Vekoma files for bankruptcy protection (updated)

I can't believe people are glad to see a coaster company having problems? I thought this site was full of enthusiasts?

It's sad how the whole industry has turned into a petty popularity contest for many around here. :(

Maybe PKI can get  B&M or Intamin coasters now instead of turning to Vekoma all of time. :)
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Bill Yost a.k.a. THE BEASTmaster
www.geocities.com/byostie & http://216.71.92.174/pkizone/index.html

*** This post was edited by THE BEASTmaster on 8/23/2001. ***

Someone mentioned earlier that parks may have to resort to buying woodies from CCI...and this is bad how???

Seriously though, they do make a mean kiddie coaster...and have been quite innovative. I hope this serves as a slap in the face to shake things up a bit. Perhaps they'll get better.

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And who will fill the niche that Vekoma was filling? Arrow Dynamics...

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Joshua Wilcox
Knowing others is intelligence, knowing yourself is true wisdom.
Mastering others is strength, mastering yourself is true power.

Vekoma going out of business is bad, but this is not what is happening.  they're filing for bankruptcy and re-forming.  however, for those that think Vekoma going out of business is great: read on.

Vekoma may not make the best coasters, but their coasters are a secure investment for smaller parks.  the gp doesn't care if they get an inverted ride from B&M, Intamin, or Vekoma.  all they want is for their feet to dangle.  Vekoma does this cheaply which is good for the parks.  Vekoma also makes some kick-arse kiddie rides.  please don't limit Vekoma to hang and bangs and boomerangs.  as for Vekoma's coasters being unique an such, well they were unique.  but when you uncontrolably clone a coaster it loses all its uniqueness.  sorry to burst your bubble.

Six Flags not paying Vekoma is smart.  its unfortunate for Vekoma, but they did it to themselves.  they said that they could design and construct a coaster that that would take riders up and down two vertical towers or run at a certain capacity for the 2001 season and those rides haven't shown up yet.  Six Flags isn't evil here people.  they'll pay when they get the ride they ordered just like with every other coaster they order.

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Knott's Berry Farm Cuba ~South Park

Although this is Chapter 11... reorganization... there is a time restraint on getting things done.

 

Unfortuanately, a lot of times Chapter 11 is really only a prelude to Chapter 7... aka liquidation for the benefit of creditors getting whatever they can get.

 

Bad news.  

 

I agree that although WE as coaster lovers don't LOVE all of Vekoma's products.  They provide an alternative to smaller parks.  You think if Vekoma does go under that B&M (although we love them) is gonna drop their price?  I thought most of us were upset that Six Flags was buying up all these smaller parks and corporatizing (new word) them.  Well lemme tell ya, a small park that's struggling like Jazzland doesn't need Vekoma to go out of business, or they might follow.

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I rode "X" and never went upside down.

Homey G said:

"I rode "X" and never went upside down."

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When I rode "X", I went upside down 5 times. What were you riding?

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Rides not operating at SF has more to do with SF maintenance.

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What? How can you blame Six Flags for GIB's that have never run? They didn't design the rides, it's not their problem. Ditto for the Dutchman model.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
"From the global village... in the age of communication!"
Watch the grass grow: http://www.sillynonsense.com/subdivision/

I blame the Deja Vu fiasco squarely on Vekoma's shoulders.  All their other designs involved some sort of prototype either in Holland or on site and closed to the public (Stealth).  As a result, the major bugs with a design were worked out with no impact on a park's operations.  A prototype wasn't built for Deja Vu, hence all the problems.  Six Flags only made the problem worse by promoting the heck out of these rides before they were 100%.  Didn't Son of Beast teach anyone anything?? :)
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Scott W. Short
mailto:scott@midwestcoastercentral.com
http://www.midwestcoastercentral.com

I've had a headache all day - for some strange reason its now gone!
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Let the world know your Top 10 Coasters at http://www.coastergrotto.zzn.com

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What? How can you blame Six Flags for GIB's that have never run? They didn't design the rides, it's not their problem. Ditto for the Dutchman model.

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If I told Vekoma's not operating at SF was because of SF maintenance, I meant the rides that are up running, the existing rides, not the ones that aren't finished yet, of course!  I thought that was clear.

In Europa, the malfunctioning Vekoma's are found at SF-parks...like other coasters at those parks...

Europe offers lost of other Vekoma's that are running fine.  Need I say more.

Vekoma did could have overcome many problems by making one running prototype first. *** This post was edited by Rik Engelen on 8/23/2001. ***

This is sad to hear, There Newer Boomerangs are begining to feel a little less rough to me.

Having ridden LOTS of Vekoma products, I'll offer my opinions.  Their non-inverting coasters are GREAT rides for kids - I even enjoy a few spins on rollerskaters, and thought RR at PKI was a fun ride to introduce kids to inverteds.  Despite what I'm hearing here, I thought Stealth, X-Flight, and Batwing were EXCELLENT rides - although I think SFA operations needs to do SOMETHING about Batwing's one-train operation.  (I've READ it's a staffing issue).  The other two were running two trains when I saw them, and wait times were minimal considering difficult loading/unloading and the excitement generated by the "latest thrillride" factor. 

As for the other rides they've historically made, SLCs and Boomerangs:  true they're not very original, but you CAN order a custom SLC, just costs extra.  Boomerangs are OK, I prefer face-to-face seating.  These rides DO bang somewhat, that is a given.  But with soft padding they're not too bad.  They are CHEAP, which means even smaller parks can afford one.

Lastly, the Deja Vu's:  obviously more time was needed to set up a prototype (good business rule: see ONE working before buying THREE).  Maybe Vekoma pushed fast BECAUSE they were aware of the financial difficulties and needed the revenue...hmm.  Certainly can't blame SF, I wouldn't pay them a cent either, at LEAST until a customer got to ride the thing. 

Editorializing finished---Vekoma isn't necessarily going out of business, and it's highly unlikely we've seen the last of their rides.

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rollergator - intent on improving the "guest experience" - coming soon to a park near you

note: the "quote" option doesnt appear to be working.

quote:This is sad to hear, There Newer Boomerangs are begining to feel a little less rough to me.

Exactly.  People judge Vekoma simply from their older models.  From what I hear the newer SLCs are very smooth, and I was looking forward to their new mega-SLC in Europe. 

quote:Dosen't sound too bad to me.Cookie Cutter coasters aren't original.  Companies that build there rides to match the terrain or look of the park are original.  Vekoma dosen't make world-class coasters.  They don't build original coasters like Raptor, Shivering Timbers, or Magnum.

And the coasters you named cost a lot more than Vekoma coasters. 

quote:Maybe PKI can get  B&M or Intamin coasters now instead of turning to Vekoma all of time. /quote

Or maybe they, along with a lot of other parks, won't be able to get ANYTHING. 

I hope Vekoma can rebound from this.
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Top Gun: The Jet Coaster Flights in 2001: 66
Coaster Tracks Ridden: 55
www.starcoasters.com

*** This post was edited by StarCoasters on 8/23/2001. *** *** This post was edited by StarCoasters on 8/23/2001. ***

I have to agree with what Six Flags did to Vekoma on this one... Would you fully pay for a car that wasn't working? Why should they pay up for a ride that wasn't designed properly.
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.:| Brandon Rodriguez |:.
http://www.coasters2k.com

I would assume that Vekoma will survive. When/If they are able to get the GIB's and FD's running properly I feel that SF will pay off the contracts involved. That will provide cash flow for the company. This bankruptcy might very well be a temporary way of reorganizing their debt so that much of that debt load can be pushed back until those payments are expected. The plus that Vekoma has on its side is future revenue expectations. This may cause them to slow down their production, but I don't believe that it will end them. Actually very few corporations of this size that enter Chapter 11 are forced to go onto Chapter 7. I would find that very shocking in this case. Likely what we are seeing here is a temporary problem. I don't how anybody who claims to be a coaster enthusiast would be cheering the fall of any coaster, park, or manufacturer. Always remember that competition is the key to innovation.

Didn't problems with the Bat put Arrow into Chapter 11 in the mid-80's?  They made it through OK.  (Fortunately.)

Yes, but wasn't Arrow bailed out by a merger with Huss? 

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Rik Engelen Said:

If I told Vekoma's not operating at SF was because of SF maintenance, I meant the rides that are up running, the existing rides, not the ones that aren't finished yet, of course!  I thought that was clear.

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SLC's and Boomerangs seem to be quite reliable at both Six Flags and other parks.  Usually the only down time comes when a Boomerangs valleys out which is something that happens at parks under many different ownerships.  Invertigos seem to be a little more tempermental but not a major problem. 

Vekoma can't even get a Deja Vu operating at all until months late, and I have personally witnessed Vekoma's engineers digging through their manuals trying to figure out what is wrong with Batwing with limited success.

I just don't see a pattern here of any problem with park maintenance.

I think Arrow was bailed out by splitting back away from Huss...  that's where the name change to Arrow Dynamics came from.  Anyone know for sure?