S&S - Sansei Technologies, formerly S&S Worldwide, is an American company known for its pneumatically powered amusement rides and roller coaster designing. It was founded in 1994 as S&S Sports, Inc., and entered roller coaster design and the theme park industry in 2002.
The company owns the assets to Custom Coasters International and Arrow Dynamics, and continues to use designs from both former companies, most notably Arrow's "4D Free Fly" design that was conceived by Alan Schilke for X at Six Flags Magic Mountain.
History[]
S&S - Sansei Technologies was founded by Stan Checketts as S&S Sports, Inc. S&S Sports manufactured bungee jumping and trampoline equipment. S&S Sports was sold in 1996. In 1994, S&S began manufacturing air-powered amusement rides which is now the main stay of the company. S&S - Sansei Technologies is based in Logan, Utah.
In 2002, S&S began looking for opportunities to expand their business, citing acquisitions as the best method to do so. Following the bankruptcy filing of wooden roller coaster manufacturer Custom Coasters International (CCI), S&S hired founder Denise Dinn-Larrick and several other former CCI employees to start a new wooden coaster division for the company. In October 2002, S&S founded S&S Arrow, a limited liability company which purchased the assets of the bankrupt Arrow Dynamics. However, the only Arrow Dynamics coaster design S&S continues to offer is the 4th dimension coaster.
In 2004, after four wooden roller coasters were built, S&S closed that division of the company.
In 2006, S&S Power opened Celebration Centre, a Family Entertainment Center featuring a number of S&S rides and prototypes. The facility was later sold and is currently no longer operating.
On August 25, 2006 S&S Power, Inc. announced that Stan Checketts and Gene Mulvihill, both original founding partners of S&S, had formed a group to purchase a controlling interest of S & S. The negotiations took several months. CEO Checketts was to direct the company based on the same principles upon which it was founded; "...to provide the amusement industry with thrilling, high-quality rides the entire family can enjoy." Checketts also announced that the business operations of S&S would remain under the direction of Rich Allen, who would continue in his role as Chief Operating Officer.
In February 2009, Larsen MacColl Partners acquired a significant equity interest in S&S, including all shares previously owned by Checketts. The Koffman family and affiliated shareholders were to maintain their ownership interest. Checketts ended his consulting relationship with the company in order to pursue other business interests. As of December 2013, those interests included Soaring Eagle Zipline Inc., of Logan Utah.
In November 2012, S&S Worldwide Inc., entered into a binding agreement with Sansei Yusoki Co., Ltd., of Osaka, Japan, whereby Sansei acquired 77.3% interest in S&S. Signage at the 2012 and 2013 IAAPA Attractions Expos promoted the new company as S&S - Sansei Technologies.
List of roller coasters[]
As of 2019, S&S - Sansei Technologies has built 39 roller coasters around the world, eight of which are at Six Flags theme parks.
4D Free Spin coasters[]
| Name | Park | Opened | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batman: The Ride | Six Flags Fiesta Texas | 2015 | Operating | First installation of a 4D Free Spin coaster in Texas. |
| The Joker | Six Flags Great Adventure | 2016 | First 4D Free Spin coaster in New Jersey. | |
| Six Flags Great America | 2017 | First 4D Free Spin coaster in Illinois. | ||
| Six Flags New England | First 4D Free spin coaster in Massachusetts. | |||
| Six Flags Over Texas | ||||
| Wonder Woman Coaster | Six Flags México | 2018 | First 4D Free Spin coaster in Mexico. | |
| Batman: The Ride | Six Flags Discovery Kingdom | 2019 | First 4D Free Spin coaster in California. |
Air launch coasters[]
| Name | Park | Opened | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maxx Force | Six Flags Great America | 2019 | Operating | Record holder for the fastest launch in North America (60 mph) as well as the fastest inversion and the tallest double inversion in the world. Designed by Joe Draves. |
Other attractions[]
| Name | Model | Park | Opened | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scream! | Combo Tower Ride | Six Flags New England | 1998 | Operating | |
| Six Flags Fiesta Texas | 1999 | ||||
| Superman: Tower of Power | Combo Tower Ride | Six Flags Over Texas | 2003 | ||
| Catapult | Sky Swat | Six Flags AstroWorld | Removed | Known as "SWAT" from 2003 to 2005, removed after the park's closure in 2005. | |
| Six Flags New England | 2006 | Relocated from AstroWorld. Removed in 2006. | |||
| Sasquatch | Drop Tower | Six Flags Great Escape | 2009 | Operating | Formerly named Bayou Blaster and Sonic Slam at Six Flags New Orleans, closed in 2005, relocated to Great Escape and refurbished in 2008 |
