Known in the themed entertainment industry for its precision-engineered ride control solutions, Altec has built a reputation for making the invisible systems that power attractions. Now, the company has expanded its capabilities beyond integration to become a full-spectrum provider for the industry, not only designing and programming control systems, but also manufacturing its own line of show control equipment.
This evolution marks a significant milestone for the company and for the industry. It positions Altec as a true turnkey partner for immersive environments.
These new capabilities have already been put to the test in a pivotal theme park project. The project, which required seamless coordination, robust engineering, and an integrated delivery model, serves as a testament to Altec’s growing role in shaping the future of entertainment technology.
With a manufacturing base in Texas, a growing team of experts, and leadership rooted in decades of experience in automation and show control, Altec has become a trusted supplier that can manage the complexity and risk associated with larger entertainment projects.
We speak with president & CEO Bill Long, entertainment director Michael Dill, and operations manager Rhondi Kablak, who share insights into the company’s transformation, the value of integrated solutions, and what’s next on the horizon for the firm.
A natural evolution
Altec has long been known for its expertise in ride control systems. Speaking about what prompted the company to take the next step into manufacturing its own show action equipment, Long says:
“It was a natural evolution for us. In the entertainment industry, we are known mainly for our expertise in control systems and safety. However, we were already manufacturing fairly complex and large mechanical equipment in the other industries we serve. So, it was natural to expand our product offering in the entertainment space by leveraging our existing manufacturing capabilities.
“We looked at ways to expand horizontally within that vertical. Because we work across multiple industries, we’re constantly learning in one and figuring out how to apply that in another. And that’s a strength.”
Show action equipment is a broad term. It encompasses animated figures and other moving elements that are usually part of a larger “show”.
“You will find show action equipment in indoor dark rides, around the main ride and in the queue line or pre-show,” says Long. “As theme parks become more detailed and immersive, you will increasingly find show action equipment around the theme park itself.
“We’re not doing the animated, robotic figures you might typically think of. What we’re focused on is a more customised piece of show action equipment that incorporates a mechanical component. It might have a figure on the end, or it might be part of a larger setup. But really, it’s about creating that custom, mechanical, moving piece.”
Manufacturing is done in-house at Altec’s operation in Texas. This was acquired in 2017 as an evolution of its capabilities in the other industries it serves.
“Texas is an excellent location for manufacturing with a central location in North America and proximity to the major port of Houston. It also has a highly skilled and productive workforce.”
The benefits of a turnkey solution from Altec
By providing a true turnkey solution, from design through to commissioning, Altec can reduce the risk and headache for its customers.
“By managing the design, manufacturing, delivery, installation and commissioning of our equipment, we take full responsibility for the quality and success of the project. This allows our customers to focus on their core business of entertaining their guests.”
The benefit is that customers have fewer companies to deal with when they can work with someone who delivers a total solution.
“We’re seeing more requests for that. Clients are realising how difficult it is to manage complex projects when there are lots of different vendors involved. So, we’re positioning ourselves to take on that role. Sometimes, clients don’t have the resources, or they’re just too busy. Big, themed entertainment projects can be challenging, and we want to make it easier for them.”
Dill adds: “If you give us a turnkey approach and you allow us to do the design and provide you a complete solution, you mitigate a lot of risk when it comes to dealing with interfaces with other vendors.”
Additionally, it facilitates faster project timelines:
“We’re no longer going back and forth with customers, saying, ‘Oh, now we need to change this.’ As a result, we now have faster project timelines and increased cost efficiency. Since we have control over a greater portion of the project, we can reduce the cost by implementing fewer design modifications and fewer meetings.”
On whether this integrated delivery will become the norm, he says:
“It’s hard to change an old dog; they’re so used to doing something a specific way. However, I think that now, especially with some of these theme parks purchasing off-the-shelf rides and seeing how quickly they can come to fruition and open, I believe it is going to change the way that they send out the RFPs, and how they do business.”
Listening to the end user
Client feedback has also helped to shape the new offering from Altec, says Dill.
“End user feedback is critical for us. It gives us insight into the use of our components and the use of our designs. If we need to make modifications to facilitate ease of maintenance and inspection, they can say, ‘Okay, next time I would do this a little differently,’ or ‘This is because we have these requirements on-site.’
“That feedback is excellent, as well as the use of any types of materials that seem to wear out faster than others. It’s always beneficial to receive feedback, allowing us to refine and adjust our designs for the future. After all, the clients are the ones who use it every day. So, they’re going to understand what’s best in terms of how it works pretty quickly.”
Having a presence in Orlando, which the team established in 2022, makes this process even easier, he adds:
“Having face time with customers, being able to sit down with them and have a face-to-face meeting, goes a long way.
“For instance, let’s say we have a project in Orlando, and they say, ‘We need some support right away. Can you get here in an hour? We can get there and support them, helping them out however they need, because downtime on rides and equipment is pretty critical. It also makes it easy to check in with local clients and see how our performance is. We can close the loop that way and see how we can better meet their needs.”
Putting it to the test
Its recent project in Orlando was the first time that Altec has delivered this complete solution. Speaking to some of the challenges and opportunities of establishing this new show action equipment segment, Kablak says:
“The mechanical side was new to Altec, including understanding what was required to build mechanical structures and the inputs and outputs for the different phases of the project, as well as delivering it to the client.
“With controls, it’s a matter of building it, and then it goes off. We know what happens. With mechanical, there are so many more moving pieces. The parts and pieces that are required for the testing and for just making sure that it’s operating correctly are pretty different from what we had encountered for simply controls.
“When it comes to the opportunities, we were able to work with our other division in Texas to support doing the mechanical side in a much stronger aspect than having it farmed out. We were able to utilise our buildings and space to house all the structures in one area. It was quite interesting to show the client: ‘Here’s your systems, all in this one small space, running and operating, doing their thing.’
“Having done it once, we’ve learned a lot, and now we can do it again and again. Even though they will be different structures, the process involved to get it from start to finish is now understood. We’ve been through that learning curve, meaning it’ll be much simpler the next time around.”
“And because it’s all in-house—one vendor for the client—they know that if something’s missing, we’re bringing it in. Or, if they realise there’s something that needs to be done, they can sort it out more easily. They don’t have to run to four different vendors to address the issue. It’s all in one spot.”
Strong, in-house capability
Reflecting on the project, Long says:
“I believe we demonstrated our ability to deliver a high-quality, engineered product on time, even under challenging circumstances. The requirements of the entertainment industry can be very demanding and difficult to manage. We have developed a strong, in-house capability to manage these very complex and demanding projects.
“It was our first large project that involved both mechanical and installation components. As with any expansion or growth, it came with unexpected challenges, and we learned a lot. Some of the lessons were hard-won, but they all made us stronger. It was a valuable experience and has helped us improve in the areas of project management and contractor management.”
Expanding on the project management element, Kablak adds:
“The ability to talk to your team, know how they operate, know where they have strengths and where they have weaknesses, and be able to correct them is incredible. Versus having an outside contractor, you may be told, ‘It’s going well, it’s going well, don’t worry, we’ve got this,’ right up to time to show, and there’s nothing to show.
“When it’s in-house, the integrity and honesty of where we are is right in front of you; it can’t be hidden. You know when you’re on time, you know when you’re not, and you know what to do to get it back on track—because it’s all in-house. It’s your people.
“We were pleased with the results. The client was pleased with the results and remains so; we continue to support and work with them. If an issue arises, it’s no problem; we resolve it. It was a challenging project, but the end product is wonderful.”
Dill says: “We’ve had a lot of customer feedback stating how well designed it is. Overall, I think the customer is very happy with it. Its performance is great, and being able to tie in our controls into our mechanical supply as well and integrate that as one complete product, it just is seamless now.”
What’s next for Altec?
Looking back at Altec’s 25+ year journey, and how this move represents the company’s next evolution, Long says:
“In the coming years, we hope to expand the scope of our product offering in the entertainment industry to include larger and more complex turn-key solutions for not only show action equipment but ride systems as well.
“We want to be known as a dependable supplier that can manage the complexity and risk of larger entertainment projects for our customers.”
“We’ve been a controls company for a long time. Venturing into mechanical solutions now and providing this turnkey solution for show action equipment and other things is our up-and-coming thing,” says Dill. “And I’m super excited about how we can deliver that to the customers and present that for future rides.”
Kablak adds: “We’re confidently bidding on other projects of this calibre, and we’re always stretching. If we stay in one spot, we won’t grow, and neither will the other industries. The offices we have and the shops in Texas support the mechanical structures, and they’re not going anywhere. They’re busy right through this year and into next year with work.”
“What excites me the most is that we’re looking at being bigger, more intertwined with our clients. Rather than just taking a small piece, we’re asking, ‘What else could we do?’
“We truly have a fantastic amount of talent within our company. There is nothing we couldn’t do as long as we put our minds to it. That’s quite impressive for a company that started small in a different industry. We’re just quietly creating our revolution of beauty in this industry, and we’re doing a great job with it.”
Finally, Long says: “We don’t intend to stop growing. That’s the fun part for me: continuing to evolve and grow.”
