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LIGHTNING: THE NEXT GENERATION OF ROLLER COASTER DESIGN
05 ISSUE LIGHTNING
THE NEXT GENERATION OF ROLLER COASTER DESIGN
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There have been a lot of developments in Zamperla’s Roller Coaster business unit in the past decade. From the Factory Coaster and Super Twister opening in 2018 to installing a coaster at Ferrari World during a pandemic to debuting groundbreaking concepts in 2021, the Zamperla coaster engineering team has been quite busy. However, one of the largest steps forward as a company was during IAAPA, 2019 when we shared our vehicle- the Lightning. There are a lot of things that make this vehicle special. The easy things are what you can see, such as a new seat and restraint design that are significant upgrades from our older Thunderbolt vehicles. But the most interesting details are “under the hood” as car buffs say. When the train is broken down and the fiberglass removed, one can better understand why the Lightning is the next generation of roller coaster design. The largest difference from our competition is the aluminum-milled chassis. Our engineers switched from welded steel to aluminum for several reasons. The most important was to move towards a concept that had no welds in the chassis or wheel bogies.
After running Luna Park in New York for over a decade we came to better understand “cost of ownership” and incorporated the concept into all our new designs. With the Lightning vehicle, the elimination of welds means that the offseason NDT (non-destructive testing) and associated labor are minimized, allowing for a lower ride maintenance budget. In addition, it is better for the environment because less materials and paint are used on an annual basis. A second benefit was the significant weight reduction we saw in the vehicles. This lowers the buying costs for our clients and means columns can be placed further apart, requiring less materials. The Thunderbolt at Coney Island was an amazing project- a roller coaster that went from an engineer’s concept to opening in 12 months. One could easily argue that no other manufacturer could get so much done in a year. However, since the day this coaster opened our team has been working to make the Zamperla thrill coasters even better and the Lightning is the end result of all that detailed subsequent design work. With all the challenges of the past 18 months it can be difficult to see the forest for the trees. But, when something special comes along it is fun to sit back and watch as others, both your clients and your competition, take notice. The Lightning is here, it is our key roller coaster thrill platform and we look forward to showcasing just how special a ride system can be.
BlendeZ premieres new and exciting movements first of its kind in the world!
Three different axes of rotation, one of which is free, guided only by the force of gravity, two driven by DC motors, 1 free spinning so you're always guessing which way is up. Maximum thrill in a small footprint: BlendeZ is the perfect centerpiece for any facility, also for indoor applications.
People loading is fast to maximize thrill seeker capacity. The BlendeZ features the option to add more seats from 12 to 24, to share even more of the thrill of its movement and speed up the time between rides.
Stay updated on the Z-Funweek project and discover all the digital events we have planned follow Zamperla’s social media channels!
We are glad to present Zamperla newest attraction, and 7th new product launched this year, within the Z-Funweek project.
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Written by Charlotte Coates Blooloop
One thing that COVID-19 has highlighted is just how innovative the global attractions industry is. As we discussed in the last issue, the impact of the pandemic will be felt for years. But thanks to the creativity and innovation of both operators and suppliers, this has the potential to be a pivotal moment, enhancing and improving the guest experience as we head into the future. We saw this innovation first-hand at the recent blooloop Innovation Awards. These new awards were created to celebrate the spirit of innovation at the heart of our industry, and we were blown away by the standard of the 114 entries. Across 14 different categories such as engagement, interaction, immersion and thrills, entrants presented ground-breaking new projects, products and services. This included next-generation rides, transformative technology, advances in sustainability and more. While the global pandemic brought this innovative streak into sharp relief, the theme park and amusement park world has always been one that evolves in line with guest expectations. In today’s experience economy, guests want memorable, immersive, shared fun, and parks are constantly innovating in order to meet this desire.
In some ways, COVID-19 has even given them a helping hand, as it has sped up the adoption of digital technology. This will allow operators to better meet visitors’ needs and offer them a fuller experience. For instance, take personalisation, which is an ongoing trend in the attractions industry. In the wake of the pandemic, more guests than ever before will visit a park’s website or download an app before they visit, either to find out more about their COVID-19 guidance or to pre-book their slot. Capturing data from these online visits allows the operator to learn more about their audience, meaning they can send more targeted information and offers. Other trends which have been boosted by the pandemic and the subsequent increase in digital adoption are things like mobile ordering and virtual queuing. These are great examples of things that parks have brought in as new innovations in response to COVID-19, but that are likely to become permanent changes due to the positive impact that they have on the guest experience. We’ve also seen a rise in more cutting-edge solutions following the pandemic, from AI-powered dynamic pricing and sophisticated crowd simulation to facial recognition-powered entry and payment, and UV disinfection technology. When it comes to what guests expect, they are looking for a streamlined, frictionless experience. They want COVID-safe venues where they can enjoy contactless entry and where they can buy food and merchandise through their phones without queueing. They want the freedom to plan their day in a way that suits them, accessing the rides and attractions they want without barriers, long waits or sticking points. They are also increasingly demanding that parks commit to a greener, more sustainable approach. Now, as suppliers within the attractions industry continue to create new solutions, this wish-list is fast becoming a reality. Theme park and amusement park suppliers have also been innovating in terms of the range of rides and attractions on offer, and again we saw this highlighted during the blooloop Innovation Awards. Entries included fresh new developments in storytelling, theming, engineering, accessibility, technology and more. Many could have seen the past 18 months as a time to sit back and wait it out, but instead, R&D teams have been working behind the scenes on the latest cutting-edge experiences. It’s a resilient industry, and those within it knew that guests would be back, and with more of an appetite for fun and escapism than ever before.
05 ISSUE NEBULAZ
AN ICONIC SUCCESS STORY!
NebulaZ is a one-of-a-kind, Zamperla family thrill ride guaranteed to provide lots of fun: it looks like a visual riddle, but if you get closer, you’ll see the spiral, the colors, the speed, the sound of excitement! NebulaZ, a multiple award winner ride, has 4 arms that rotate in fast intermeshing orbits, creating a hypnotic movement where the arms swing about horizontal axes in a circular motion while the central tower rotates around itself. Eight gondolas at the end of the arms always remain upright, and riders catch air as they fly over the top of the ride! Thanks to its movement, NebulaZ represents a thrill ride for all the family, especially the preteen riders between 6 and 10 years of age who don’t meet the 48” height requirement.
NEBULAZ
SUCCESS STORY!
WALIBI RHÔNE-ALPES FRANCE FAMILY PARK AUSTRIA
The success of the ride has been established last year with more than ten NebulaZ attractions sold all over the world, two of which are in the Gulf Countries, two in the United States, one of them in Luna Park in Coney Island, and one in Latin America. Some of the most notable NebulaZ installations are sited in Europe, like the Voodoo thematization in Walibi Rhône-Alpes, France, the Cockoo’s nest special NebulaZ in Bakken, Denmark or the “Stellarium” NebulaZ ride with a mood close to astronomy installed this year in FamilyPark, Austria. NebulaZ, over these past two years, has become more and more popular in the entertainment industry, thanks to its original layout and special movement and to the ability of Zamperla’s Art department to thematize and create the most suitable storytelling for our clients’ requirements. That adds that extra artistic touch to a ride that fascinates and excites all its passengers for its technical characteristics.
