Zamperla & Reverchon?

In the lastest issue of Amusement Today(which I got 2 days ago)features an ad for Zamperla on the back. The ad has a new logo for Zamperla and a new coaster division called "Coaster Zone". The odd thing about this ad is that the "Twister Coaster"(it's what they call it) is a picture of Ragin' Cagin', the spinning coaster from Reverchon(sp?). Did anyone ever hear of a merger or buy-out? Also to note Holiday World placed an ad for their old Gerstlaur train(from Legend I guess) for only $60,000. I always thought they were more than that, even used.

Kennywood Team Member Since 2003 Kennywood is CLOSED

Mine came in a few days ago, but have you been having problems receiving your copies? The latest one (the one I just got) was "shipped" on september 26? I think that is B.S, because most of the info I have already heard about.

Is there any mention of a company called GRI or Great Rides Inc in the ad? It's mentioned on their website. Could be a brokering company, or a consortium. *** Edited 11/1/2004 2:39:18 AM UTC by Dutchman***

Turbo : My first issue(the one before this one) took about 3 weeks to get to me after it was "mailed". This one only took a few days. I think that either becuase my membership was new or there was something wrong with mailing that issue.

Dutchman : No the ad does not mention that company. I have also looked on their website to see if I can find out any info, but came up emty handed.

Also to note it seems like Fabbri is copying off of Reverchon when it comes to their raft rides. The ad placed in my September issue of AT is an exact photo copy of Reverchons. I smell a lawsuit.

Kennywood Team Member Since 2003 Kennywood is CLOSED

Ah, the stuff that makes this business so much fun in the off season!

Alberto Zamperla and Gilles Reverchon announced during last year's IAAPA convention that Zamperla would manufacture and sell Reverchon amusement rides worldwide under a license agreement.

Yeah, the spinning coaster at DelGrosso's that was installed this year looks identical to the Exterminator at Kennywood.

The DelGrosso's ride is a Zamperla. The Kennywood ride is a Reverchon.

They're physically the same, but the logic (programming) is different.

Hi

I finally got this IAAPA issue today, so I see what you are talking about now. But I guess it was already answered.

Do they use the same PLC with a different program, or is it a different PLC? *** Edited 11/2/2004 4:35:19 AM UTC by Dutchman***

Much like Zamperla and Miler :)

I'm sorry for asking but what is PLC?

Kennywood Team Member Since 2003 Kennywood is CLOSED

PLC stands for Programed Logic Control. It's a form of computor that is used to operate machinery that has repetitive sequences. Darn near bullet proof (you don't have operating systems crashing on you), but a pain in the butt to alter programming on if you want to change sequence or timing.

(Actually, it's programmable, and I find it quite easy to alter the program, but I digress.)

The Reverchon versions have Siemens Simatic S5 APC's. The Zamperla versions have Allen Bradley series 500 SLC's.

An APC is a European version of a PLC. An SLC is a smart logic controller, the next step in the PLC family (which has since been improved on by MicroLogix and ControlLogix systems, but I digress again.)

*** Edited 11/2/2004 10:59:26 PM UTC by kpjb***

Hi

I must be hanging around too many old timers kpjb cause they do nothing but growl about PLC's. I just got my hands on load of instruction manuals on CD for AB, GE, Siemens, and a couple other that I don't recall their name right now. I'm old school, and it's something I need to know. Waiting for a call back on THREE positions right now, which may not materialize until after the first of the year.

Once you understand Allen Bradley's ladder logic and language (which is pretty simplistic) it becomes natural.

I'm not saying I could program a ride from start to finish, but I have no problem tweaking them.

Then again, my employer sends me to the allen bradley HQ in Cleveland almost every year. If you can understand the commands, you can almost drag and drop an entire program in to place.

Old timers will never want to part with their relays and pneumatic switches, though. Oh, well. More work for me.

Hi

I was trained on the direct action pneumatic and hydraulic valves controls, those marvelous Cinestrons, Dodge Clutches,then Hydrasheaves, then Rueland and Dayton soft start-stop controls. Progress marches on. Like I said I've got about two thousand pages of information to go through, eight hundred and some on AB alone. Of course the parks I'm waiting on the call backs on propably use the Siemens.

Hey kpjb, I was always wondering what is your official position/title at the park. Also I heard the Paratrooper will be getting new controls next year, what kind will they be. Will it be similar to those of the Kangaroo? Who makes the controls for the Kangaroo?

Kennywood Team Member Since 2003 Kennywood is CLOSED

razore86 said:
Also to note it seems like Fabbri is copying off of Reverchon when it comes to their raft rides. The ad placed in my September issue of AT is an exact photo copy of Reverchons. I smell a lawsuit.

Reverchon's reaction.

http://www.reverchon.com/an/c_news.htm

You smelled right.