MACK Rides: Explained

MACK Rides is a family-run German amusement attraction manufacturer, famous for their large portfolio of theme park products. The company is the accumulation of over 235 years of rich history and innovation; resulting in the production and installation of over 120 roller coasters around the world. In this video, we’ll learn all about how the manufacturer progressed to become on of the key leaders of the amusement industry today, by exploring the company’s past history and attractions.

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MACK Rides is a family-run German amusement attraction manufacturer, famous for their large portfolio of theme park products. The company is the accumulation of over 235 years of rich history and innovation; resulting in the production and installation of over 120 roller coasters around the world.

Their attention to detail has led the manufacturer to become one of the key leaders of the entire amusement industry today. MACK Rides itself was founded in 1780, by Paul Mack, in the town of Waldkirch. In the beginning, the business was set up to construct wagons and barrows for people within the local area.

The company quickly evolved over time, leading to the production of stagecoaches and carriages, as well as building pipe systems and drilling wells. A boom in the stagecoach industry within the 1850s, caused the business to grow rapidly. Mack began to produce lighter and more durable carriages, eventually leading to the construction

Of these goods for showmen and circus entrepreneurs. Shortly after, Mack entered the amusement industry, by supplying horses and carriages for fairground carousels. Soon, showmen sent requests to Mack to produce baggage cars, stalls, and even mobile homes, further strengthening ties to the sector.

However, It wasn’t until 1921 when MACK rides would produce their first roller coaster. At this point, the company constructed a wooden Side Friction Coaster named Turmbahn for German Showmen Siebold & Herhaus. This set the company on the path to becoming the great amusement ride manufacturer we know today.

Mack Rides slowly expanded its portfolio of products within the first half of the 20th century. They began the production of gasoline car rides in 1936, and wooden bobsled rides in 1951. At this point, the company ramped up production, exporting more of their rides to the US market.

This was quickly followed by the introduction of the wooden wild mouse model, popular in the 1950s and 60s. Around the same time, the company was taken over by family member, Franz Mack. After visiting parks in America, Franz set about making his dream a reality.

He envisioned a show floor for all MACK products – a place to both sell products and test out new ride ideas. Franz wanted to construct a MACK theme park near the company’s factory. In 1975, Franz and his son Roland opened Europa Park, a visionary new European theme park concept.

Located in Rust Germany, the family’s new attraction was visited by approximately 400,000 people within the first year alone. Fast forwarding to the present, Europa Park has become Germany’s largest theme park, and is regularly voted as one of the best theme parks in the world.

Europa Park quickly became a place of innovation, housing many of MACK’s first installations of a new roller coaster models. However, one of the company’s most iconic roller coaster products was first installed outside of their park, at Frontier Village Amusement Park, in California, USA.

The ride, named Apache Whirlwind, became MACK rides first powered coaster in 1976. The model, which often resembles a mine train, features motors embedded within the cars which propels riders along the track. This allows the coaster to climb hills at any point of the layout, leading to many compact designs.

The rides were a huge success during the 1980s and 90s, with many theme parks worldwide installing a MACK powered coaster of some form. Currently 26 powered coasters built by MACK Rides still operate around the globe today. Close to a decade later, the introduction of new roller coaster models returned to Europa Park.

In 1985, MACK Rides debuted Schweizer Bobbahn, the company’s first Bobsled coaster. Unlike conventional roller coasters which feature tube-like track, the MACK bobsled coaster utilises half-pipe shaped track. This allows for riders to climb the sides of the half pipe as they traverse the course, resulting in what seems like a more chaotic experience.

The MACK bobsled coaster has been introduced to several parks around the world, but have since gone out of fashion, with the latest installation occuring in 2001. The introduction of new roller coaster models continued to be relatively slow until the mid-1990s. At this point, MACK Rides began a period of rapid progress.

1996 saw the debut of another iconic model from the amusement ride manufacturer, the steel Wilde Maus. 5 versions of the model were installed in the first year alone. This trend continued on, as other parks invested in these compact rides.

The Wilde Maus , is MACK’s take on the well known wild mouse coaster, which takes rides on a journey through compact turns and sudden drops. The MACK Rides model features small 4 seater trains, which pin riders to the sides of the car as they traverse the tight corners.

The model has been successful, with many parks installing the coaster type due to its compact and affordable nature. The company continued the introduction of new roller coasters models, by constructing Euro Mir, MACK’s first spinning coaster, only a single year later.

Located at Europa Park, Euro Mir became the manufacturer’s take on the widely constructed spinning roller coaster model. Unlike other companies, which opt for individual low capacity trains, MACK’s spinning coasters feature trains comprised on multiple cars. This not only increases the throughput of the ride, but allows for longer sections of

Track between each block section. A year after the introduction of the spinning coaster, saw yet another new MACK rides roller coaster model. In 1998, the company constructed Journey to Atlantis, at Seaworld Orlando, their first Water Coaster. Blending a traditional roller coaster with boat like trains, the MACK water coaster features

8 rider cars which navigate banked sections of track, before splashing down into the water. This allows for the experience to be more thrilling than the conventional boat ride, due to the ability to traverse banked drops, and even airtime hills. The model has been relatively successful, with 8 installations around the globe.

The company’s apparent urge to build more water based attractions led to the creation of another water based roller coaster model 5 years later. In 2003, MACK Rides debuted their first SuperSplash, a roller coaster take on the classic shoot the chutes ride.

Riders are taken up to a great height, before entering a large drop, leading guests into a bed of water below. Unlike MACK’s other water coaster model, the SuperSplash features larger boats, comprised of 16 seats. The ride has performed similar to it’s close relative, with a total of 6 installation worldwide.

However, not all of MACK’s roller coaster model’s have been a success. In 2004, the company debuted the E-motion Coaster, what is essentially a larger version of the manufacturers already successful wilde maus coaster model. The ride, which features 6 seater trains, allows guests to navigate tight corners, as

Well as banked drops and helix sections. Unfortunately, the model never took off. With only two installations worldwide, the E-motion coaster is no longer listed on the MACK Rides website. Nevertheless, in 2006 the company continued to expand its portfolio with the introduction

Of the Youngstar Coaster, MACK’s take on the classic family roller coaster model. The ride features long 9 row trains, as well as sweeping turns, sizeable drops, and helix sections. Due to the competitive nature of the family roller coaster market, the Youngstar coaster hasn’t been a popular MACK Rides model.

However shortly after, the company began the construction of an all new type of roller coaster, one that would change the manufacturer drastically. In 2009, MACK Rides unveiled Blue Fire, their first launch coaster. Blue Fire was a euphoric moment for the company, introducing them to thrill coaster market.

Since its debut, MACK has gone on to produce larger, and more thrilling attractions, all while still having a focus on family friendly attractions. The launch coaster model itself utilises linear synchronous motors, LSMs, to propell riders down the track. The trains can then navigate a series of steep drops, banked turns, and inversions.

With the ride came the introduction of the MACK lap bar, which comfortably and safely holds the rider in place, even when going through loops and other upside down elements. Since Blue Fire, the company has produced several multi-launch coasters, rides featuring more than a single LSM launch.

Well known examples include Helix at Liseberg, and Icon at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. The launch coaster is arguably MACK’s most popular thrill coaster model, with a current 11 installations worldwide. The manufacturer continued to step further into the thrill coaster market only four years later. MACK introduced Storm, at Etnaland, the company’s first Mega Coaster.

The word mega relates to the height of the coaster, standing between 100 and 200ft tall. The MACK rides mega coaster features a vertical chain lift, followed by large drops, airtime hills and quick transitions. Besides the initial lift hill, the model features many similarities to its launch coaster cousin,

Utilising the same track and train design. A single year later, the manufacturer returned to the family market to debut yet another family ride. MACK Rides constructed Arthur at Europa Park in 2014, their first Inverted Powered Coaster. Similar to the company’s other model, the inverted powered coaster features motors within

The trains, allowing it to climb hills during the layout. However, unlike its predecessor, the cars hang below the track, offering a more unique ride experience. The train design allows for the roller coaster to heavily incorporate dark ride sections, as each car can spin independently, allowing guests to view a variety of scenes.

Despite the large potential of these rides, only two have been built, including the original at Europa Park. 2016 was an innovative year for the company, resulting in the introduction of three new roller coaster models, each at different parks around the world. MACK Rides debuted its first Hyper Coaster, BigDipper Coaster, and Powersplash coaster,

All within the same year. Flash at Lewa Adventure became the first of MACK’s hyper coasters, which feature a chain lift hill measuring between 200 and 300ft high. The overall ride experience is similar to the MEGA coaster, featuring drops, turns and inversions. MACK’s BigDipper coaster is a little more unique.

The model features small 8 rider trains, allowing for guests to navigate a tight, and snappy layout. The coaster aims to provide riders with enjoyable thrills in a compact and smaller form factor, which is more affordable for theme parks. Lost Gravity, at Walibi Holland, remains the only one of it’s kind, however, a second

BigDipper coaster is planned for construction in 2019. Finally, the MACK Powersplash modernises the company’s love for water rides in a original and different way. Utilising LSMs, the Powersplash model accelerates riders backwards and forwards through a series of spikes, until they come crashing down into the water below.

Pulsar at Walibi Belgium, currently the only one of it’s kind, thrills riders with fantastic drops, before getting them absolutely soaked. All three of these new models have quickly diversified MACK’s portfolio of roller coasters, each one offering a unique ride compared to the last.

Most recently, the company has set about combining two of its previous models to create an all new experience. In 2018, MACK Rides debuted the Xtreme Spinning Coaster, a model that mixes spinning with inversions. The first and only so far, Time Traveler at Silver Dollar City, features a large 90 degree

Drop, multiple LSM launches, and a variety of loops and other upside down elements. Throughout the layout, the trains spin in a reduced but uncontrolled manor, thus increasing its thrill factor, all while giving guests a unique ride experience each time.

The Xtreme spinning coaster features the same track design as other MACK rides thrill coasters. Each track piece is triangular in shape, consisting of two guide rails, and a third spine rail. These rails are held together by a lattice of triangular cross ties, found on all sides of the track.

A noticeable clue to spot MACK’s track design involves the spine rail. On sections of track with more intense forces, the bottom of a drop for example, the spine rail becomes thicker in shape. This is to accommodate the additional stress placed onto the track.

Despite their large collection of roller coaster models, MACK Rides isn’t only a manufacturer of roller coasters. The company also produces many dark rides, flat rides and transport rides. MACK is a producer of monorail systems, as well as log flumes, scenic boat rides, and interactive boat rides.

These interactive boat rides are the well known splash battles, which allows guests to fire water through guns mounted on board of the ride vehicles. The company is also a manufacturer of classic dark rides, in which guests travel through various scenes in small cars.

To add more excitement to the mix, MACK also offer an interactive version, allowing guests to shoot targets with laser guns along the way. Since the introduction of the MACK Rides launch coaster, the German company has expanded rapidly. The quality and attention to detail given to their attractions ensures that their rides

Are reliable and enjoyable experiences for all. Thought not the cheapest company, MACK has become an obvious choice for theme parks around the world who are willing to spend money on a well rounded addition that everyone can enjoy. The manufacturer’s continued introduction of new models, and current rapid expansion

Into the United States and other regions of the world, makes MACK one of the leading amusement attraction manufacturers, who year on year provide innovative and thrilling rides and roller coasters. Thank you for watching, and I’ll see you all next time.