S&S Worldwide

S&S Worldwide is an American amusement-ride engineering and manufacturing company based in Logan, Utah. The business was established in 1994 by Stan and Sandy Checketts as S&S Sports Power, initially as an offshoot of Sports Tower, a company associated with bungee-jumping and trampoline equipment. Its early focus was on rides using compressed air, particularly high-acceleration drop towers. That technology became the foundation of the company’s identity and helped it develop a distinctive position in the global theme-park industry. The company’s first major commercial product was the Space Shot tower, introduced in 1995. It used pneumatic cylinders to propel riders rapidly upward before returning them toward the base of the tower. The Turbo Drop followed in 1996, and S&S later expanded its tower portfolio with combination and multi-tower configurations. In 2004, the company introduced the Screamin’ Swing, a large pendulum attraction that applied its engineering expertise to a different type of thrill ride. S&S also applied compressed-air technology to roller-coaster launches. Its Thrust Air 2000 system powered attractions such as Hypersonic XLC at Kings Dominion and Do-Dodonpa at Fuji-Q Highland. The latter reached a record acceleration for a roller coaster when it opened, although both projects later experienced operational changes or closure. S&S subsequently broadened its portfolio beyond pneumatic launches, developing compact and highly specialized coaster formats. The El Loco design placed riders in unusual seating positions and allowed intense layouts within relatively small footprints. The 4-D Free Spin, introduced in the mid-2010s, became one of the company’s most commercially visible coaster concepts, using rotating seats mounted on vertical rails to create changing rider orientations. Corporate ownership changed several times as the business expanded. In 2002, S&S created S&S Arrow to acquire the assets of bankrupt coaster manufacturer Arrow Dynamics. It also briefly created a wooden-coaster division using former Custom Coasters International personnel, but that activity ended after four coasters. Stan Checketts and Gene Mulvihill later formed an investor group that acquired a controlling interest in S&S in 2006. Larsen MacColl Partners acquired a significant equity position in 2009. In 2012, Japanese manufacturer Sansei Technologies agreed to acquire a 77.3 percent interest, and Sansei became the sole owner by late 2014. The combined company was subsequently known as S&S – Sansei Technologies. Sansei expanded its amusement-ride portfolio further through the acquisition of Vekoma in 2018. S&S products are installed at amusement parks, destination resorts, family entertainment centers, and other attractions around the world. Its portfolio includes tower rides, pendulum rides, family coasters, launched coasters, looping coasters, and experimental systems. The company’s Axis Coaster concept, introduced in 2019, uses seats mounted on elevated swivels that can rotate riders above or below the track independently of the track’s banking. The design was developed to enable track elements that are difficult to achieve with conventional coaster vehicles. S&S remains best known for combining large-scale ride engineering with distinctive motion systems, compact layouts, and high-intensity rider experiences.

S&S began in Logan, Utah, in 1994 when Stan and Sandy Checketts established S&S Sports Power. The company grew out of the Checketts family’s earlier work with Sports Tower, a business involved in bungee-jumping and trampoline equipment. S&S initially concentrated on compressed-air amusement rides, a technology that offered rapid movement and a distinctive operating profile for tower attractions. The Space Shot, launched in 1995, became the company’s first major product. It accelerated riders upward through pneumatic cylinders and established S&S as a recognizable supplier of thrill towers. The Turbo Drop followed in 1996, extending the pneumatic tower range. Early prototype units were installed before the designs were refined for broader commercial distribution. S&S later introduced combination towers and other configurations that combined upward and downward launches in a single attraction. The company expanded into roller coasters and other ride categories during the early 2000s. It created a wooden-coaster division after recruiting former Custom Coasters International personnel following that company’s bankruptcy. The division produced four coasters before being discontinued. In 2002, S&S also established S&S Arrow to acquire the assets of Arrow Dynamics, a major historical coaster manufacturer that had entered bankruptcy. These moves reflected a strategy of using acquisitions and specialized engineering capabilities to broaden S&S’s presence in the amusement industry. S&S adapted its pneumatic expertise to roller-coaster launches through the Thrust Air 2000 system. Hypersonic XLC at Kings Dominion and Do-Dodonpa at Fuji-Q Highland were among the resulting projects. Do-Dodonpa achieved an exceptionally high launch acceleration when introduced. S&S also developed the Screamin’ Swing in 2004, a large pendulum ride that became one of its best-known non-coaster attractions. In 2006, the company opened Celebration Centre, a family entertainment facility featuring S&S rides and prototypes; the facility was later sold and ceased operating. Ownership changed during the company’s expansion. In 2006, Stan Checketts and Gene Mulvihill formed an investment group that acquired a controlling interest in S&S Power. Rich Allen continued to oversee operations as chief operating officer. In 2009, Larsen MacColl Partners acquired a significant equity interest, including shares formerly held by Checketts. Checketts subsequently ended his consulting relationship with S&S to pursue other business interests. S&S continued to diversify its coaster portfolio. The El Loco design, introduced in 2008, used unusual seating and compact layouts to deliver highly intense ride profiles in relatively limited spaces. In the middle of the following decade, the 4-D Free Spin introduced vertically arranged, rotating seats that could change riders’ orientation independently during the ride. Its first installation opened at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in 2015, and the model generated substantial demand from amusement parks. In November 2012, S&S Worldwide entered an agreement under which Japan’s Sansei Technologies acquired a 77.3 percent interest. The combined business was promoted as S&S – Sansei Technologies, and Sansei became the sole owner by late 2014. Sansei later expanded its broader ride-manufacturing group by acquiring Vekoma in 2018. S&S’s later projects included the 220-foot Steel Curtain coaster at Kennywood, completed in 2019, and the Axis Coaster concept introduced the same year. Axis uses elevated swiveling seats so that the passenger position can change relative to the track, supporting layouts that are difficult to produce with conventional vehicles. A prototype was installed at S&S’s Utah testing facility, and three units were purchased by Saudi Entertainment Ventures for planned Transformers-themed entertainment centers in Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah. The company’s projects have also encountered engineering and operational difficulties. Merlin’s Mayhem at Dutch Wonderland opened later than planned because of construction delays. GaleForce at Playland’s Castaway Cove was delayed after track-alignment problems affected its launch system; the track was subsequently replaced at S&S’s expense. Steel Curtain experienced recurring structural issues and was closed for the 2023 season while corrective work was considered. Sales were also affected by Chinese tariffs on ride components introduced in 2019 and by the economic disruption associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these pressures, S&S remains an active international supplier of specialized amusement rides and roller coasters.

1. 2019Axis Coaster concept is introduced

   S&S presents the Axis Coaster, using swiveling elevated seats to create new rider orientations and track possibilities.

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2. 2018Sansei acquires Vekoma

   Sansei Technologies acquires Vekoma, expanding its international amusement-ride manufacturing group.

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3. 2015First 4-D Free Spin opens

   The first 4-D Free Spin coaster opens at Six Flags Fiesta Texas.

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4. 2012Sansei acquires a majority stake

   Sansei Technologies agrees to acquire a 77.3 percent interest in S&S Worldwide.

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5. 2008El Loco coaster design is introduced

   S&S begins producing the compact El Loco coaster, known for extreme layouts and unusual rider positioning.

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6. 2006Founder-led group takes control

   Stan Checketts and Gene Mulvihill form a group that acquires a controlling interest in S&S Power.

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7. 2004Screamin' Swing is introduced

   S&S expands beyond tower rides with the Screamin’ Swing pendulum attraction.

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8. 2002S&S Arrow acquires Arrow Dynamics assets

   S&S forms S&S Arrow and purchases assets of bankrupt coaster manufacturer Arrow Dynamics.

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9. 1996Turbo Drop enters the portfolio

   The company introduces the Turbo Drop tower ride as a second major pneumatic attraction.

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10. 1995Space Shot is introduced

    S&S launches the Space Shot pneumatic drop tower, which becomes a defining product for the company.

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11. 1994S&S Sports Power is founded

    Stan and Sandy Checketts establish S&S Sports Power in Logan, Utah, initially focusing on air-powered amusement attractions.

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A specialist amusement-ride engineering brand focused on pneumatic propulsion, high-intensity tower attractions, innovative coaster configurations, and custom ride systems.

• Space ShotPneumatic tower ride1995

  The Space Shot is a compressed-air launch tower introduced in 1995. Riders are rapidly propelled upward and then experience a series of rebound movements as the vehicle returns down the tower. It became one of S&S’s signature products and established the company’s reputation for pneumatic thrill attractions.

• Turbo DropPneumatic drop tower1996

  Turbo Drop is a pneumatic tower attraction that emphasizes a rapid downward launch or drop profile. Introduced after Space Shot, it became part of S&S’s core tower family and has been offered in standalone, combined, and multi-tower configurations.

• Screamin' SwingPendulum thrill ride2004

  Screamin’ Swing is a large pendulum attraction that swings passenger vehicles through a broad arc. The ride extended S&S’s portfolio beyond vertical tower movements and became one of its best-known flat-ride products for amusement parks seeking a visually prominent thrill attraction.

• El LocoSteel roller coaster2008

  El Loco is a compact steel coaster design intended to deliver intense elements within a relatively small footprint. Its distinctive vehicle and seating arrangement allow unusual rider orientations and steep, highly concentrated layouts. Several installations were produced between the late 2000s and mid-2010s, with individual designs adapted for their host parks.

• 4-D Free SpinFourth-dimension steel roller coaster2015

  The 4-D Free Spin is a vertically stacked coaster design in which seats mounted on the sides of the vehicle can rotate independently as the train moves along the track. This creates unpredictable forward, backward, and inverted rider orientations without requiring the entire track to perform the rotation. The first installation opened at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in 2015.

• Axis CoasterInnovative steel roller coaster2019

  The Axis Coaster concept uses passenger seats mounted on elevated swivels that can move riders above or below the track independently of the track’s banking. S&S developed a prototype at its Utah testing facility. The concept was later selected for three planned Transformers-themed entertainment centers in Saudi Arabia, with separate designs planned for Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah.

• Thrust Air 2000Pneumatic roller-coaster launch system2001

  Thrust Air 2000 applied refrigerated compressed air to roller-coaster launches. The system powered projects including Hypersonic XLC at Kings Dominion and Do-Dodonpa at Fuji-Q Highland. It represented S&S’s effort to transfer its pneumatic engineering expertise from tower rides to high-acceleration coaster propulsion.

• 2019Introduce the Axis CoasterProduct launch

  S&S continued to develop ride systems that could create motion profiles unavailable from conventional coaster vehicles.

  What changed. The company introduced the Axis Coaster concept and installed a prototype at its Utah testing facility.

  Aftermath. Three units were purchased by Saudi Entertainment Ventures for planned Transformers-themed venues in Saudi Arabia.

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• 2015Commercialize the 4-D Free SpinProduct launch

  S&S pursued a coaster format that could deliver dynamic rider movement while using a relatively compact track system.

  What changed. The first 4-D Free Spin opened at Six Flags Fiesta Texas.

  Aftermath. Demand for the model increased and production capacity was reportedly booked several years ahead.

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• 2012Enter a strategic combination with Sansei TechnologiesM&A

  S&S required additional ownership and industrial support as it pursued international growth.

  What changed. S&S entered a binding agreement for Sansei Technologies to acquire a 77.3 percent interest.

  Aftermath. The combined business was promoted as S&S – Sansei Technologies, and Sansei became sole owner by late 2014.

  Ownership interest acquired. 77.3% (2012)

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• 2008Develop the El Loco coasterProduct launch

  Amusement parks sought distinctive thrill attractions that could fit constrained sites.

  What changed. S&S introduced the El Loco compact coaster format with unusual seating and steep layouts.

  Aftermath. The company produced a series of customized El Loco installations through 2014.

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• 2004Launch the Screamin' SwingProduct launch

  S&S sought to broaden its business beyond pneumatic tower rides.

  What changed. The company introduced the Screamin’ Swing pendulum attraction.

  Aftermath. The ride became a prominent non-coaster product in S&S’s attraction portfolio.

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• 2002Acquire Arrow Dynamics assetsM&A

  Bankruptcy at Arrow Dynamics created an opportunity for S&S to obtain assets and technology from an established roller-coaster manufacturer.

  What changed. S&S created S&S Arrow and purchased assets of Arrow Dynamics.

  Aftermath. The transaction expanded S&S’s coaster-related capabilities and portfolio.

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• 2023Steel Curtain experiences continuing operational issues

  The Steel Curtain coaster at Kennywood had operated intermittently because of structural issues and was closed for the 2023 season while the park addressed the problems.

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• 2019S&S introduces the Axis Coaster concept

  S&S presented a coaster design using independently swiveling elevated seats, allowing riders to move above or below the track during a layout.

  Product launchProduct generation
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• 2018Sansei Technologies acquires Vekoma

  Sansei Technologies announced the acquisition of Dutch amusement-ride manufacturer Vekoma, expanding the group’s international coaster capabilities.

  M&A
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• 2015S&S introduces the 4-D Free Spin coaster

  The first 4-D Free Spin installation opened at Six Flags Fiesta Texas, helping establish the model as a major part of S&S’s coaster portfolio.

  Product launchProduct generation
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• 2014Sansei becomes sole owner of S&S

  Sansei Technologies completed the transition to sole ownership of S&S.

  M&A
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• 2012Sansei Technologies acquires majority interest in S&S

  Sansei Technologies entered an agreement to acquire a 77.3 percent interest in S&S Worldwide, beginning the companies’ combination.

  M&ALeadership change
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• 2009Larsen MacColl Partners acquires a significant S&S equity interest

  Larsen MacColl Partners acquired a significant equity position, including shares previously held by Stan Checketts.

  M&ALeadership change
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• 2006S&S changes control through founder-led investment group

  Stan Checketts and Gene Mulvihill formed a group that acquired a controlling interest in S&S Power.

  M&ALeadership change
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• 2002S&S establishes S&S Arrow to acquire Arrow Dynamics assets

  S&S formed S&S Arrow, which purchased assets of bankrupt roller-coaster manufacturer Arrow Dynamics.

  M&A
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1. S&S – Sansei Technologies
2. S&S Worldwide official website