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|  Dutch Coastin' .// GTec Designer Profile
There's more to be found in Switzerland than just the infamous firm of Bolliger & Mabillard. You
can also find their roots there. And the roots of Intamin AG, one of the largest ride manufacturers of
the world. What do those companies have in common? They have both used GTec technology.
EuroStar, Anaconda, Shockwave, Titan, Goliath.. that are just some of the legendary roller coasters
created
by the Swiss firm GTec. In 2002, GTec SA became the subsidiary company of GIOVANOLA Frères SA,
and took over most of its assets. GIOVANOLA Frères SA was founded in 1888 by Joseph Giovanola,
and has since that time grown into a large company, with 205 employees. This rich history makes
GTec one of the most versatile companies you can imagine. They are specialized in planning, consulting,
calculation, construction, project management, manufacturing, component supplying, assembly, startup,
cost control, staff training, after-sales service and the modernization of installations. Of course,
we're mainly interested in their amusement rides.
GTec is one of the few companies within the amusement ride sector that is able to offer complete
in-house production and construction of a wide variety of rides. They have many years of experience,
and have a catalogue which can best be described as "exotic". We have all seen a piece
of GTec art, perhaps we just didn't realize it. Because it was GIOVANOLA Frères SA, the holding
company of GTec, who invented the famous box-bream
track in 1982. This type of track is well known, because Intamin as well as B&M have used it. In
fact, B&M uses it on all of their roller coasters. Let's not forget that GTec self uses the track
as well.
The one thing - or better said, the two things - GTec if most famous of, are their hyper coasters,
Goliath and Titan. These legendary coasters make even the most brave man think twice before boarding.
These two giant roller coasters stand 72 metres tall, and drag you down nothing less than 78 metres.
In Europe however, GTec is known for a rather different roller coaster. The vicious EuroStar. This
roller coaster is rough but infamous. It is the worlds largest transportable roller coaster, and the
first ever transportable inverted coaster.
GTec currently has 5 different types of roller coasters in their catalogue. They where as kind as
to give us permission
to use their graphic material, so you
can find some rather nice photos of GTec's children.
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Hyper and Mega Coaster |
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Mega coaster, hyper coaster, giga coaster, all of those names stand for what was once thought to be
the ultimate, the outer limit. Within this outer limit, GTec stretched the borders of the possible,
and surpassed the impossible.
GTec hyper coasters stand for non-stop action, extreme speeds and ultimate black-outs. All this can
be found on Goliath and Titan as well. But since the construction of those two giants, a lot has
happened at GTec. They went beyond the possible. Why should one always look forward when riding a
roller coaster? Why should all the person in a train face the same direction? Why shouldn't a
hyper coaster have floorless trains?
GTec now offers three types of trains on their hyper coaster. We have the "standard" train,
which we all know from Goliath and Titan. But it didn't stop there. GTec's catalogue now also
features a floorless "face to face variant" and a more conventional "back to back
variant".
The limit? We'll see it in the future.
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| Inverted Coaster |
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B&M has made the inverted coaster famous. But GTec brought the development to the next level. After
they built their first inverted coaster, the transportable EuroStar, which features four abreast
trains, they decided it could be done better.
GTec introduced a somewhat more traditional 2 abreast train, with a unique mechanical restraint system,
which makes additional seat belts unnecessary. This system can also be found on the EuroStar coaster.
Due to the narrow design of the trains, this coaster
can withstand high lateral forces, which led to some unique elements.
On the first of their new-style inverteds, Anaconda, GTec introduced the space curve, as part of
a 540° helix. A space curve is an overbanked helix, which brings your feet over your head. Anaconda
is still the only inverted in the world with an overbanked helix.
It just can't get any more intense than a GTec.
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Stand Up Coaster |
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The word "stand up" is usually almost immediately associated with either B&M or Togo. But
let's not forget that GTec builts stand up coasters as well! The British Shockwave is their first
stand up, and immediately became popular.
According to GTec, the secret of a stand up coaster is that the strange position - the standing
position - you are in increases the sense of speed, and provides a breathtaking experience.
The standard GTec stand up is only 580 metres long, and not even 25 metres high. Nonetheless it
provides an unforgettable experience, and flips you upside-down three times.
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| Inverted Coaster (4 abreast) |
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The 4 abreast trains, the box-bream track, both are characteristics of a B&M inverted. What most
people don't know, is that a similar coaster travels throughout Germany. It is GTec's transportable
4 abreast inverted coaster EuroStar.
EuroStar is the only transportable inverted coaster with inversions in Europe. When EuroStar first opened, it
was the only transportable inverted coaster in the world. EuroStar always manages to attract a crowd,
and is still popular, after all those years.
Unfortunately, time hasn't been kind on EuroStar. The ride has become rather rough due to the many
times is has been transported. Despite of this, the ride keeps amazing people, and guarantees an
enormous thrill every time again, according to GTec.
This transportable coaster can be seen as extremely intense, for the G-forces may reach 5.2G at certain
moments.
Riding EuroStar is a once in a lifetime experience.
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Free Fall |
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This ride is not exactly a roller coaster, it is more a mixture between a roller coaster and a free
fall tower. But due to its originality, I decided to add it to the list anyway.
The passengers, seated in 4 persons cabins, are hoisted to the top of a fourty meters high tower. After
a few seconds waiting on the edge of the precipice, the cabin is released into a straight free fall,
then regained in a curve and finally slowed down before being directed to the station.
This experience is supported by some impressive figures. The cabin is hoisted up the tower at a
speed of 6 m/s. During the free fall, the speed of the cabin will increase from zero to 90 km/h
in just under 2 seconds. The maximum amount of G-forces unleashed at the passengers is 5.
GTec guarantees tremendous excitement!
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GTec has more to offer, more than these impressive roller coasters. The company has been making thrill
rides for several years and will continue to do so even in the far future. Their most famous are
without any doubt the Bounty and the Looping Star
Ship. These two nervewrecking thrill rides can be found all over the world.
GTec is a promissing company. Even though they haven't manufactered half as much roller coaster as
for instance Vekoma or Intamin, they do have the ability to come up with something new, again and
again. Their current projects include a new type of family roller coaster, a vertical mine diver
and a tilt coaster. Remember the name GTec, you will hear a lot from them in the future!
| GTec SA Contact Information |
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GTec SA
Clos Donroux 1
Case Postale 271
CH – 1870 Monthey 1 / Suisse
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