Intamin

Intamin was founded in 1967 by Walter Bürki, initially producing tow boats and cable cars before entering the amusement industry. Its first major breakthrough came in the 1970s with the development of the first stand-up roller coaster, the "B&R" model, and later the first inverted coaster in 1992. Intamin also introduced the first hydraulic launch coaster, "Dragster" at Cedar Point in 2003, which set a world record for height and speed at the time. The company has since pioneered cable lift systems, beyond-vertical drops, and the world's tallest and fastest roller coasters, including Kingda Ka (2005) and Formula Rossa (2010).

Intamin has produced numerous record-breaking attractions. Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure held the title of world's tallest roller coaster (139 m) from 2005 until 2021. Formula Rossa at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is the fastest roller coaster, reaching 240 km/h. The company also built the first strata coaster, Top Thrill Dragster, and the first giga coaster, Millennium Force (2000), which pioneered the cable lift hill. Other notable installations include the Intamin drop tower "Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom" (2014) and the water coaster "Poseidon" at Europa-Park. These rides have influenced industry trends toward extreme height and speed.

Intamin is known for its innovative engineering, including hydraulic and electromagnetic launch systems, as well as its proprietary "Mega Coaster" track design. The company has faced scrutiny over safety incidents, including a fatal accident on the "Rita" coaster at Alton Towers in 2015, which led to a temporary closure and increased safety protocols. Intamin has since implemented redundant braking systems and improved restraint designs. Its rides are used in major parks such as Cedar Point, Six Flags, and Universal Studios, and the company continues to develop new ride concepts, including the "Hot Racer" and "Mega-Lite" models for smaller parks.

Beyond roller coasters, Intamin has built transportation systems, including the "Intamin People Mover" used at airports and the "Flying Theater" ride systems. The company also produced the first vertical drop coaster, "Oblivion" at Alton Towers (1998), and the first wing coaster, "Raptor" at Gardaland (2011). Intamin's lesser-known contributions include the "Gyro Drop" tower and the "Splash Battle" water ride. The company has also collaborated with artists and designers, such as the "Mystic River Falls" at Silver Dollar City, which uses a unique turntable station. Intamin's rides are often praised for their smoothness and airtime, but the company has also been criticized for maintenance costs and downtime.

Strata coaster

A roller coaster with a height or drop of over 400 feet (122 m).

Giga coaster

A roller coaster with a height or drop of 300 to 399 feet (91–122 m).

Hydraulic launch

A launch system using hydraulic motors to accelerate a train rapidly.