Von Roll Holding AG is a Swiss industrial group that operates worldwide that was founded in 1803. As one of Switzerland's longest-established industrial companies, Von Roll focuses today on products and systems for electrical applications such as power generation, transmission, and storage as well as e-mobility and industrial applications. It made gondola systems, monorails, and funicular systems at attractions in various countries.
History Von Roll has its roots in the Eisenwerke der Handelsgesellschaft der Gebrüder Dürholz & Co. (Ironworks of the commercial firm of the Brothers Dürholz & Co.) which was established in 1803. This firm was then taken over in 1810 by Von Roll & Cie, newly formed by Ludwig Freiherr von Roll (1771–1839) and Jakob von Glutz. In May 1823, Ludwig von Roll founded the Gesellschaft der Ludwig von Roll'schen Eisenwerke which benefited from industrialization and railroad construction that demanded a lot of iron.Von Roll Holding AG - This History of Von Roll
Von Roll participated in the construction of the Wetterhorn Elevator in 1908.
The business developed into one of the most important industrial groups in Switzerland with more than 10,000 employees in the 1970s. Like other Swiss companies, Von Roll suffered during the oil crisis of 1973. The company underwent financial restructuring after financial restructuring, seemingly without end. As recently as 2003, Von Roll had to fight for its survival. At the end of 2002, following the accumulated losses of previous years, Von Roll's equity capital had shrunk to 10.3 million. In 2004 the company initiated a new strategy to focus on the insulation business, beginning its turnaround.
The main shareholder is in early 2019 August von Finck Jr. family with above 65% of the quotes. After the conversion of some convertible bonds in December 2018 the composition of shareholders became unclear. In 2019 the company is involved in law case for some salaries paid in euro (€).
Von Roll Seilbahnen AG Von Roll Seilbahnen AG was the aerial tramway and cableway division that was sold to Austrian manufacturer Doppelmayr in 1996.
Products Perhaps Von Roll's best-known product was the type 101 sky ride or simply "VR101" that operated in many amusement parks. A total of over 100 were installed. As of 2008, only ten remained operational. On 30 December 1954 Felseneggbahn was opened. It was built by Von Roll in seven months for one million Swiss francs. It still runs, and on 31 March 2010, it carried its 10 millionth passenger.Tages-Anzeiger online (1 April 2010): Der 10-millionste Fahrgast kommt aus Schweden The Disneyland Skyway was Von Roll's first aerial ropeway in the United States. It opened on 23 June 1956 and closed on 9 November 1994. The first Von Roll VR101 was built in Flims, in 1944, and replaced in 1986.
Operating Von Roll Type 101s Ride name Opened Park name Location Notes Krupka-Komáří Sky Ride 1952Lanová Dráha KrupkaKrupka, Czech RepublicThe last VR101 Sidechair lift in the world, not to be replaced for a long time. Received historical status. The oldest and longest-serving detachable monocable ropeway in history. Skyride 1962Cedar PointSandusky, OhioUses former Frontier Lift cabins. Skyride 1962SuperlandRishon LeZion, Israel Skyride 1964Minnesota State FairFalcon Heights, Minnesota Bayside Skyride 1967SeaWorld San DiegoSan Diego, CaliforniaRound-trip ride. Skyfari 1969San Diego ZooSan Diego, California Skyride 1974Busch Gardens TampaTampa, Florida Sky Lift 1974Taman SafariBogor, Indonesia Aeronaut Skyride 1975Busch Gardens WilliamsburgWilliamsburg, Virginia3 stations, all one-way. Delta Flyer / Eagle's Flight 1976California's Great AmericaSanta Clara, California Skyride 1980Washington State FairPuyallup, WashingtonOriginally built for the 1962 Seattle World's Fair. Cableway 1995National Coffee ParkQuindío Department, ColumbiaCombination ride of Bronx Zoo and Knoxville World's Fair rides.
Former Von Roll Type 101s Ride Name Opened Closed Park Name Location Notes Alpine Swiss Skyride 1963 1994Aquarena SpringsSan Marcos, TexasClosed in 1994, removed in 2013. Jennerbahn 1953 2017Berchtesgaden National ParkBerchtesgaden, Bavaria, Germany Replaced by a modern 10-passenger gondola. The second-to-last VR101 in Europe. Original chairs replaced in the 1970s - 1980's with gondola cabins. Astrolift 1967 1981Six Flags Over GeorgiaAustell, GeorgiaCabins used for Sky Buckets. Astrolift 1961 1981Six Flags Over TexasArlington, TexasRemoved over safety concerns. Astroway 1968 2005Six Flags AstroWorldHouston, TexasDemolished along with the park, some parts and cabins moved to Six Flags Over Georgia and Six Flags Great Adventure, while others were auctioned off. Brussels World's Fair Skyride 1960 1976LakelandMemphis, Tennessee Delta Flyer / Eagle's Flight 1976 1984Six Flags Great AmericaGurnee, IllinoisCabins moved to Six Flags Great Adventure. Frontier Lift 1968 1985Cedar PointSandusky, OhioCabins used on Skyride, removed for Iron Dragon. Gondola Skyride 1982 ????World's Fair 1982Knoxville, TennesseeRelocated to Parque Nacional del Café. Lake Louise Gondola 1959 2019Lake LouiseLake Louise, Alberta, CanadaBuilt in 1959. New England Sky Way 1973 2014Six Flags New EnglandAgawam, MassachusettsBuilt in 1963 at Coney Island (Brooklyn, NY); removed to build Wicked Cyclone. Ocean Skyway 1958 1967Pacific Ocean ParkSanta Monica, CaliforniaRelocated to Legend City (Phoenix, AZ) as Sky Ride. Tucson Mining Company Ore Buckets 1960 1964Freedomland USABronx, New YorkTowers were later used at Great Adventure, Jackson, NJ; believed that the buckets were from the 1958 Brussels World's Fair. Satellite 1968 1983Legend CityPhoenix, Arizona Sky Buckets 1968 2020Six Flags Over GeorgiaAustell, GeorgiaCabins moved to Six Flags Great Adventure. Skyfari 1972 2009Bronx ZooBronx, New YorkRelocated to Parque Nacional del Café. Skyride 1964 1999Brackenridge ParkSan Antonio, TexasClosed in 1999, removed in 2002 due to maintenance costs. Skyride 1965 1971Coney IslandCincinnati, OhioRelocated to Kings Island. Skyride 1968 ????Hemisfair '68San Antonio, TexasContinued operation after fair closure. Skyride 1972 1979Kings IslandMason, OhioRelocated from Coney Island (Cincinnati, OH). Skyride 1967 1996La RondeMontreal, Quebec, CanadaBuilt for 1967 World's Fair, demolished; only boarding-station platform remains. Skyride 1972 1997OprylandNashville, TennesseeParts moved to Six Flags New England. Skyride 1966 1975Pirates WorldDania, Florida Skyride 1965 2023Tulsa State FairgroundsTulsa, OklahomaThe Tulsa Skyride ran from 1971 to 2006 at Bell's Amusement Park. After Bell's closed, it was then run by the county during state fairs until 2019. In 2023 it was dismantled and sold to GT Amusement Service, an Iraq based company who states they plan to refurbish and re-open it in the United Arab Emirates Skyway 1956 1994DisneylandAnaheim, CaliforniaRemoved due to stress cracks in Matterhorn battery. Skyway 1971 1999Magic KingdomLake Buena Vista, Florida Skyway 1983 1998Tokyo DisneylandUrayasu, Chiba, Japan Skyway 1974 2024Six Flags Great AdventureJackson Township, New JerseyOriginally built for the 1964 World's Fair in Queens. Parts moved to Cedar Point, One of the cabins moved to Kings Dominion for shelving. Sky-Way 1971 1981Six Flags St. LouisEureka, MissouriAccident on 26 July 1978 killed 3 and seriously injured 1. Cabins moved to Six Flags AstroWorld. Southern Cross 1977 1983Six Flags Great AmericaGurnee, Illinois Cabins moved to Six Flags Great Adventure. Space Ride 1963 1967Riverview ParkChicago, Illinois Swiss Skyride 1964 1979Fair Park/State Fair of TexasDallas, TexasRemoved after accident, 1 killed. Union 76 Skyride 1962 1980Century 21 ExpositionSeattle, WashingtonRan at Seattle Center, relocated to Washington State Fair. Sky Hi 1973 1987Worlds of FunKansas City, Missouri
Monorail
The Mk II and Mk III monorail automated people mover (APM) systems were installed in a variety of locations before the technology was sold to Adtranz (later Bombardier), which continues to supply the parts for the monorail systems.
AirTrain Newark opened in 1996 and is a Von Roll system. The AirTrain Newark system was extended to connect with Amtrak and NJ Transit in 2001. The current system is expected to be fully replaced by 2030.
The monorail cars at Alton Towers theme park in England were built for Expo 86 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Von Roll also manufactured the old Sentosa Monorail in Sentosa Island, Singapore, in 1982, which closed down in March 2005.
The Jurong Bird Park Panorail in Jurong Bird Park, Singapore is a four-car straddle-beam monorail that began operation in 1991 and ceased operations in 2012.
Australia has had a total of four Von Roll Monorail systems, all of which are now retired. For example, a Von Roll MkII system at Sea World theme park on the Gold Coast (first monorail in Australia which opened in 1986). A MkIII Monorail system in nearby Broadbeach linking Oasis Shopping Centre to Jupiter's Hotel & Casino opened in 1989, but closed on 29 January 2017 due to life-expired equipment and declining patronage.Oasis Skylink Opens Transit Australia November 1989 page 254Broadbeach Monorail will shut down in 2017 as Oasis plans major revamp for new restaurants Gold Coast Bulletin 9 December 2016 Another MkIII Monorail system, the Sydney Monorail, operated in Australia linking the City Centre to Darling Harbour, began operation on 21 July 1988 and due to a lack of spare parts it ceased operation on 30 June 2013. A MkII Monorail system was also in operation during World Expo 88 held in Brisbane, Australia, with a loop around the expo site at Southbank. After Expo it was dismantled and three of the four trains were sold back to Von Roll for use at Europa-Park in Germany; the fourth train and some of the track was sold to Sea World.
Space Towers Cedar Point's Space Spiral, Astro World's Astro needle and Coney's Space Tower were built by Willy Bühler Space Towers Company of Berne, Switzerland, with cabins by Von Roll. In 1971 Intamin started marketing these towers and contracted these same companies to build them. Willy Bühler Space Towers was eventually acquired by Von Roll.
Funicular systems Falls Incline Railway, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, 1966
See also Von Roll rack system List of aerial lift manufacturers
References
External links
http://www.vonroll.com/