News Article Interview With Walter Bolliger of Bolliger and Mabillard

[THE_BEASTmaster]

Thought this was a good read about B&M.

http://www.newsparcs.com/en/article/00006007-how_bolliger_mabillard_established_its_strong_reputation_interview_with_director_walter_bolliger

[thekidd33]

Saw this earlier today, interesting article, thanks for posting.

[westcoaster]

Thanks for posting:

[jcgoble3]

I found this particularly interesting:

Concerning future developments, Bolliger & Mabillard will not refuse to embark on the project of a launch coaster, a technology proposed by all its competitors and for which he made a hybrid creation (Incredible Hulk) for Universal's Islands of Adventure back in 1999. "If a customer comes to us to design a launch coaster, we will respond to him favorably. The technology is easily adaptable to our products and tracks as the LSM motors can be easily found on the market, and they are very efficient!" states Walter Bolliger.

B&M is willing to do a launched coaster if asked. I had thought that it had previously been said on here that B&M would not do launched coasters due to reliability issues. If so, they appear to have changed their tune.

[coasterfanatic83]

They said the same thing about 300+ foot coasters, but we have Leviathan. B&M seems to be adapting to fit the competition...

[TTD-120-420]

The way I read it I thought he meant they will design a coaster to have a launch, but the launch mechanism will have to come from a different company.

"The technology is easily adaptable to our products and tracks as the LSM motors can be easily found on the market"

In my opinion, he is saying if a park wants a launch on their coasters it is possible. We have known this since Hulk was built. I don't see anything different happening.

[kblanken]

"When we design a new attraction for one of our clients, we work first and foremost on the layout of the track with a sequence of elements that begins by pleasing ourselves..."


(edit to add what I forgot to add): This sounds amusing.

[stashua123]

I don't really see b&m making a new launched coaster because launching isn't as big of a thing anymore.(no offense)

[kblanken]

I don't really see b&m making a new launched coaster because launching isn't as big of a thing anymore.(no offense)

6 Flags seems to think it is still big.

[stashua123]

That's true^^^

[TTD-120-420]

Isn't a big thing anymore? Since when? Two years ago?

Maverick, Cheetah Hunt, Full Throttle, Verbolten, Manta (San Diego), almost every recent Mack ride. I don't think it's dying.

[kblanken]

Also: Sky Rocket (Kennywood), Superman's Final Flight (SDDK), Wicked (Lagoon), and dozens of coasters in other countries.