Vekoma Rides Expands Horizons with New Office in Downtown Orlando

Vekoma Rides vice president Ricardo Etges stands proudly in his company’s newly established office in downtown Orlando, declaring, “Orlando, Central Florida overall, is the hub for the theme park industry.” (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)

By Dewayne Bevil | dbevil@orlandosentinel.com | Orlando Sentinel

UPDATED: May 15, 2025 at 2:34 PM EDT

Although the sounds of roller coasters may not echo through the streets of downtown Orlando, the thrill of amusement rides is now firmly rooted in the area. Vekoma Rides, a renowned manufacturing powerhouse from the Netherlands, has officially opened a North American office in the heart of the downtown business district.

Vekoma’s Strategic Move

Ricardo Etges, the vice president for sales and marketing for the Americas, emphasizes the significance of the location, stating, “This is the place to be in terms of theme parks, even though we work all over the U.S.” Etges, who is Vekoma’s first employee based in Orlando, is leading a team of eight individuals in the new office near the busy intersection of Orange Avenue and South Street, which includes research and development engineers.

Expanding Engineering Capabilities

Etges explains, “We basically have an extension of our engineering department in the Netherlands.” With a workforce of 250 to 300 in the Netherlands, Vekoma recognized the opportunity to enhance its engineering capacity by leveraging local resources in Orlando.

A Rich History in Amusement Rides

Founded in 1926, Vekoma initially produced farm equipment before transitioning to steel products for various industries, including coal mining and petrochemicals. The company shifted its focus to amusement park rides in the 1970s and has increasingly concentrated on the North American market since 2019.

Recent Developments and Future Projects

In March, Vekoma celebrated the opening of the Flash: Vertical Velocity at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, marking the debut of the first “super boomerang” coaster in the Western world. Additionally, the company is currently constructing Siren’s Curse, a tilt coaster at Cedar Point in Ohio.

• A traditional lift-hill coaster with a unique seesaw element
• Features a train that parks horizontally, transitioning to a vertical position before release

Among Vekoma’s notable Florida installations are Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and Tron / Lightcycle Run at Magic Kingdom, along with Epcot’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, which made its debut in 2022. The company has also contributed to rides at Universal Orlando and Legoland Florida.

Proactive Client Engagement

The establishment of the Orlando office aims to enhance Vekoma’s presence in Central Florida and foster proactive relationships with clients. “A roller coaster is almost like you have a long-term relationship with the park,” Etges explains. “It’s not just about installing the ride; it’s about keeping it operational and reliable for decades.”

Benefits of the Central Florida Location

Having a local office offers numerous advantages, including proximity to theme parks, vendors, potential employees, and events like November’s IAAPA Expo at the Orange County Convention Center. Etges notes, “We usually have 15 to 20 people from our team coming from the Netherlands, and we have a lot of meetings with clients” at the Expo.

At the convention, Vekoma typically showcases at least one vehicle produced by the Orlando-based International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.