Obligatory 'I couldn't find a better thread for this so here we go - mods please move it if there is a better place to re-home it'.
I was thinking for a bit about the parts required for various rides (especially coasters) to function properly and was really curious - why are there only a small amount of manufacturers available for parts, and when a ride manufacturer goes out of business it usually means parts become scarce?
On the surface it'd seem pretty simple - amusement rides are fairly specialized machines and parts manufacturers, if not the same as the ride manufacturers, are probably restricted by economics and proprietary design limitations to produce certain ride parts.
While this may be true for coaster wheels, for example, what's truly stopping manufacturers of similar parts for other industries to make ride components if a park were willing to pay?
Thinking things like lift motors, chains, hydraulic assemblies and motors, etc that are all fairly common items used in other industries.
I was thinking for a bit about the parts required for various rides (especially coasters) to function properly and was really curious - why are there only a small amount of manufacturers available for parts, and when a ride manufacturer goes out of business it usually means parts become scarce?
On the surface it'd seem pretty simple - amusement rides are fairly specialized machines and parts manufacturers, if not the same as the ride manufacturers, are probably restricted by economics and proprietary design limitations to produce certain ride parts.
While this may be true for coaster wheels, for example, what's truly stopping manufacturers of similar parts for other industries to make ride components if a park were willing to pay?
Thinking things like lift motors, chains, hydraulic assemblies and motors, etc that are all fairly common items used in other industries.