters, comparable to the Arrow 4th Dimension prototype. More like a test-track.
GTec worked for B&M, not the other way around. GTec is more or less a thinktank. They invent all sorts of things. The B&M tire-launch (the one on Hulk) is often accredited on them. Don't know if that is true though. Rumor has it that GTec was also involved in the creation of the B&M dive machine. GTec does not make, or has ever made roller coasters. They only design them. Their mother-corporation GIOVANOLA Frères SA has made a few, three to be precise. Goliath, Titan and Anaconda. Most people think GTec builds coasters, but that's just an urban legend. GTec can be compared to Werner Stengel. They just design, and leave the construction to others.
-----------------
Dutch Coastin' :: European coasters, thrills and theming!
coasterdude318 said:
I have a really hard time believing Vekoma started working on their flyer in 1994. If that were the case, then why have PGA act as a place to build, test, etc a prototype ride?
Isn't that basically what AIR was at Alton? Wasn't it the protoype building grounds for their flyer? John Wardley indeed partnered with B&M to make the flyer a reality. Maybe Paramount just helped Vekoma solidify the idea and pushed it further into Development.
I also think Vekoma has been working on their flyer just as long as B&M has. They just expedited their design phase to beat B&M to the punch so to speak. Like B&M, they had the idea, yet chose to expedite other designs instead to generate revenue so they could further refine the flyer design. Also remember companies dont always patent designs right when they conceive the idea.. You have to have something to show in the patent application. I do remember hearing something about the Flying Dutchman in early 1995, maybe it was screamscape
DRNK is right about Giovanola. They are two separate entities that just so happen to be sister companies. GTec certainly takes credit for everything Intamin did early on before they had an R&D department and there must be a developmental reason why they do that. Of course Intamin now has a design staff in house to handle all of their R&D projects but back then they were simply a ride broker. Giovanola Freres is simply a steel fabricator that has done work for B&M, Intamin, and GTec.
Hulk's tire launch system was done by a US engineering firm.. the name is escaping me at the moment.
*** This post was edited by Chris Godsey on 12/19/2002. ***
You must be logged in to post