What Preston & Barbieri does

Preston & Barbieri s.r.l. is an Italian amusement ride manufacturer founded in 1954 and headquartered in Reggio Emilia, Italy, operating as a private limited company under the Pleiadi Srl holding group. The company designs, manufactures, and installs a portfolio of more than 50 different rides spanning bumper cars (Mini, Midi, Maxi), roller coasters (Splash, Double, Spinning, Wild Mouse, Junior, Family), water rides (Rapid River, Harakiri, Flume, Splash Battle), family rides (Musik Express, Flying Swinger, Carousel, Dark Ride, Monorail, Safari, Rotor, etc.), and thrill rides (Booster, Jupiter, Saltamontes, Scary Drop), as well as second-hand attractions. Production is anchored in a 20,000 sq meter (12,000 covered) in-house manufacturing facility supplemented by nearby branches for FRP plastic and electrical components, employing advanced techniques including 7-axis Kuka robot milling, CNC, 3D printing, and hyper-realistic VR rendering for client pre-visualization. The company also offers a turnkey full-park development service covering analysis, design, construction, certification, and staff training, alongside recurring after-sales maintenance, spare parts, and technical support.

Revenue is generated through one-time sales of custom-manufactured rides, second-hand ride sales, and professional services including multi-year after-sales maintenance contracts and managed turnkey park development engagements. The go-to-market is sales-led and enterprise-focused, with direct engagement through trade shows (IAAPA events across Orlando, Barcelona, Shanghai, and Abu Dhabi; DEAL Dubai; IISA Gibsonton; San Fermín Pamplona) and website-driven contact forms targeting theme park operators, amusement park owners, family entertainment centers, and traveling funfair operators worldwide. Marquee customers include Mirabilandia, Phantasialand, Energylandia, Cavallino Matto, Zoomarine, and Trimper's Rides. The company employs approximately 70 people, holds EN 13814, EN 60204, and ISO 9001 certifications, and is led by CEO Paola Barbieri.

Name

Preston & Barbieri

Legal name

Preston & Barbieri s.r.l.

Website

https://prestonbarbieri.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Preston & Barbieri is an Italian amusement ride manufacturer founded in 1954, designing and producing 50+ custom roller coasters, water rides, family rides, and bumper cars for theme parks, family entertainment centers, and funfair operators worldwide from its Reggio Emilia facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Amusement Ride Manufacturing

NAICS

Doll, Toy, and Game Manufacturing (339930)

SIC

Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Destination Theme Parks (Large-Scale, Multi-Attraction Parks) (THAJAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Amusement Parks & Theme Parks (THAAAAAA), Amusement Parks (Regional/Local Ride Parks & Funfairs) (THAJAEAD)

Keywords

• Amusement ride manufacturing
• Theme park equipment
• Roller coaster design
• Bumper car production
• Turnkey park development

Headquarters

HQ city

Reggio Nell'emilia

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Amusement Ride Manufacturing and Sales: Manufacturing and selling custom amusement rides including bumper cars, roller coasters, water rides, family rides, and thrill rides. Revenue generated from one-time equipment sales with comprehensive customization options for theme parks and funfairs worldwide.
2. After-Sales Service and Maintenance: Comprehensive after-sales services including yearly maintenance, spare parts replacement, installation support with expert technicians, and technical assistance for installed rides.
3. Full Park Development: Turnkey solutions for designing and developing entire amusement parks, covering analysis, planning, design, construction, installation, testing, certifications, and staff training from concept to opening.
4. Second-Hand/Pre-Owned Rides: Sale of pre-owned or refurbished amusement rides such as the Meteora trailer-mounted attraction, providing more affordable options for operators.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Preston & Barbieri designs, manufactures, and installs custom amusement rides for theme parks and funfairs worldwide. The portfolio includes more than 50 different ride types spanning bumper cars, family rides, roller coasters, water rides, and thrill rides, complemented by turnkey full-park development, customization/design engineering, and after-sales maintenance services.

Product overview

Preston & Barbieri is an Italian amusement ride manufacturer founded in 1954, offering a comprehensive portfolio of over 50 different rides for theme parks and funfairs worldwide. The product lineup includes Bumper Cars (Mini, Midi, Maxi models with various power configurations including battery-powered options with interactive gaming features), Roller Coasters (Splash Coaster, Double Coaster, Spinning Coaster, Wild Mouse, Junior Coaster, Family Coaster), Water Rides (Rapid River, Harakiri, Flume Ride, Splash Battle Rail), Family Rides (Musik Express, Flying Swinger, Carousel in multiple sizes, Daytona, Dark Ride, Monorail, Deep Water, Eureka, Crazy Cup, Jumper, Mini Pirates Ship, Mini Tower, Tower, Mini Ferris Wheel, Safari, Rotor), and Thrill Rides (Booster, Jupiter, Scary Drop, Saltamontes). The company also offers Second-Hand rides and provides comprehensive services including Customization & Design (leveraging 7-axis Kuka robots, 3D printing, CNC milling, and VR visualization), After Sales Service (maintenance programs, technician support, spare parts), and Full Park Development (turnkey solutions from concept to opening).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mini Bumper Cars
• Midi Bumper Cars Medium-sized bumper cars seating two children or one adult and one child, with RGB lighting and interactive light effects, available in Floor Pickup, Ceiling Pickup, or Battery-Powered configurations.
• Maxi Bumper Cars Largest adult bumper cars seating up to two adults, with battery-powered (including lithium) options in Floor or Ceiling Pickup configurations, and Next Generation models with brushless motors, real-time tracking, and projection mapping for interactive gaming.
• Splash Coaster Compact high-energy family water coaster combining roller coaster thrills with water ride elements, featuring dynamic drops, engaging turns, water splash finale, and corrosion-resistant materials.
• Double Coaster Head-to-head racing roller coaster with two trains on parallel tracks, dynamic track switching, maximum 45 km/h speed, 720-meter track, 1000 PPH capacity, and 6 operational trains; ISO 9001 certified.
• Spinning Coaster Gravity-driven roller coaster where each passenger unit rotates on a vertical axis triggered by load imbalances, accommodating 16 riders across 4 units with magnetic brakes and four pre-programmed modes.
• Wild Mouse Compact family-friendly roller coaster with multi-level steel track, twisting turns, sharp curves, dramatic drops, self-locking lap bars, PLC-controlled systems, and full theme customization.
• Junior Coaster Family-friendly gravity roller coaster with maximum 13-meter height, self-standing or foundation-mounted options, compact 4-seat train, and configurable shared or individual lap bars.
• Family Coaster Classic gravity roller coaster for families with maximum 25-meter height, 4-seat train with individual lap bar restraints, chain lift ascent, and gravity-driven descent compliant with local regulations.
• Rapid River White-water rafting attraction with eight 4-seat rafts on a 321-meter channel, powered water jets creating waves, reinforced rafts, integrated safety systems, and closed-circuit water design.
• Harakiri Water slide with four parallel lanes rising to 11.80 meters, 100-meter track, 120-second ride cycle, sturdy steel framework, and 84 x 12 meter footprint.
• Flume Ride Classic water ride with eight 4-seat boats on a 187-meter channel, 47.50 x 18.60-meter footprint, steel and fiberglass structure, efficient pumping/filtration, and advanced lift/braking mechanisms.
• Splash Battle Rail Interactive water adventure with guided rail through splash effects and targets, 150-second cycle, onboard water cannons, and 205-meter track with advanced propulsion maintaining consistent boat spacing.
• Musik Express Flat ride with circular undulating track and alternating depressions, cars connected to a central rotating mechanism with bi-directional rotation, enhanced with music and vibrant lighting.
• Flying Swinger Thrill ride with suspended chairs creating wave-like motion through dual rotational movements and 14-degree column inclination, accommodating up to 64 seats with hand-painted Italian craftsmanship.
• Carousel Classic merry-go-round available in 5m to 15m diameter sizes with variable speed drive, wooden floors, and options including double-deck configurations and domes, capacities 20 to 92 seats.
• Daytona Interactive racing circuit with double curvy parallel track, themed cars styled after 1950s race cars/ATVs/jeeps, skill-based driving with LED dashboard, speed indicator, and seatbelt warning light.
• Dark Ride Interactive indoor attraction combining art, story, and engineering, with passengers using hand-held or vehicle-mounted light guns to shoot targets triggering animated effects, featuring multi-axis motion vehicles and 4D effects.
• Monorail Elevated transportation and entertainment system with fully powered suspended design and themed gondolas accommodating up to six adults, custom track layouts, and 900 PPH throughput.
• Deep Water
• Eureka Interactive family ride with six gondolas attached to a central column where hydraulic arms lift passengers to simulate flight, with rider-controlled ascent and descent via lever.
• Crazy Cup Spinning cup ride with rotating platform featuring four smaller turntables and up to 12 spinning cups, each holding up to 5 passengers who control rotation via central steering wheel.
• Jumper Bouncing carousel ride with drop-like sensations through dynamic up-and-down movement of 14 electronically controlled movable arms, PLC-controlled with secure lap bar restraint system.
• Mini Pirates Ship Compact swinging ride with galleon-shaped gondola supported by four-column structure, oscillating up to 70 degrees using gravity alone, accommodating 24 passengers with maximum 36 km/h speed.
• Mini Tower Compact free-fall ride with maximum 7.5-meter height, 6 riders per cycle in a 3.65 x 3.2m footprint, programmable ascent/descent, permanent magnetic brakes, and 90 riders per hour capacity.
• Tower Tower Giant free-fall attraction reaching up to 13 meters with gondolas ascending at extreme speed, panoramic views, programmable drop patterns, magnetic braking, and 240 riders per hour capacity.
• Mini Ferris Wheel Scaled-down panoramic wheel 4-6 meters tall with six suspended gondolas accommodating 24 children or 12 adults, powder-coated steel structure, low-consumption motor, and multicolored LED lighting.
• Rotor Classic centrifugal thrill ride with large vertical spinning cylinder spinning at approximately 30 rpm generating nearly 3G force, with floor dropping away while passengers remain pressed against the wall, supporting 24 passengers.
• Safari Family-friendly off-road adventure with electric-powered jeeps following a guided track, immersive theming, synchronized sound effects, and optional animatronic animals or onboard laser guns.
• Booster High-profile thrill ride with imposing dimensions and cutting-edge LED illumination, featuring back-to-back seating on free-spinning vehicles with the booster arm performing swift rotations and vehicle loops.
• Jupiter Dynamic pendulum ride with three inclined columns, rotating arm, and 24-seat circular gondola propelled by DC motor through complete 360-degree rotation exceeding gravitational pull, with gondola rotating up to 12 rpm producing approximately 4.0G.
• Scary Drop Round Up Ride Classic thrill ride combining speed, motion, and spin with motor-driven rotation creating weightlessness via centrifugal force, featuring pivoting arms, rotating platform, and high-performance motors delivering high G-forces.
• Saltamontes Advanced thrill ride in permanent park (up to 14 arms) and traveling shows (two-trailer transport) versions, with bidirectional rotation, programmable arm movements, and kamikaze effect creating up to 5.7G of force; hourly capacity up to 840 passengers per hour.
• Meteora (Second-Hand) Pre-owned trailer-mounted attraction approximately 20 years old with 23 units and 49 total seating capacity, quick 2.5-hour assembly, 11.20m x 9.60m footprint, fully trailer-mounted for practical transport.
• Customization & Design Services Complete customization of attractions from roller coasters to children's rides, including total shape and color customization using RAL and NCS standards, hyper-realistic VR experiences, 7-axis Kuka robot milling, 3D printing for prototypes, and CNC milling combined with 3D printing.
• After Sales Service Comprehensive aftersale services including one maintenance program for rides, expert technician installation support, yearly maintenance, spare parts replacement, and complete project documentation including technical drawings, risk analysis, safety documentation, and manuals.
• Full Park Development Turnkey solution for designing and developing entire amusement parks, covering analysis and planning, design and development, construction and installation, testing and certifications, with site study, market analysis, concept development, 3D renderings, scenic lighting, and staff training.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 50 attractions installed worldwide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Barbieri Bumper CarsminorOthersRelated company/part of Our Group under Preston & Barbieri s.r.l. family of companies.
• G.S.P.minorOthersRelated company/part of Our Group under Preston & Barbieri s.r.l. family of companies.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Antonio Zamperla S.p.A. Italy's largest amusement ride manufacturer, also based in northern Italy. Zamperla is the closest direct peer to Preston & Barbieri - both design and manufacture customized rides (roller coasters, flat rides, family rides) for theme parks and traveling fairs worldwide, share Italian manufacturing heritage, and compete head-to-head for global theme park projects. Zamperla is significantly larger in scale and brand recognition.
• Mondial Rides: Netherlands-based manufacturer of family rides, thrill rides, and observation attractions. Mondial competes directly with Preston & Barbieri in the European custom ride market for theme parks, FECs, and traveling fairs, with shared emphasis on iconic observation wheels and tower rides.
• Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. Netherlands-based manufacturer of steel roller coasters, family rides, and dark rides, now part of Sansei Technologies. Vekoma directly competes with Preston & Barbieri in the custom coaster and family ride space, supplying major European and international theme park operators including Legoland and Disney.
• Larson International: American manufacturer of family rides, roller coasters, and water rides based in Plainview, Texas. Larson operates in a similar niche to Preston & Barbieri - producing customized amusement rides for theme parks worldwide with focus on family and intermediate-thrill categories, including the popular Giant Frisbee and Looping Starship.
• Gerstlauer Amusement Rides GmbH: German manufacturer specializing in steel roller coasters and spinning/compact coasters. Like Preston & Barbieri, Gerstlauer focuses on customized coaster segments with a strong European manufacturing base and serves global theme park customers including Six Flags and Efteling.
• Chance Rides Manufacturing: US-based family-owned manufacturer of flat rides, carousels, and roller coasters. Similar to Preston & Barbieri's combination of heritage, family ownership, and broad ride portfolio, Chance serves North American theme parks and traveling fairs with custom and pre-engineered ride solutions including the popular Trabant and Yo-Yo rides.
• Mack Rides GmbH & Co KG: German family-owned manufacturer of amusement rides and roller coasters with 140+ years of heritage (and operator of Europa-Park). Mack Rides and Preston & Barbieri both manufacture full ride portfolios (coasters, family rides, water rides) for theme park operators and emphasize customization, in-house production, and after-sales services.
• Huss Park Attractions GmbH: Long-established German manufacturer of flat rides (carousels, swinging chairs, wave swingers, towers). Huss and Preston & Barbieri both compete in the flat-ride space (Carousel, Flying Swinger, Tower, Rotor) and share the heritage European ride manufacturer profile with global customer reach.
• Technical Park S.r.l. Italian manufacturer of adventure parks and amusement rides headquartered near Rimini. Technical Park operates with similar heritage and customer base to Preston & Barbieri - serving theme parks, adventure parks, and family entertainment centers with custom ride engineering and installation.

Broad incumbents

• Premier Rides Inc. Maryland-based roller coaster manufacturer specializing in high-thrill launch coasters (linear synchronous motor and hydraulic). While more narrowly focused than Preston & Barbieri, Premier competes for major coaster contracts within the same theme park operator customer base served by P&B.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/prestonbarbieri
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/prestonbarbieri

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Preston & Barbieri