What Gerstlauer Amusement Rides does

Gerstlauer Amusement Rides GmbH is a privately held, family-owned German manufacturer of stationary and transportable amusement rides, founded in 1982 by Hubert Gerstlauer and headquartered in Münsterhausen, Bavaria. The company designs, engineers, fabricates, and commissions custom roller coasters, flat rides, and giant wheels for amusement parks, theme parks, and traveling-fair operators across six continents. Its product range spans nine coaster types (Infinity, Infinity Inverted, Euro-Fighter, Airtime, Family, Family Suspended, Spinning, Bobsled, and Bob Coasters), four interactive flat rides (Sky Fly, Sky Roller, Sky Racer, Polyp), giant wheels from 40 m to 60 m, and supporting components such as replacement trains, transport systems, control systems, and a co-developed Slide Wheel. The firm is the holder of multiple Guinness World Records, including the steepest roller coaster (Takabisha, 121° in 2011; TMNT Shellraiser, 121.5° in 2019) and the first Infinity Coaster with 14 inversions (The Smiler at Alton Towers, 2013).

The company's manufacturing stack is built around laser measurement-supported rail production for precision curved-track fabrication, EN 1090-2 EXC4-certified welding, proprietary safety PLCs with fail-safe magnetic brakes and electronic seat-belt monitoring, and full factory pre-assembly and testing before site delivery. Quality and safety systems are audited across EN 13814, ASTM F2291, AS 3533, GOST R 53488, and GB 8408 by independent bodies including TÜV (Süd, Nord, Rheinland, Thüringen, Nederland), NJ Amusement Ride Safety, R.J. Associates, and CSEI, enabling worldwide deployment from a single engineering base.

Gerstlauer operates a B2B, project-based revenue model with two streams: (1) one-time custom ride manufacturing fees covering design, engineering, fabrication, assembly, commissioning, and training, and (2) a long-tail aftermarket service, spare-parts, and maintenance business that runs across the multi-decade operational life of each installed unit. Sales are executed through a network of regional channel partners in Europe, North America, and Japan, supplemented by direct sales from Münsterhausen for South America and Africa, and supported by an active presence at IAAPA trade shows. Pricing is quote-based, non-public, and negotiated per project. The firm is family-owned, with Hubert Gerstlauer as founder and Siegfried Gerstlauer as co-Managing Director alongside him since 2007; there is no external institutional ownership in the available data.

Name

Gerstlauer Amusement Rides

Legal name

Gerstlauer Amusement Rides GmbH

Website

https://gerstlauer-rides.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gerstlauer Amusement Rides is a family-owned German manufacturer founded in 1982 that designs, fabricates, and commissions custom roller coasters, interactive flat rides, and giant wheels for amusement and theme parks and traveling-fair operators across six continents, with worldwide safety certification and full aftermarket service.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Amusement Ride Manufacturing

NAICS

Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries (713), All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (71399)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Amusement Parks & Theme Parks (THAAAAAA)

Keywords

• Roller coaster manufacturing
• Amusement ride systems
• Flat ride design
• Giant wheel construction
• Ride control systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Münsterhausen

HQ country

Germany

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, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom amusement ride manufacturing and sales: Project-based custom manufacturing of roller coasters and amusement rides. Each ride is individually designed, engineered, and manufactured to customer specifications. Revenue is generated through one-time project fees covering design, manufacturing, assembly, commissioning, and training.
2. Aftermarket service, spare parts, and maintenance: Service, aftersales support, spare parts guarantee, and maintenance services for the complete lifecycle of rides spanning several decades.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Gerstlauer Amusement Rides GmbH designs, engineers, manufactures, and commissions custom stationary and transportable amusement rides — including roller coasters, flat rides, and giant wheels — for theme parks, amusement parks, and traveling fairs. The company delivers a full-service project offering from planning and design through steel fabrication, assembly, on-site commissioning, and multi-decade aftersales support, spare parts, and maintenance.

Product overview

Gerstlauer Amusement Rides GmbH is a family-owned German manufacturer of stationary and transportable amusement rides, founded in 1982. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of roller coasters (Infinity Coaster, Infinity Inverted Coaster, Euro-Fighter, Airtime Coaster, Family Coaster, Family Suspended Coaster, Spinning Coaster, Bobsled Coaster, Bob Coaster), flat rides (Sky Fly, Sky Roller, Sky Racer, Polyp), giant wheels (40m, 50m, 60m variants), and additional products and services including roller coaster trains, transport systems, slide wheels, and control systems. As a full-service partner, they provide planning, design, manufacturing, assembly, commissioning, and aftersales support for the complete product lifecycle.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Infinity Coaster A launch roller coaster featuring steep drops and multiple inversions, capable of complex twisted layouts; designed for theme parks seeking headline thrill rides.
• Infinity Inverted Coaster An inverted roller coaster variant with riders seated below the track and launch capabilities; targeted at theme parks wanting a high-thrill inverted experience.
• Euro-Fighter A vertical-lift roller coaster with beyond-vertical drops of up to 97°+, originally launched in 2003 as the world's first of this type.
• Airtime Coaster A roller coaster designed to maximize airtime moments through numerous bunny hills and ejector airtime elements; targeted at theme parks seeking a high-airtime family-to-thrill ride.
• Family Coaster A family-friendly roller coaster suitable for all ages with moderate speeds and excitement levels; designed for theme parks and family entertainment centers.
• Family Suspended Coaster A suspended roller coaster for families in which seats hang from the track, offering a smooth gliding ride experience.
• Spinning Coaster A roller coaster with rotating trains that allow passengers to spin during the ride, including versions with inversions.
• Bobsled Coaster A roller coaster with enclosed sled-like vehicles that navigate through tubed track curves inspired by bobsleigh racing.
• Bob Coaster A family-oriented roller coaster with vehicles arranged in bobsleigh formation allowing families to ride together in tandem seating.
• Sky Fly An interactive flight ride where passengers control gondola rotation and inversions using control wings, lifting up to 22 meters.
• Sky Roller An interactive flight attraction where passengers control gondola rotation and can perform inversions at heights up to 35.5 meters.
• Sky Racer An interactive flying ride where passengers control their aircraft gondola sideways movements using steering wings at a flight altitude of 4 meters.
• Polyp An exhilarating octopus-style flat ride with 40 seats across 20 gondolas, featuring three controlled rotation axes and rapid acceleration changes.
• Giant Wheels (40m / 50m / 60m stationary and transportable) A family of classic ferris wheels in 40m, 50m, and 60m sizes, available as stationary park versions or as transportable units that can be set up without a crane, with an optional energy recovery drive system.
• Roller Coaster Trains Replacement and upgrade train vehicles for steel, wooden, and hybrid roller coasters, manufactured to the latest technical requirements with modern safety features.
• Transport Systems (Panorama Ride / Transport System) Scenic ride systems including the Panorama Ride (rotating gondolas for up to 6 guests) and a versatile Transport System for themed rides or ghost trains.
• Slide Wheel A unique combination of a giant wheel and a water slide, co-developed with wiegand.waterrides GmbH, featuring rotating water slide functionality.
• Control Systems Safety control systems for roller coasters, giant wheels, and flat rides with comprehensive risk analysis, safety consulting, and on-site safety checks; complemented by multi-decade aftersales and spare parts support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 roller coasters and more than 40 flat rides manufactured and installed worldwide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers25 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ARC bvcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive sales partner for Europe (Netherlands/Belgium). Contact: Coen Nieuwenstein, Leenderweg 174, NL-5555 CJ Valkenswaard, Tel.: +31 651 595 626, [email protected].
• Smart Rides GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales partner for Europe (Germany). Contact: Ralf Caspar, Weierhof 1c, D-56759 Leienkaul, Tel.: +49 2653 911 644, Mobile: +49 160 9059 4546, [email protected].
• Ing.-Holzbau Cordes GmbH & Co. KGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales partner for Europe (Germany). Contact: Waffensener Dorfstrasse 20, D-27356 Rotenburg/Wümme, Tel.: +49 42 68 933 0, [email protected].
• Ride Entertainment Systems, Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales partner for North America. Contact: Edward Hiller, 114 Log Canoe Circle, Stevensville, Maryland 21666 USA, Tel.: +1 410 643 9300, [email protected].
• HANWA Co., LTD.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales partner for Japan. Contact: Koichi Nasu, Osaka Head Office, Amusement Ride & Equipment Section, 3-6-1 Kitakyuhouji-machi, Chuo-ku, OSAKA, Japan 541-8585, Tel.: +81 6 7525 5741, [email protected].
• Internationale Park Service GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales partner for Japan. Contact: Franz Maier, Weidenweg 5, Tel.: +49 8281 790 9797, [email protected].
• Gerstlauer Amusement Rides GmbH (direct)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDirect sales coverage for South America and Africa from headquarters. Contact: Industriestraße 17, D-86505 Münsterhausen, Germany, Tel.: +49 8281 9968 0.
• IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions)coreOthersMember of IAAPA, the global trade association for the amusement industry. Gerstlauer participates in IAAPA Expo Europe and IAAPA Expo trade shows.
• VDV (Verband der Vertriebsfirmen für Unterhaltungselektronik und Freizeitgeräte)minorOthersMember of VDV, the German association for entertainment electronics and leisure equipment distributors.
• VDFU (Verband Deutscher Freizeitunternehmen)minorOthersMember of VDFU, the German amusement industry association.
• wibl.waterrides GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with wiegand.waterrides GmbH to create the Slide Wheel — a unique combination of a Giant Wheel and a water slide. Gerstlauer provided technical concept design, 3D design, steel structure fabrication and assembly, electrical engineering, pneumatics, control system, and commissioning.
• TÜV Süd, TÜV Nord, TÜV Rheinland, TÜV Thüringen, TÜV NederlandcoreOthersIndependent third-party testing and certification organizations that inspect, test, and certify Gerstlauer rides for safety and compliance with international standards.
• NJ Amusement Ride Safety, R.J. Associates Ltd., CSEIcoreOthersIndependent testing and certification organizations providing worldwide certification for Gerstlauer rides including US (NJ Amusement Ride Safety), UK (R.J. Associates), and China (CSEI) certifications.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mack Rides: Mack Rides is a family-owned German manufacturer of roller coasters, flat rides, and water rides based in Waldbronn. It is the most direct comparable to Gerstlauer given its similar German mid-sized manufacturer profile, full-service B2B model, and broad coaster portfolio (Blue Fire, Europa-Park installations). Both companies serve the same global theme park customers through regional sales networks and IAAPA channels.
• Vekoma: Vekoma is a Dutch roller coaster manufacturer headquartered in Vlodrop, Netherlands, producing a wide range of family, thrill, and launched coasters worldwide. Directly comparable to Gerstlauer in product category (steel coasters of all thrill levels), customer base (global theme and amusement parks), and B2B project model, and competes head-to-head on family and spinning coaster segments.
• Maurer Rides: Maurer Rides is a German-based manufacturer of roller coasters and flat rides (including spinning and compact coasters). Very directly comparable to Gerstlauer — same country, similar mid-sized specialty manufacturer profile, overlapping product portfolio (compact/spinning coasters), and same B2B model serving European and international parks.
• Intamin Amusement Rides: Intamin is a Swiss/Liechtenstein-based manufacturer of roller coasters, water rides, and observation attractions. Directly comparable to Gerstlauer in producing high-profile record-breaking coasters (steepest, tallest, fastest) and giant wheels for global theme parks; competes for the same flagship projects and premium theme park customers.
• Zamperla: Zamperla is an Italian family-owned manufacturer of amusement rides (roller coasters, flat rides, gondolas/wheels) serving theme parks and traveling fairs globally. Directly comparable to Gerstlauer in mix of roller coasters and flat rides, family-owned B2B manufacturer profile, and global theme park customer base; competes in both coaster and flat ride categories.
• Premier Rides: Premier Rides is a US-based roller coaster manufacturer specializing in launched and LIM/LSM coasters. Directly comparable to Gerstlauer as a specialty steel coaster manufacturer with project-based custom builds serving enterprise theme park customers in North America and internationally.
• Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M): B&M is a Swiss premium roller coaster manufacturer specializing in inverted, dive, and sit-down coasters. Directly comparable to Gerstlauer as a specialty steel coaster manufacturer targeting the same enterprise theme park customers, with similar project-based custom B2B sales and global installation footprint.
• S&S Worldwide: S&S Worldwide is a US-based manufacturer of thrill rides, towers, and roller coasters (including the recent acquisition of the Vekoma brand). Directly comparable to Gerstlauer as a manufacturer of steel coasters, flat rides, and towers serving theme parks worldwide with a broad custom product portfolio.

Emerging players

• Dynamic Attractions: Dynamic Attractions is a Canadian designer/manufacturer of dark rides and motion-based attractions. Adjacent peer to Gerstlauer as a specialty ride manufacturer serving global theme parks with custom engineering-heavy projects, though focused on dark/motion rides rather than traditional roller coasters and flat rides.
• Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC): RMC is a US-based specialty ride manufacturer known for hybrid wooden/iron retracking and iron horse coasters. Partially comparable to Gerstlauer as a steel coaster manufacturer serving enterprise parks, but with a narrower focus on conversion/retracking projects and newly designed iron coasters rather than broad product portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/gerstlauer
• Instagraminstagram.com/gerstlauer_amuse
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gerstlauer-amusement-rides-gmbh

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Gerstlauer Amusement Rides