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[[File:Kingda Ka tower.jpg|thumb|265x265px|Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure, the world's tallest rollercoaster ]]
'''Intamin Amusement Rides''' is a design and manufacturing company in [[Schaan]], [[Liechtenstein]], best-known for designing and constructing [[Amusement ride|thrill rides]] and [[roller coaster]]s at dozens of international [[theme park]]s, [[amusement park]]s and other establishments. The Intamin brand name is a [[syllabic abbreviation]] for "'''int'''ernational '''am'''usement '''in'''stallations". The company has corporate offices across the world, including three in Europe, three in Asia, and two in the United States.
Primarily, Intamin is known for their roller coaster portfolio. Through working closely with their clients, Intamin addresses each project's unique prerequisites; in addition to the basic type of attraction desired, the company assesses the client's property, the surrounding terrain and works within the confines of local regulations, such as building height restrictions, and more. Their roller coaster models range from children's [[Kiddie ride|"kiddie" coasters]] and family-style [[Mine train roller coaster|mine train]]s to some of the tallest and fastest [[steel roller coaster]]s in the world. Intamin has also manufactured pre-fabricated [[wooden roller coaster]] models, a concept which facilitates ease of construction and provides a distinct ride experience. Prefabricated wooden coasters are computer-designed with pre-measured lumber; most traditional wooden coasters are built using hand-measured, manually-cut lumber.
Among the many unique ride concepts and [[Patent|patents]] to their name, Intamin designed and constructed the first-ever river rapids ride (known as [[Thunder River (ride)|Thunder River]]), and marketed the first [[Freefall (ride)|freefall ride]] (developed by [[Giovanola]]) and [[drop tower]].
Beyond roller coasters, Intamin is well-known for their design and construction of [[vertical ride]]s and [[drop tower]]s, [[water ride]]s (including [[log flume]]s and [[river rapids ride|river rapids]]), unique [[Water coaster (roller coaster)|water coaster]]s, immersive [[dark ride]]s, large [[swing ride]]s, and different [[observation tower]] attractions. With such an extensive portfolio, Intamin is known as one of the top most-innovative and sought-after amusement ride firms in operation today. The company has installed scores of roller coasters and other rides in many countries and territories, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, México, Japan, China, Vietnam, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, [[United Arab Emirates]], Turkey, Finland, South Korea, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Guatemala and Poland, among others.
==Products and technologies==
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2015}}
Intamin created the first [[hydraulic]] launch system (known as the [[Accelerator Coaster]]), which catapults roller coaster trains from standstill to speeds upwards of {{Convert|240|km/h}} in a few seconds before climbing to immense heights. [[Kingda Ka]] at [[Six Flags Great Adventure]], for instance, is North America's tallest and fastest coaster, launching riders from 0–{{Convert|128|mi/h|abbr=on}} in 3.5 seconds.<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Records |url=https://www.intamin.com/company/records-awards/world-records/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=Intamin Amusement Rides |language=en-US}}</ref>
Intamin is also known for its massive Mega and Giga Coasters, Intamin's terms for a [[hypercoaster]]. Intamin Giga Coasters (roller coasters between 300 and 399ft) and Mega Coasters (Intamin’s model name for any roller coaster between 100 and 299ft) currently occupy three of the top five [[Golden Ticket Awards]] with perennial favorites [[Millennium Force]], [[Superman the Ride]] and [[Expedition GeForce]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://goldenticketawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/2016-GTA-issue_complete.pdf|title=Cedar Point welcomes 2016 Golden Ticket Awards|date=September 2016|magazine=Amusement Today|access-date=September 11, 2016}}</ref>
Intamin uses computerized and industrialized engineering and manufacturing methods for its wooden coasters, rather than traditional on-site fabrication.<ref name="RC85">{{cite magazine | last1 = Pan | first1 = Phil | year = 2003 | title = Colossos: Can a coaster be too good for itself | journal = RollerCoaster! Magazine |volume = 24| issue = 3 | pages = 24 | publisher=American Coaster Enthusiasts | location=Mission, Kansas | issn = 0896-7261}}</ref> Coasters such as [[Colossos (Heide Park)|Colossos]] at [[Heide Park]], [[Balder (roller coaster)|Balder]] at [[Liseberg]] and [[El Toro (Six Flags Great Adventure)|El Toro]] at [[Six Flags Great Adventure]] utilized this manufacturing technique. Unlike other traditional wood coasters, these rides use prefabricated track sections made of a high-strength wooden laminate that can be secured on-site when the superstructure is completed. This design enables the coaster to reach speeds and navigate course elements smoothly, like a steel roller coaster, while retaining the look and some of the traditional feel of common wooden coasters.<ref name="RC85"/>
Another development by Intamin is the ZacSpin, a type of [[4th Dimension roller coaster]] first seen in 2007. [[Kirnu]] at [[Linnanmäki]] in Finland was the first ZacSpin in the world and opened on April 27, 2007.<ref name="Kirnu">{{cite RCDB|coaster_name=Kirnu|location=Linnanmäki (Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland)|rcdb_number=3613|access-date=December 26, 2018}}</ref> It has individual cars, each with 8 seats, arranged in two pods coming off the sides of the car, each with 2 seats facing forward and two facing backward. This car is either lifted to the highest point by a conventional chain lift, or propelled around the course at a constant speed by a [[Linear Motor]] system.
[[File:Maverick hill Cedar Point.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Maverick (roller coaster)|Maverick]] at [[Cedar Point]]]]
[[File:Hyperion, Energylandia - 2018 Aug 06.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[Hyperion (roller coaster)|Hyperion]] at [[Energylandia]]]]
The company is known for being the original home to [[Bolliger & Mabillard]] (B&M). The two engineers worked for [[Giovanola]] who in turn were frequently contracted by Intamin for their early stand-up roller coasters (Giovanola eventually started producing roller coasters independently). B&M broke away from Giovanola to form their own company which now supplies roller coasters as well. Similarities between the two companies are often apparent, such as the style of track used by B&M, which was used in a number of early Giovanola installations which were contracted by Intamin.
====Ferris wheels====
{{See also|List of Intamin rides|Category:Roller coasters manufactured by Intamin}}
==Incidents==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Accomplishment !! Ride !! Location !! Notes
|-
| 1981 || First wooden coaster built by Intamin || [[American Eagle (roller coaster)|American Eagle]] || [[Six Flags Great America]]||
* When opened it featured the longest drop in the world and fastest speed on a wooden coaster.
|-
| 1985 || First (and only) Spacediver coaster || [[Flashback (Six Flags Magic Mountain)|Z-Force]] || [[Six Flags Great America]], [[Six Flags Over Georgia]], [[Six Flags Magic Mountain]]||
* Opened in '85 at Great America, was relocated to Over Georgia in '88, then to Magic Mountain and opened there as Flashback in '92; demolished and scrapped in mid-December 2007 after sitting idle since 2003
* First coaster to feature four-abreast seating
|-
| 1994 || First and only stand up coaster to feature a Zero G Roll || [[Shockwave (Drayton Manor)|Shockwave]] || [[Drayton Manor Resort]] ||
* The ride closed in November 2023 to be converted to a sit-down coaster
|-
| 1997 || First coaster to go above {{convert|300|ft|m|-1|abbr=on}}<br />First coaster to go {{convert|100|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} || [[Tower of Terror II]] || [[Dreamworld (Australian theme park)|Dreamworld]] ||
* Not a complete circuit; the train does not reach the top of the vertical spike
|-
| 1997 || First coaster with a structure to reach beyond {{convert|400|ft|m|-1|abbr=on}} || [[Superman: Escape from Krypton]] || [[Six Flags Magic Mountain]] ||
* Not a complete circuit; the train does not reach the top of the vertical spike; formerly Superman: the Escape
|-
| 1998 || First [[Linear induction motor|LIM]]-launched inverted coaster<br />First Impulse shuttle coaster || [[Impulse roller coaster|Linear Gale]] || [[Tokyo Dome City]] ||
* Closed in 2010 and subsequently removed
|-
| 1998 || First complete-circuit, LIM-launched inverted coaster || [[Volcano, The Blast Coaster]] || [[Kings Dominion]] ||
* Fastest inverted coaster at {{convert|70|mi/h|km/h|-1|abbr=on}} when first opened
* Closed in 2018
|-
| 2000 || First Giga Coaster (over 300 ft)<br />First coaster to drop {{convert|300|ft|m|-1|abbr=on}} || [[Millennium Force]] || [[Cedar Point]] ||
* First complete circuit coaster to stand over 300 ft (310 ft)
* Drop is exactly {{convert|300|ft|m|-1|abbr=on}}
|-
| 2000 || First LIM-launched Twisted Impulse coaster || [[Possessed (roller coaster)|Possessed]] || [[Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom]] ||
* Previously operated at [[Geauga Lake]] as Superman: Ultimate Escape and Steel Venom
|-
|2000|| First Stand Up Drop Tower || [[Apocalypse (Drayton Manor)|Apocalypse]] || [[Drayton Manor]] ||
*5 Towers with 3 stand up towers & 2 sit down towers
*Tower 5 was modified in 2002 to feature the World's First Stand Up Floorless drop tower
*The ride was closed in 2022
|-
| 2001 || First coaster to utilize a LIM launch hill || [[Incredicoaster|California Screamin']] || [[Disney California Adventure Park]] ||
* Has a magnetic launch followed by a magnetic non-cable/chain lift hill (this, along with scream tunnels, was done to reduce noise)
* Currently the longest coaster with inversions
|-
| 2001 || First wooden coaster with prefabricated track || [[Colossos (Heide Park)|Colossos]] || [[Heide Park]] ||
|-
| 2002 || First coaster to do 10 inversions || [[Colossus (Thorpe Park)|Colossus]] || [[Thorpe Park]] ||
* Has 10 inversions - in order: 1 Loop, 1 Cobra Roll (counts as 2), 2 Corkscrews, and 5 [[heartline roll]]s
|-
| 2002 || First hydraulic catapult launch coaster || [[Xcelerator]] || [[Knott's Berry Farm]]
||
* Accelerates from 0 to 82 miles per hour, covering 157 feet of launch track, in just 2.3 seconds.
|-
| 2003 || First Strata coaster (over 400 ft) || [[Top Thrill Dragster]] || [[Cedar Point]] ||
* Tallest and fastest coaster in the world when opened at {{convert|420|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} and {{convert|120|mi/h|km/h|-1|abbr=on}}
|-
| 2004 || First accelerator coaster to feature inversions || [[Storm Runner]] || [[Hersheypark]] ||
* Reaches a height of 150 ft and catapults riders from 0 to 72 mph in 2 seconds
* Features a top hat and three inversions
|-
| 2005 || World's tallest coaster (2005–present); was world's fastest coaster (2005–2010) || [[Kingda Ka]] || [[Six Flags Great Adventure]] ||
* 456 feet high; launch speed {{convert|128|mi/h|km/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| 2007 || First [[4th Dimension roller coaster|4th Dimension design]] ZacSpin Coaster by Intamin<br />First Intamin coaster to include curved hydraulic chain lift hill || [[Kirnu]] || [[Linnanmäki]] ||
* First compact 4-D coaster in the world
* Features redesigned restraints (lap bar with safety belt shoulder harness system) and non-friction magnetic brakes
|-
| 2007 || Intamin's first Wing Rider<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intaminworldwide.com/amusement/RollerCoasters/Wing+Rider+Coaster/tabid/138/ProductNumber/Wing+Rider+Coaster/language/de-DE/Default.aspx|title=Wing Rider Coaster|access-date=2014-01-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130920180628/http://www.intaminworldwide.com/amusement/RollerCoasters/Wing+Rider+Coaster/tabid/138/ProductNumber/Wing+Rider+Coaster/language/de-DE/Default.aspx|archive-date=2013-09-20|url-status=dead}}</ref> coaster|| [[Furius Baco]] || [[PortAventura Park]] at [[PortAventura World]] ||
* Accelerates from 0 to {{Convert|135|km/h|abbr=on}} in 3.5 seconds
* Was fastest coaster in Europe until 2017.
|-
| 2008 || At 97 degrees, steepest drop of all Intamin coasters || [[Fahrenheit (roller coaster)|Fahrenheit]] || [[Hersheypark]] ||
* Ascends chain lift hill at a 90-degree angle
* Features a 121-foot Norwegian loop and six inversions
|-
| 2008 || Record holder at the time for the steepest wooden coaster in the world<br />Currently the highest, fastest, longest coaster in South Korea || [[T Express (Everland)|T Express]] || [[Everland]] ||
* Maximum 77 degrees
* Height 183.75 ft (56.01m)
* Top speed 64.6 mph (104 km/h)
* Length 5383.10 ft (1641m)
* 12 airtime hills
|-
| 2010 || World's first freefall drop coaster || [[Thirteen (roller coaster)|Thirteen]] || [[Alton Towers]] ||
* Horizontal track falls vertically down in the crypt
* Train is launched into a backward helix after drop.
|-
| 2010 || Current record holder for the world's fastest coaster || [[Formula Rossa]] || [[Ferrari World]] || |
* Top speed {{convert|150|mi/h|km/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| 2011 || First ZacSpin built in the U.S. ||[[Green Lantern: First Flight (Six Flags Magic Mountain)|Green Lantern: First Flight]] || [[Six Flags Magic Mountain]] || |
* Closed in 2017, subsequently relocated to La Ronde, scheduled to open as Vipère for the 2020 season. The project was eventually scrapped in 2022.
|-
| 2014 || First Special Effects Coaster/Dark Ride Hybrid || [[Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts]] || [[Universal Studios Florida]] || |
|-
|-
| 2014 || First Drop Tower to tilt riders 90 degrees toward the ground || [[Falcon's Fury]] || [[Busch Gardens Tampa Bay]] || |
* Currently North America's tallest freestanding drop tower
* Tilts rider face down and drops them at speeds of {{convert|60|mph|m/s|abbr=off}}
|-
| 2016 || Fastest multi-launch coaster (forward only)|| [[Taron (roller coaster)|Taron]] || [[Phantasialand]] ||
* Multi-launch coaster
* Held three world records at opening: Fastest multi-launch coaster, longest multi-launch coaster without inversions, greatest number of intersecting track points at 58 .<ref name=RCDB-speed>{{cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/r.htm?ty=1&el=12170&order=-19&ot=2|website=rcdb.com|title=Roller Coaster Search Results, Element=LSM launch, sorted by speed|access-date=December 1, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| 2016 || Fastest multi-launch coaster (bi-directional)||Soaring with Dragon ||Hefei Wanda Theme Park ||
* Fastest multi-launch coaster at 77.7 mph (train is launched three times — forward, backward and forward again).<ref name=RCDB-speed/>
|-
| 2017 || Fastest LSM-launch coaster|| [[Red Force (roller coaster)|Red Force]] || [[Ferrari Land]] at [[PortAventura World]] ||
* Currently fastest LSM-launched coaster in the world.<ref name=RCDB-speed/>
|-
|2019
|Most LSM-Launches on a rollercoaster
|[[Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure]]
|[[The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Universal Orlando Resort)|Hogsmeade]] at [[Universal Islands of Adventure|Universal's Islands of Adventure]]
|
* When it opened, it was the worlds most expensive coaster at a whopping $300 Million
* It features 7 launches on the ride with a max speed of 50 mph
|-
| 2021 || First [[single-rail roller coaster]] for Intamin. || Big Dipper || [[Luna Park Sydney]] ||
* Hot Racer model<ref name="SMH 2020">{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/big-dipper-to-return-as-sydney-s-luna-park-gets-30-million-overhaul-20201124-p56he1.html|title='Big Dipper' to return as Sydney's Luna Park gets $30 million overhaul|date=24 November 2020|last=Gorrey|first=Megan|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|publisher=[[Nine Entertainment Co.]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124023751/https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/big-dipper-to-return-as-sydney-s-luna-park-gets-30-million-overhaul-20201124-p56he1.html|archive-date=24 November 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="RCDB Big Dipper">{{cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/18808.htm|title=Big Dipper – Luna Park|last=Marden|first=Duane|work=[[Roller Coaster DataBase]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124204855/https://rcdb.com/18808.htm|archive-date=24 November 2020|url-status=live|access-date=25 November 2020}}</ref>
|-
|}
==Safety incidents==
{{undue weight|section|date=February 2023}}
{{See also|Amusement park accidents}}
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* In June 2007, a 13-year-old girl lost both feet at the ankles on Superman: Tower of Power, at [[Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom]], when a ride malfunction and improper maintenance caused a cable to snap.<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2008-04-14 |title=Deposition: Maintenance Guide Ignored on Ride that Injured Kentucky Teen |url=https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2008/04/15/89148.htm |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=Insurance Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> She was brought to the hospital in critical condition,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna19370592|title=Teen's feet severed while on thrill ride - US news - Life - NBC News|work=NBC News|date=22 June 2007 }}</ref> but survived, with doctors being able to re-attach her right foot. The park was later fined $1,000 for not properly maintaining the ride; an undisclosed settlement was later reached with Six Flags, which will provide for her for the remainder of her life.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/articles/amusement-park-accident/amusement-park-accident-theme-accidents-10-16244.html|title=Aftermath of a Horrific Amusement Park Accident|author=Gordon Gibb|date=14 March 2011|publisher=lawyersandsettlements.com|access-date=24 December 2012}}</ref>
* On September 16, 2009, two guests were injured when a cable snapped on [[Xcelerator]] at [[Knott's Berry Farm]]. The train launches riders from 0 to 80 miles per hour in a matter of seconds, ascends a vertical top-hat, and descends down the other side. The 12-year-old victim had [[wound|lacerations]] on his leg, while the adult victim complained of back injuries.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local-beat/Knotts-Berry-Farm-Rollercoaster-Accident-Injures-Guests-59751017.html|title=Caught on Tape: Coaster Attacks Two at Knott's Berry Farm|publisher=NBC Los Angeles|author=Scott Weber|date=2009-09-18|access-date=2009-09-18}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
* On April 29, 2010, a ride train on [[Expedition GeForce]] partially derailed from the track, fully occupied with passengers. Riders were stranded 20m in the air, with eight of them complaining of nausea and bruising.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bild.de/news/leserreporter/leserreporter/in-holiday-park-hassloch-12375060.bild.html|title= FULL STEAM OUT OF THE TRACK POPPED: AGONY IN THE ROLLER COASTER|author=Bild.de|date=29 April 2010}}</ref>
* On July 7, 2014, a teenager was killed after his harness sprung open on Inferno, a ZacSpin [[fourth-dimension roller coaster]] at [[Terra Mítica]] in [[Benidorm, Spain]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/british-teenager-killed-after-being-3825478|title=Teenager killed after being thrown from roller-coaster called Hell at Benidorm theme park|author=Gerard Couzens|date=8 July 2014|work=mirror}}</ref>
* On May 9, 2017, an 11-year-old girl, Evha Jannath, died from her injuries after she fell from the Splash Canyon ride and into the water at [[Drayton Manor Theme Park]] in [[England]]. The water ride has remained closed for the foreseeable future, following the HSE safety examination.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39862996 |title=Girl, 11, dies after Drayton Manor theme park fall |publisher=BBC}}</ref>
*On July 3, 2021, an 11-year-old boy died and five others were injured on the Raging River at Adventureland Park in Altoona, Iowa when their raft flipped over. The raft was found to be under inflated by the park staff, and the ride's emergency drainage system failed due to lack of maintenance. <ref>{{Cite web|title=Parents speak out after 11-year-old son killed at amusement park: 'It is a nightmare'|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/parents-speak-out-after-11-year-old-son-killed-at-amusement-park-it-is-a-nightmare/ar-AALPKoC?li=BBnb7Kz|access-date=2021-07-07|website=www.msn.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Spencer |date=2021-07-21 |title=Lack of Maintenance and Disregard for Industry-Recommended Safety Procedures May Have Contributed… |url=https://medium.com/@spennydc/lack-of-maintenance-and-disregard-for-industry-recommended-safety-procedures-may-have-contributed-bfe6a22cd232 |access-date=2023-05-09 |website=Medium |language=en}}</ref>
<!-- Please DO NOT add the 25 October 2016 Thunder River Rapids Ride incident at Dreamworld, Queensland. No sources confirm Intamin was the ride manufacturer -->
*On August 15, 2021, a female guest was seriously injured while standing in line at Cedar Point when a metal object dislodged from Top Thrill Dragster and struck her in the head.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Guest struck by metal piece that fell off roller coaster at Cedar Point |url=https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/2021/08/16/guest-struck-metal-piece-fell-off-roller-coaster-cedar-point/8147199002/ |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=Akron Beacon Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> The ride was shut down following the incident, and remained standing but not operating until Cedar Point announced its retirement in 2022, with plans of an updated ride experience.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cedar Point permanently closing Top Thrill Dragster, world's second-tallest roller coaster |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/cedar-point-permanently-closing-top-thrill-dragster/ |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=www.cbsnews.com |date=6 September 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref>
*On April 7, 2023, two female guests were injured at Futuroscope, France when a lithium battery on a train car caught fire. The guests suffered burns and were hospitalised. Park employees exposed to lithium fumes were treated on premises. The ride has been closed since.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Attraction Objectif Mars prend feu et blesse deux femmes |url=https://twitter.com/futuroscope/status/1644325970726252550?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1644325970726252550%7Ctwgr%5E48759054d54043ab19e50aa62962df3ed365bfff%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.20minutes.fr%2Ffaits_divers%2F4031735-20230407-poitiers-wagon-attraction-objectif-mars-prend-feu-futuroscope-deux-femmes-blessees |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=twitter |language=fr-FR}}</ref>
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