Launch Coaster: manufacturers, specs and reference projects

A coaster accelerated by a powered launch system — LSM/LIM magnetic launch, hydraulic, compressed air or flywheel — instead of (or in addition to) a lift hill.

Our database currently lists 14 Launch Coaster manufacturers & suppliers and 48 products in this category. The most documented include Premier Rides, Intamin, Vekoma Rides, S&S Worldwide and Zamperla. Suppliers are headquartered mainly in Germany (6), United States (2), Italy (2) and Liechtenstein (1). Between them they have 190 reference installations on file.

Typical products and sub-types: LSM/LIM launch coasters, air-launch machines, multi-launch and swing-launch layouts, shuttle launch coasters, spike launches, family launch coasters, launched dark-ride coasters with show scenes.

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Launch Coaster suppliers (14)

Premier Rides (United States)
US manufacturer of launch coasters and custom ride systems, including media-integrated coaster/dark ride hybrids.
Intamin (Liechtenstein)
Premium global manufacturer with one of the industry’s broadest current coaster portfolios, spanning launch, single-rail, surf, suspended, spinning, family, inversion, hyper/giga, wooden, indoor and multidimensional systems, plus water…
Vekoma Rides (Netherlands)
Major Dutch coaster and attraction manufacturer (part of Japan's Sansei Technologies) supplying family, mine train, motorbike, thrill, tilt, flying, indoor and custom coasters plus dark rides and suspended-track flying theaters…
S&S Worldwide (United States)
US manufacturer (part of Sansei Technologies) known for launched steel coasters, free-fall drop towers and 4th Dimension coaster technology.
Zamperla (Italy)
Italian full-line amusement manufacturer.
ZIERER (Germany)
German manufacturer focused on family rides and coasters.
ART Engineering (Germany)
German manufacturer (Kirchzarten, Black Forest; est. 2003) specializing in compact family and launch roller coasters — including Family Launch Coaster and Spike Launch Coaster with Switch Track models — plus dark rides and carousels…
Mack Rides (Germany)
Historic German manufacturer with an 11-family current roller-coaster range covering YoungSTAR, family, mega, launch, Big Dipper, powered, inverted powered, hyper, Stryker and spinning platforms, alongside water and dark-ride systems.
Jinma Rides (China)
Publicly traded Chinese ride manufacturer with 420+ coaster installations.
SBF Visa Group (Italy)
Italian ride manufacturer (Visa Coasters brand) producing family and thrill roller coasters alongside a wide catalog of flat and kiddie rides.
Bolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers, Inc. (Switzerland)
Swiss engineering firm renowned for record-breaking hyper, giga and inverted steel coasters (e.g. Silver Star, Nemesis, Rapterra), designed for major destination parks worldwide.
Gerstlauer Amusement Rides (Germany)
German manufacturer known for the Euro-Fighter beyond-vertical-drop coaster and a broad range of compact, family and spinning coaster models for mid-size parks.
Maurer Rides (Germany)
German manufacturer known for the SkyLoop spinning coaster and X-Car launch systems, plus cable-driven people-mover technology for parks and cruise ships.
Intrasys GmbH Innovative Transportsysteme (Germany)
German linear-drive specialist supplying the SLIM launch and braking system: LSM/LIM motors, eddy-current brakes, control electronics, sensors, remote diagnostics and system integration for roller coasters and other high-speed attractions.

Launch Coaster products and specs (48)

ART Engineering – Family Spike Launch Coaster — ART Engineering
Single-spike shuttle variant — one open track end plus a switch track, forwards/backwards friction-wheel launches.
~71 x 30 m; track ~245 m · ~400 pph
Premier Rides – Catapult Launch Coaster — Premier Rides
Premier Rides' earlier LIM-based catapult-launch coaster design, demonstrated by the long-running Joker's Jinx installation (~825 m track, ~24 m height, ~96 km/h launch speed).
~143 x 42 m · ~1,100 pph; 2 trains, 6 cars/train, 4 seats/car
Premier Rides – Dark Ride Launch Coaster — Premier Rides
Custom platform blending an LSM-launched steel coaster with themed dark-ride scenes and show elements, built to order per client.
~95 x 61 m (Revenge of the Mummy example); ~45 x 65 m (Deep Space example) · ~2,244 pph, 12 vehicles x 16 riders (Revenge of the Mummy); ~600 pph, 2 trains x 2 cars x 12 riders (Deep Space)
Premier Rides – Dual Launch Coaster — Premier Rides
Uses two separate LSM launches to propel trains through a large, multi-inversion steel circuit, demonstrated by AlpenFury (~1,000 m track, ~50 m height, ~115 km/h top speed, 9 inversions, ~80-second ride).
~138 x 315 m · 2 trains, 18 riders/train
Premier Rides – Quadruple Launch Coaster — Premier Rides
Delivers four separate LSM launch segments within one ride circuit, shown in the Ice Breaker installation (~590-900 m track, two published measurements; ~30 m height, ~85 km/h, ~85-second ride).
~190 x 50 m · ~650-750 pph; 2 trains, 3 cars/train, 18 riders/train
Premier Rides – Sky Rocket — Premier Rides
Premier Rides' original single-launch LSM roller coaster platform, base model later expanded into Sky Rocket II/III. ~650 m track, ~30 m max height, ~80 km/h launch speed, ~65-second ride.
~132 x 50 m · ~650-700 pph; 2 trains, 2 cars/train, 12 riders/train
Premier Rides – Sky Rocket II — Premier Rides
Compact single-launch LSM coaster platform, offered in multiple variants (2-Coach, 3-Coach, Base Frame, dual-track Station Switch) sold under different park-branded names (Tigris, Hype, Sky Loop, Zombie Ride, SUPERMAN Ultimate Flight). ~260 m track, ~45 m max…
~65 x 19 m · ~430-750 pph depending on configuration; 1-2 trains, 12-18 riders/train
Premier Rides – Sky Rocket III — Premier Rides
Largest evolution of the single-launch LSM Sky Rocket family, built for a bigger, faster footprint. ~50 m height at ~110 km/h over a ~640-670 m track, ~65-second ride.
~120 x 180 m · ~650-700 pph; 2 trains, 3 cars/train, 18 riders/train
Premier Rides – Special Effects Coaster — Premier Rides
Pairs an LSM launch with staged special-effects/stunt-show elements, shown in the Backlot Stunt Coaster installation (~600 m track, ~14 m height, ~65 km/h, ~60-second ride).
~97 x 66 m · ~1,000 pph; 3 trains, 3 cars/train, 4 seats/car
Premier Rides – World Record Indoor Launch Coaster — Premier Rides
Indoor LSM launch coaster platform built for enclosed venues, demonstrated by Epiq (~60 m height, marketed as a world-record indoor coaster height, ~560 m track, ~100-second ride).
~52 x 92 m · ~450-700 pph; 2 trains, 2 cars/train, 12 riders/train
Zamperla – Lightning Triple Launch — Zamperla
Zamperla's launch coaster family built around the shared Lightning train (4 passengers/vehicle) and a swing-launch system: three sequential launches (two forward, one backward) before the train crests the ride's high point.
70.1m × 21.2m (Double Heart 50M) up to 375m × 41m (1043M) · ~600–1000 pph depending on layout
ART Engineering – Family Launch Coaster — ART Engineering
Family coaster with multiple friction-wheel-launch sections and track elements for a varied ride (launched 2021).
~56 x 70 m; track ~245 m · ~480 pph
ART Engineering – Family Shuttle Launch Coaster — ART Engineering
Shuttle-format coaster with two open 'spike' track ends, run forwards and backwards via friction-wheel launches.
~80 x 28 m; track ~220 m · ~500 pph
Gerstlauer – Launched Infinity Coaster — Gerstlauer Amusement Rides
Gerstlauer's Infinity Coaster platform offered in a launched configuration: instead of (or in addition to) the classic chain lift, an LSM launch accelerates the train into the layout, with single, pendulum (back-and-forth) and multi-launch options.
~83m × 55m (400 model) up to ~120m × 83m (860 model), depending on layout · 600–800 pph depending on layout
Intamin – Family Launch Coaster — Intamin
Family-oriented launch coaster with an open seating position prioritizing comfort over extreme thrill.
12–30 passengers per train depending on layout; throughput not published
Intamin – LSM Launch Coaster — Intamin
Intamin's flagship full-circuit LSM launch platform, marketed as the strongest launch on the market, exceeding 200km/h. Supports single-, multi- or swing-launch sequences and forward-backward launches, with inclined or vertical lift-launch options, layouts…
Train configs of 2×12 or 1×16 seats; throughput not published (bespoke per layout)
Premier Rides – Mobius Racing Launch Coaster — Premier Rides
Uses a continuous Mobius-loop track layout to run multiple LSM-launched trains simultaneously in a racing format, illustrated by West Coast Racers (~1,200 m track, ~20 m height, ~90 km/h, ~150-second ride).
~180 x 100 m · ~500-600 pph; 3 trains, 2 cars/train, 12 riders/train
Premier Rides – Tower Launch Coaster — Premier Rides
Combines an LSM launch with a vertical tower element (~40 m tower height, ~25 m top-hat height, ~275 m track), demonstrated by the Yamaha Racing Coaster installation.
~94 x 37 m · ~600-700 pph; 1 train, 12 riders/train, 6 seats/car
SBF Visa Group – Family Launch Coaster — SBF Visa Group
Compact counterpart to the Family Launch L Coaster, friction-wheel launch (not LSM/LIM), 12 m/s on 205 kW. Single/double/triple/custom launch layouts, customizable theming.
28.53 x 17.86 m, track 129 m, height 8.56 m · 14 riders/7 cars, ~360 pph
SBF Visa Group – Family Launch L Coaster — SBF Visa Group
Friction-wheel-launched coaster (not LSM/LIM) offered in single, double, triple, or custom launch layouts plus a trailer-mounted version.
39.93 x 20.67 m, track 260 m, height 14.78 m · 14 riders/7 cars, ~360 pph
Vekoma – Ghostrider — Vekoma Rides
Launch coaster to 110+ km/h in under 4 seconds, rising 53.5 m into a reversing top hat, double zero-G roll and inverted stall suspending riders over the station.
195.0 x 40.0 m · 16 riders/train, 2 trains, 1,050 pph
Vekoma – Space Warp Launch Coaster — Vekoma Rides
Part of Vekoma's compact launch-coaster line; ~80 km/h LSM launch (78 km/h top speed per spec table), sharp turns, airtime hills, corkscrews, tunnel; 560 m track, 24.8 m lift.
111.0 x 71.0 m · 16 riders/train, 1-2 trains, 560/1,100 pph
Vekoma – Super Boomerang — Vekoma Rides
Launched shuttle coaster built on the Boomerang concept — micro-gravity 30 m up, 180° twisted drop, Zero-G roll, then reverses through the course backwards.
163.0 x 13.0 m · 24 riders/train, 1 train, 800 pph
Vekoma – Top Gun Launch Coaster — Vekoma Rides
Launches to 97 km/h in 3 seconds and 32 m up; features the 'world's first Rollover Camelback,' 5 airtime moments, 4 inversions.
132 x 98 m · 8 riders/train, 4 trains, 920 pph
ZIERER – Discovery Launch Coaster — ZIERER
Family launch coaster using ZIERER’s compact magnet-disk launch technology and customizable train themes.
About 57 × 25 m; height about 6.5 m; track about 245 m · 20 riders/train; about 750 pph
ZIERER – Mini Launch Coaster — ZIERER
Compact launch-coaster concept listed in ZIERER’s current product brochure.
About 28 × 23 m; height about 7.5 m; track about 203 m · 12 riders; throughput on request
ZIERER – Tower Launch Coaster — ZIERER
ZIERER's launch coaster: an LSM (linear synchronous motor) drive shoots the train up a ~33.5m vertical lift instead of a chain hill, reaching ~90km/h over ~610m of track.
~610m track length · 5 cars × 8 passengers (40 riders per cycle); ~950 pph
Bolliger & Mabillard – Launch Coaster — Bolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Add-on launch system (not a standalone vehicle type) delivering ultra-smooth accelerations via single, multiple, or shuttle launch elements, combinable with Sitting, Surf, Wing, Inverted, Family, Floorless, or Flying vehicle configurations.
Intamin – Hot Racer — Intamin
Launched single-rail coaster offered in single-, multi-, swing-launch, racing and dueling layouts.
Custom layout; generic footprint not published
Intamin – Reverse Free Fall Coaster — Intamin
Shuttle coaster platform accelerating riders before a reverse free-fall return.
Custom layout; generic footprint not published
Intamin – Surf Rider — Intamin
Compact launched shuttle coaster with surf-style motion and a strong visual profile.
Custom layout; generic footprint not published
Intamin – Ultra Surf — Intamin
High-thrill shuttle coaster platform combining launch technology with surf-style airtime.
Custom layout; generic footprint not published
Intamin – Vertical Launch Coaster — Intamin
Two published reference layouts run 1,058m and 799m of track, both with 2×12-seat trains.
2×12-seat trains; throughput not published
Intamin – Vertical LSM Coaster — Intamin
Billed by Intamin as "the most compact launch coaster in the world," using a vertical LSM launch that can fire trains forward and backward (including upside-down) within a minimal footprint.
12-seat trains (Small/Medium), 16-seat trains (Large); throughput not published
Jinma Rides – LSM Launch Coaster TSC-20C — Jinma Rides
Current repeatable roller-coaster product line listed in Jinma Rides’ official catalog.
Custom layout; generic footprint not published
Jinma Rides – LSM Launch Roller Coaster TSC-20A — Jinma Rides
Current repeatable roller-coaster product line listed in Jinma Rides’ official catalog.
Custom layout; generic footprint not published
Mack Rides – Launch Coaster — Mack Rides
Custom LSM launch coaster supporting multiple launches, inversions, onboard media and trains up to 24 seats.
Custom layout; generic footprint not published
Mack Rides – Launched Stryker — Mack Rides
Mack's high-thrill Stryker platform is offered with a choice of classic chain lift or an LSM launch — parks specifying the launch configuration get what Mack markets as the "Launched Stryker." The open, winged seating puts riders beside the track for an…
4 riders per row, single-row trains (train length/car count configurable); hourly throughput not published
Maurer Rides – Spike Coaster — Maurer Rides
Maurer's continuously-powered coaster: a patented rack-and-pinion drive ("Infini Launch") maintains full traction throughout the track rather than relying on a lift hill and gravity, delivering repeatable launches of more than 1g anywhere on the layout…
S&S Worldwide – El Loco Coaster — S&S Worldwide
Compact-footprint coaster combining extreme drops with outward-banked turns, lap-bar restraints, on-board audio and custom lighting options.
Compact footprint (no dimensions published)
S&S Worldwide – LSM Triple Launch Coaster — S&S Worldwide
LSM-launched evolution of the El Loco platform using three linear-synchronous-motor launches, reusing track multiple times in one ride sequence to maximize value on a small footprint.
Compact footprint (no dimensions published)
Zamperla – Family Thrill Launch — Zamperla
Current Z-Coaster product family listed in Zamperla’s official roller-coaster catalog.
Custom layout; generic footprint not published
Zamperla – Lightning Launch — Zamperla
Current Z-Coaster product family listed in Zamperla’s official roller-coaster catalog.
Custom layout; generic footprint not published
Intamin – Family LSM Coaster — Intamin
A newer, family-positioned entry using an LSM system Intamin describes as adapted from its strongest launch technology.
Intamin – Impulse Coaster — Intamin
Intamin's iconic shuttle-style launch coaster: LSM-powered forward-backward launches send the train up twisted or straight track "spikes" on either end for extended weightlessness, rather than completing a full circuit.
InTraSys – SLIM Linear Drive System — Intrasys GmbH Innovative Transportsysteme
Integrated linear-motor launch and braking platform for roller coasters and other high-speed ride systems.
S&S Worldwide – Air Launch Coaster — S&S Worldwide
Launch coaster using S&S's patented pneumatic 'Air Launch' technology, described as the most powerful launch on the market.
S&S Worldwide – Quick Launch — S&S Worldwide

Frequently asked questions

Who are the main Launch Coaster manufacturers & suppliers?

We track 14 companies supplying Launch Coaster, including Premier Rides, Intamin, Vekoma Rides, S&S Worldwide and Zamperla. The largest clusters are in Germany (6), United States (2), Italy (2) and Liechtenstein (1). 14 of them have documented reference installations, which is usually the best shortlist filter.

How much space is needed for a Launch Coaster?

36 of the 48 products in this category publish a footprint. Examples: Premier Rides – Sky Rocket II — ~65 x 19 m; Premier Rides – Special Effects Coaster — ~97 x 66 m; Premier Rides – Tower Launch Coaster — ~94 x 37 m. Space requirements vary with layout and theming, so treat published figures as a starting envelope and confirm with the supplier.

What throughput or capacity can Launch Coaster products achieve?

30 products publish a capacity figure. Examples: ART Engineering – Family Launch Coaster — ~480 pph; ART Engineering – Family Shuttle Launch Coaster — ~500 pph; ART Engineering – Family Spike Launch Coaster — ~400 pph. Throughput depends on vehicle count, dispatch interval and operations, so compare like with like.

Which Launch Coaster suppliers have reference installations?

14 of the 14 suppliers have documented installations on file, 190 in total — for example Premier Rides (AlpenFury – Canada's Wonderland, Canada (2025)), Intamin (Time Rider Coaster Wheel – Gyeongju World, South Korea (2025)) and Vekoma Rides (Camp Snoopy – Kings Island, USA (2024)). Ask the database for installations in a market comparable to yours.

What counts as a Launch Coaster, and what is classified elsewhere?

A coaster accelerated by a powered launch system — LSM/LIM magnetic launch, hydraulic, compressed air or flywheel — instead of (or in addition to) a lift hill. Not included here: Lift-hill coasters with inversions → Looping Coaster. Lift-hill family rides → Family & Junior Coaster. Fully enclosed launched rides where storytelling dominates → consider Custom Signature Dark Ride.

How do I shortlist a Launch Coaster supplier?

Start from your venue type, available space and target audience, then filter by reference installations in a comparable market. Ask the database: describe your project and it returns the Launch Coaster suppliers and products that fit, with specs and reference projects.