With their high-powered performance, HydroMAGNETIC water coasters from ProSlide Technology Inc., an industry leader in water ride manufacturing and design, are sought-after anchor attractions for parks around the world.
Blooloop speaks to Jeff Janovich, senior VP of global strategic partnerships, and Daniel Thomas, director of product development, to find out more about the revolutionary technology that powers water coasters like those in its HydroMAGNETIC and BLAST categories. The pair also discuss the spirit of innovation that underpins the company, and why this is the key to driving the industry forward.
Introducing HydroMAGNETIC
ProSlide’s HydroMAGNETIC technology powers its award-winning HydroMAGNETIC MAMMOTH and HydroMAGNETIC ROCKET attractions, which are among the most advanced water coasters in the world. Introducing the range, Thomas says:
“Our HydroMAGNETIC Coasters use Electromagnetism Propulsion as the main driving force, which is significantly more efficient than conventional water propulsion, our linear induction motors (LIM) are only on when we need them to be whereas in water propulsion the pumps moving the water are on all day.”
HydroMAGNETIC Rocket coasters are applicable for a wide range of ride categories and deliver a roller coaster-like experience for 2-4 riders at a time. Some leading examples are the Krakatau Aqua Coaster at Universal’s Volcano Bay and DreamWorks Dream Runner at American Dream, as well as Wildebeest at Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari.
Meanwhile, the HydroMAGNETIC MAMMOTH’s clover-leaf-shaped raft seats 5-6 riders. It can be found at Everland Caribbean Bay in South Korea as Mega Storm, the world’s tallest water coaster, and at Yas Waterworld as Falcon’s Falaj. It’s also at Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari as MAMMOTH, the world’s longest water coaster.
Innovative water coaster technology
ProSlide’s LIM technology accelerates ride vehicles with the heaviest payload in the industry uphill thanks to electromagnetic power.
“Acceleration forces are produced by magnetic fields which act on conductors within the ride vehicle,” explains Thomas. “This interaction induces eddy currents which in turn produces an opposing magnetic field accelerating ride vehicles uphill. This is all controlled by ProSlide’s Safety Related Control System, this system allows us to fine-tune the motors to achieve maximum performance and minimize power consumption.”
Janovich says:
“This is certainly revolutionary when it comes to what we can do in terms of ride performance because the technology can apply so much power. With the magnetic technology, we’re able to go all the way up to rides with four or six people. If you look at MAMMOTH at Holiday World or Mega Storm in Korea, those are six-person round rafts, and we’re able to drive that type of weight uphill.
“With this technology, there are fewer limitations than with traditional water propulsion. Krakatau at Volcano Bay is a good example. Here, we have no start conveyor or no real tower but we’re able to drive higher and higher to create a ride experience that’s unique in the industry.”
HydroMAGNETIC coasters are more efficient
This on-demand propulsion makes ProSlide’s LIM water coasters the most powerful and efficient in the world, adding more thrills for guests.
“Conventional water coasters use high-pressure fast-moving water as a propulsive force and in order to produce this the energy required goes under many transformations – from electrical to mechanical to kinetic and then is transferred to the ride vehicle through momentum – at each of these conversions there are unavoidable energy losses (heat, vibrations, leaks, etc..) resulting in an overall efficiency that could be better.”
“However, with LIM technology energy is only converted from electrical to magnetism propulsion forces – with minimal energy conversion means minimal energy losses and efficiencies are greatly enhanced.”
“The biggest efficiency with HydroMAGNETIC is the fact that the propulsion forces are on demand. On average our LIMs are on for 2.5% of the time between dispatches because that’s all we need. If you compare this to water-based propulsion, they are on from the start of the day to the end. When comparing energy consumption this is a massive difference!
“Because our LIMs are only on when we need them, we can leverage a smaller set of motor drives that can be shared between zones. This ability to share drives between zones is a notable difference between conventional water coasters as this cannot be achieved without some considerable sacrifices.”
The benefits of choosing HydroMAGNETIC
Thomas continues:
“This means that there is a reduction in industrial electrical equipment (reduces natural resource consumption), less electrical demand (smaller transformers, smaller cabling, smaller equipment) and less water consumption (power, plastic plumbing components, smaller plastic plumbing pipes).
“Our HydroMAGNETIC technology is designed to last. In fact, we have clients operating with the same Ride Controls and LIM motors that we provided when we brought HydroMAGNETIC to market in 2007.”
This drastic reduction in power consumption, reduction of industrial equipment, and design philosophy helps both ProSlide and its clients to meet the sustainability goals that much of the industry is working towards.
It also helps ProSlide’s clients to offer a ride that is different to anything else, says Janovich:
“It really blurs the lines between a traditional water ride and a dry ride. With the technology, the speed, and the power, you’re getting an experience that’s closer to a real coaster than a traditional water ride. It becomes the attraction that draws the most amount of people in because it is such a unique attraction.
“With a water ride, the vehicle is sliding, and it can rotate, it can oscillate. It’s free sliding, which creates another level of the experience, compared to dry coasters where you’re on a rail. So even a 30-foot drop feels more intense because in many ways you’re free sliding down there. So that’s where the thrill of that ride really becomes elevated.”
Award-winning water coasters
Looking at some key examples of this HydroMAGNETIC water coaster technology in action, Janovich points to Wildebeest at Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari.
“Wildebeest is still considered the best water ride in the world,” he says, referring to the fact that it has been named the world’s number-one water park ride for 12 consecutive years at the Golden Ticket Awards. “I was there last summer, so I had a chance to ride it again. It’s just amazing.
“There are all these different elements. You’ve got the conveyor, so there’s the anticipation of going up, but then you have the drops and the uphill sections too, and the pace of the ride, the changes of direction. The number of features that the guests encounter creates an experience where you get off the ride and you’re almost out of breath because it’s just nonstop action from one drop and one uphill to the next.”
The park built on this success, working with ProSlide once more to create MAMMOTH. This sits next to Wildebeest and is a six-person HydroMAGNETIC water coaster.
“I rode that with a group of season pass holders, “says Janovich. “They ride these rides all time, but they’re not jaded, they were just loving the experience. You’re going backwards down some of these bigger drops and then getting blasted uphill. It’s a unique coaster experience because not even on many dry coasters do you ride sideways or backwards. You can ride it five or six times and have a different experience each time.”
Another notable installation is the one at Universal’s Volcano Bay in Florida, the Krakatau Aqua Coaster,” points out Thomas:
“This HM ride traverses through a massive iconic volcano and features some big drops. It’s very popular, in fact, it’s the highest throughput we’ve seen!”
Highly adaptable attractions
As well as the efficiencies and thrills that the HydroMAGNETIC water coasters bring, another benefit for the client is that it is highly adaptable, as Thomas explains:
“Our water coasters can fit what our clients need. Some clients are looking for a smaller-style coaster, such as a single lane with one or two boosters. Others have a limited budget. Our ability to start and stop our coaster rides on grade eliminates the need for an expensive tower which translates to considerable savings when construction, designing, engineering, fabrication, and erecting costs are considered.”
“Comparing the cost impacts of iconic water coasters to roller coasters, water coasters come at a fraction of the overall total capital cost and the total cost of ownership. Some iconic roller coasters have a sale price tag of over $25M. You can build an entire water park for that kind of cash!”
Guests love water coasters
From the guest’s perspective, this technology creates anchor water coaster attractions that will make them want to come back again and again.
“ProSlide’s water coasters cater to a large demographic but generally, we know that guests are looking for that coaster experience. We talk with our client and discuss the application of the water coaster technology, and what they want out of it. For instance, we look at their guests, taking into account their demographic. Is it mostly families, or is it a lot of teenagers or families without kids as well? That way, we can cater to exactly what they need and maximize their guest experience.”
Talking about the guest’s reaction to this type of ride, Janovich explains how he has often ridden HydroMAGNETIC coasters alongside visitors. This gives him the opportunity to see how they experience the attractions first-hand:
“I get to see their natural reaction to the ride. In many cases, they don’t understand; they think water is pushing them uphill. They can’t see the technology, because when you’re looking at the ride the magnetic system is invisible. When I tell them that it’s a magnetic system, they just can’t believe that that’s in a water ride, because they feel the power and the acceleration.”
Innovation at ProSlide
Innovation, says Thomas, is in ProSlide’s DNA. The company is always striving to bring something new and different to an ever-evolving industry.
“There’s no one else that spends the amount that we do on R&D; we have our own research facility and we’re always looking to create the latest and greatest attractions.
“We also often have brainstorming sessions with clients, who of course are looking for something innovative and iconic. We work through what’s possible, and what needs to be accomplished in order to make it happen. Right now, we have a couple of key projects coming online that will really shake up what’s going on in the waterslide industry.”
“We know the market well but also listen to what owners and operators want. So, we’re attacking it from both ends. We have clients who have been operating for 30 or 40 years. They know the market as much as we do. What the market was like 20 years ago is very different from what it is today. And in the next 20 years, it will be substantially different again. So, we’re always looking at where it’s going.”
Janovich agrees:
“It’s about creating new experiences for park guests and bringing new attractions to park operators. But also, for us, it has always been about driving the industry forward, from the very beginning. For example, ProSlide developed the Mammoth River back in 1989. At the time, that was a game changer because no park had a multi-person family-style ride. The industry then adopted that across the board.
“That’s where the innovation really comes into play, in continuing to elevate the industry. The parks have become bigger and more sophisticated, and they can have a larger capacity of guests. Product innovation is at the heart of that.”
More water coasters to come
Looking ahead at what’s next for ProSlide, the company will be building on the momentum created by having a record-breaking year in 2022. There are many installations to come throughout 2023. In addition, the team is working on new developments behind the scenes as well.
“There are a couple of active projects where we’re applying new technology to the LIM coasters. That will really shake things up! It’s a big year. And in terms of innovation, we’re working on some new products that are coming to market this year. So, we’ll be introducing some awesome new categories altogether,” says Thomas.
“HydroMAGNETIC is a technology that we are going to continue to evolve, and we’ve adapted the magnetic technology into other applications,” adds Janovich. “For instance, we’ve used it now as a braking system. I think we’re just scratching the surface now in terms of the opportunities with this technology, and in terms of other ride applications that we develop. There are just so many opportunities. We can’t wait to see what we come up with in the next few years.
“We’re always looking at ways to keep improving and coming up with new ideas. ProSlide is never going to stop innovating, so stay tuned!”
