Maurer AG

Maurer AG is a German engineering and manufacturing company headquartered in Munich. Historically known as Maurer Söhne GmbH & Co. KG, the business was founded in 1876 and developed from a steel-construction enterprise into a diversified manufacturer whose work includes bridges, industrial structures, architectural steelwork, amusement rides, and roller coasters. The company changed its legal name to Maurer AG on December 15, 2014. The company’s amusement-ride activities became especially prominent after Maurer took over the amusement division of BHS in 1993. That transaction connected Maurer with ride-development capabilities associated with earlier Schwarzkopf-designed roller coasters and gave the company a stronger position in the international attractions market. Maurer’s first roller coaster is identified as Venus GP, a custom looping coaster that opened at Space World in Japan in 1996. Maurer subsequently developed a broad portfolio of coaster systems. Its Wilde Maus Classic family established a compact wild-mouse format that could be adapted for different parks and sites. The S-Coaster, introduced in 2000, became the company’s most widely installed design and is characterized by spinning vehicles. The X-Coaster family expanded the company’s offer into launch coasters, vertical lifts, floorless configurations, and other customized layouts. Its SkyLoop models use compact, highly elevated track arrangements, while the R-Coaster applies linear synchronous motors to parallel racing tracks. Maurer’s ride portfolio is not limited to conventional roller coasters. Through its amusement activities and related subsidiaries, the company has also been associated with free-fall towers and large observation wheels. Maurer German Wheels, a subsidiary of Maurer Söhne, manufactures the R80XL giant Ferris wheel under licence from Bussink Design. The company’s attractions business therefore combines ride design, steel fabrication, engineering, and project delivery rather than functioning only as a standardized ride supplier. By 2023, Maurer was reported to have built 68 roller coasters worldwide. Its installations include spinning, looping, launching, racing, and wild-mouse attractions. The company has also pursued unusual venues and formats: in 2018 it was announced as the builder of a roller coaster planned for Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras, described in the reference material as the first roller coaster at sea. Maurer’s positioning is consequently based on specialized engineering, compact and technically distinctive ride systems, and the ability to deliver custom steel and amusement projects for parks, resorts, cruise ships, and other infrastructure clients.

Maurer AG traces its origins to 1876 in Munich, Germany, where it developed as a steel-construction company. Its engineering scope has included bridges, industrial buildings, and specialized architectural or artistic steel structures. This industrial foundation remains important to the company’s identity because its amusement products depend on structural engineering, metal fabrication, transportation, and installation capabilities. A major turning point came in 1993, when Maurer took over the amusement-ride division of BHS. BHS had been involved in the construction of four roller coasters designed by Schwarzkopf, working with Sansei Yusoki and Zierer on the relevant projects. The acquisition gave Maurer a foundation for developing its own presence in the amusement industry. Its first identified roller-coaster project was Venus GP, a custom looping coaster opened at Space World in 1996. Maurer’s early ride portfolio included the Wilde Maus Classic, a compact wild-mouse design first installed as Kopermijn at Drievliet Family Park in 1996. The design was subsequently replicated at multiple locations internationally. In 2000, Maurer introduced the S-Coaster, a spinning coaster whose rotating vehicles became one of the company’s most recognizable products. With more than 21 installations cited in the reference material, it became Maurer’s most widely installed design by that measure. The company later broadened its technology portfolio through the X-Coaster family. Depending on the configuration, X-Coasters could use launched layouts, vertical lifts, floorless vehicles, or cars incorporating onboard music systems. The X-Train variant used four-across seating, including seats positioned beside and above the track, while SkyLoop models were offered in different track lengths and in launched or customized forms. These systems allowed Maurer to compete not only for conventional park attractions but also for compact, high-intensity, and site-specific projects. In 2010, Maurer introduced the R-Coaster, a racing design using multiple linear synchronous motors on two parallel tracks. Fiorano GT Challenge at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi was identified as the first and, at the time of the cited material, only R-Coaster. The company also expanded beyond roller coasters into free-fall tower rides and observation wheels. Maurer German Wheels, a subsidiary of Maurer Söhne, manufactures the R80XL giant Ferris wheel under licence from Bussink Design. The corporate name changed from Maurer Söhne GmbH & Co. KG to Maurer AG on December 15, 2014. The renaming reflected the current corporate identity while the Maurer Söhne name continued to appear in connection with the group and its subsidiaries. The company maintained its dual focus on steel construction and amusement engineering. In 2018, Maurer was announced as the builder of a roller coaster for Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras. The project was notable because it brought a roller-coaster attraction to a cruise ship and was described in the reference material as the first roller coaster at sea. By 2023, Maurer was reported to have built 68 roller coasters internationally, spanning wild-mouse, spinning, looping, launched, and racing categories. Public reference material does not provide enough verified information to document current ownership, executive leadership, revenue, or detailed operating divisions.

1. 2023Global coaster total reported

   Reference material stated that Maurer AG had built 68 roller coasters worldwide by this year.

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2. 2018Cruise-ship roller coaster announced

   Maurer was announced as the builder of a roller coaster for Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras.

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3. 2014Corporate name changed to Maurer AG

   The former Maurer Söhne GmbH & Co. KG changed its name to Maurer AG on December 15.

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4. 2010R-Coaster introduced

   The company introduced the R-Coaster racing concept, using linear synchronous motors on parallel tracks.

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5. 2000S-Coaster introduced

   Maurer introduced its spinning S-Coaster design, later becoming the company’s most widely installed coaster family.

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6. 1996Venus GP opens

   Venus GP, described as Maurer’s first roller coaster, opened at Space World as a custom looping attraction.

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7. 1996Wilde Maus Classic introduced

   Maurer’s Wilde Maus Classic wild-mouse design was first installed as Kopermijn at Drievliet Family Park.

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8. 1993Amusement division acquired from BHS

   Maurer took over BHS’s amusement-ride division, creating the foundation for its later roller-coaster manufacturing activities.

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9. 1876Company founded in Munich

   Maurer was established in Munich as a German steel-construction business.

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A specialist German engineering and steel-manufacturing group serving both infrastructure and attractions markets, with particular recognition for compact, spinning, launched, racing, and other technically distinctive roller-coaster systems.

• Wilde Maus ClassicWild-mouse roller coaster1996

  A compact wild-mouse coaster design characterized by tight turns and a relatively small footprint. Maurer’s first cited installation was Kopermijn at Drievliet Family Park in 1996, and the design was later reproduced at numerous locations internationally.

• S-CoasterSpinning roller coaster2000

  Maurer’s spinning-coaster system, introduced in 2000. Its vehicles rotate during the ride, creating a variable orientation for riders. Reference material identifies it as Maurer’s most widely installed design, with more than 21 installations cited.

• X-CoasterLaunch and custom roller coaster

  A family of coaster configurations incorporating options such as launches, vertical lifts, floorless cars, and onboard music systems. The broader family includes X-Car and X-Train variants, allowing different seating arrangements and ride experiences.

• SkyLoopCompact looping roller coaster

  A group of elevated and compact coaster models within Maurer’s X-Coaster portfolio. Cited variants include XT 150 and XT 450, named for approximate track lengths, along with launched and custom configurations.

• R-CoasterRacing roller coaster2010

  A racing-coaster concept introduced in 2010. It uses multiple linear synchronous motors to propel trains on two parallel tracks. Fiorano GT Challenge at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is identified as the first and, in the cited material, only installation.

• Free-fall tower ridesAmusement ride

  Maurer’s amusement portfolio also includes free-fall tower rides, extending its attractions business beyond roller-coaster systems. The available reference material does not specify individual models or installation totals.

• R80XLGiant Ferris wheel

  A giant observation wheel manufactured by Maurer German Wheels, a Maurer Söhne subsidiary, under licence from Bussink Design. The product represents Maurer’s participation in large-scale observation and leisure structures.

• 2018Development of a roller coaster for Mardi GrasProduct launch

  Carnival Cruise Line planned an amusement attraction for its Mardi Gras cruise ship, requiring a coaster adapted to a maritime venue.

  What changed. Maurer was announced as the builder of the shipboard roller coaster.

  Aftermath. The project was presented as the first roller coaster at sea and highlighted Maurer’s willingness to adapt coaster engineering to nontraditional sites.

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• 2014Corporate rebranding as Maurer AGStrategy

  The company operated for many years under the Maurer Söhne GmbH & Co. KG name while maintaining activities in steel construction and amusement rides.

  What changed. On December 15, 2014, the company changed its name to Maurer AG.

  Aftermath. Maurer AG became the company’s corporate name, while Maurer Söhne remained associated with the historical identity and related subsidiary activities.

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• 1993Takeover of BHS amusement divisionM&A

  Maurer sought to expand from steel construction into the amusement-ride sector and acquired the amusement division of BHS, a company associated with several Schwarzkopf-designed coaster projects.

  What changed. Maurer took over the BHS amusement-ride division and subsequently developed its own roller-coaster portfolio.

  Aftermath. The transaction preceded Maurer’s first identified coaster, Venus GP, and its later expansion into spinning, launching, racing, and wild-mouse systems.

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• 2023Maurer reported to have built 68 roller coasters worldwide

  Reference material reported that Maurer AG had manufactured 68 roller coasters around the world by 2023.

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• 2018Maurer announced as builder of a roller coaster for Carnival Mardi Gras

  Maurer was announced as the manufacturer of a roller coaster planned for Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras, a project presented as the first roller coaster installed on a cruise ship.

  Product launchOther
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• 2014Maurer Söhne changes its name to Maurer AG

  The company formerly known as Maurer Söhne GmbH & Co. KG adopted the name Maurer AG on December 15, 2014.

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1. Maurer AG
2. Maurer Söhne official website