Simtec Systems, a leader in motion simulation, has shared insights into how its professional simulator background has helped it understand how to reproduce motion accurately, safely, and repeatedly.
Founded in 1989 as a spin-off from the Technical University of Braunschweig, Simtec began with professional flight simulation, laying the foundation for decades of expertise in realistic motion systems.
Simtec expanded its simulation expertise into industrial testing, particularly in automotive and aerospace applications, where motion systems reproduce real dynamic loads under controlled laboratory conditions.
Simtec's background is in the creation of professional flight simulators, such as the DO22 Full-Flight-Simulator
Over decades of testing, the company has built an extensive library of real-world motion data from vehicles, transport systems and dynamic environments, including uneven road surfaces and sea-state scenarios.
Rather than relying solely on mathematically generated motion profiles, designers can draw on recorded movement patterns such as turbulence, vehicle vibration or sea-state motion to add subtle layers of realism to an experience.
This data can also be used in entertainment, bringing recorded real-world movement directly into ride motion development and programming.
Engineering for ambitious ideas
Today, Simtec develops ride systems, simulator attractions and custom motion solutions for entertainment destinations worldwide. Its portfolio ranges from FUNRIDE simulator systems and HEXaFLITE flying theatres to dark rides and entirely custom-engineered ride concepts.
The HEXaPOT system forms the technological basis for a state-of-the-art dark ride system that Simtec manufactured and installed, and that is currently in operation at a major theme park in Florida.
The development has included several notable milestones. Volarium at Cinecittà World in Rome received the 2019 Parksmania Award for Best Attraction, while the HEXaFLITE flying theatre, Jiangsu in the Air, at Wuxi Sunac Land received an Asia Attractions Golden Crown Award in 2020.
Simtec's HEXaFLITE72 is in use at Wuxi Sunac Land's award-winning flying theatre
Decades of work in simulation and industrial testing have shaped how the company approaches motion, control systems, validation and attraction integration. Rooted in a German engineering tradition, Simtec aims to balance immersive ride experiences with the reliability, safety, and maintainability expected of industrial-grade systems.
Rather than starting with a product, projects often start with a question: what type of motion will best support the intended guest experience?
Ride systems and test systems share the same engineering foundation. The disciplines may serve different industries, but they draw on the same expertise in motion control, safety engineering, validation and system integration.
As a result, technologies and methodologies developed for demanding industrial applications can often be transferred to themed entertainment projects, helping create attractions that combine immersive motion with long-term operational reliability.
Simtec combines proven product platforms with custom engineering tailored to the attraction. Space, creative intent, desired guest experience, throughput, accessibility, operational requirements and safety all influence the eventual system architecture.
Turnkey solutions
Depending on the project scope, Simtec can also go beyond the ride system itself and take responsibility for a coordinated turnkey attraction solution.
Motion and ride control, show-control interfaces, AV, media-related interfaces, special effects, safety systems and selected specialist partners can be brought together under one engineering lead, giving clients one responsible partner for the technically coordinated attraction scope.
This engineering-led flexibility also shapes how Simtec approaches new projects.
Customers, creative teams, consultants and operators increasingly involve the company before a ride system has been specified. Through early technical consultation, Simtec helps evaluate which motion concept, system architecture, and technical approach best supports the intended experience.
Simtec's DLR Driving Simulator with HEXaDRIVE, like the rest of the compay's portfolio, is engineered in Germany
Simtec combines decades of motion expertise with industrial-grade engineering, custom attraction development and direct collaboration with customers from concept through delivery.
Behind the guest experience lies another part of Simtec’s philosophy: an attraction has to work as an operational system.
Loading and unloading, staffing, accessibility, diagnostics, maintenance access and long-term availability are considered alongside motion and show performance.
Simtec’s engineering roots in professional simulation and industrial test systems have created a culture in which reliability, safety and lifecycle performance are treated as part of the design rather than considerations added later.
Independent by structure
At the same time, the company has retained a comparatively focused structure.
Simtec positions itself as an independent, family-owned engineering partner with direct interaction between customers, decision-makers and engineering teams, particularly where conventional products reach their limits, and an unconventional solution is required.
Independence keeps decision paths short and lets customers work directly with the people responsible for engineering and project delivery. This can be particularly valuable on complex projects where requirements evolve, and rapid technical decisions are needed.
While engineering and system development remain centred in Germany, Simtec supports its international customers through Simtec Asia in China and Simtec North America in Orlando, providing regional sales, project and service support in two of the industry’s key markets.
Among the projects currently in development is Top Gun in Las Vegas, one of several current projects reflecting Simtec’s continued work on new ride and motion-system concepts.
New systems, new possibilities and a new corporate identity
As Simtec enters its next chapter, the company is introducing a new corporate identity and website that reflect how its portfolio has evolved over the past three decades, from professional simulation and industrial testing to a broader range of attraction systems and turnkey solutions.
SImtec will be launching a new corporate identity and website
Simtec is also expanding its dark ride family, opening up further possibilities between traditional ride systems and advanced motion-based attraction concepts.
Simtec plans further announcements at IAAPA Expo in Orlando later this year, offering the first glimpse of what the next stage of its ride-system development will look like.
More than 35 years after its beginnings in flight simulation, the underlying principle remains the same: understand motion first, then engineer it around what the experience needs.
