Universal Bedford will need world-class ride manufacturers to deliver its ambitious line-up. We examine which companies are most likely to build the park's headline attractions.
Behind every great theme park ride stands a manufacturer — an engineering company that transforms creative visions into steel, track, and motion. Universal Studios Bedford will require the services of several of the world's leading ride manufacturers to deliver its ambitious attraction line-up. Understanding who these companies are and what they specialise in offers fascinating insight into what Bedford's ride portfolio might look like.
Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard, universally known as B&M, is arguably the most respected name in the roller coaster industry. Founded in 1988 by Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard, the company has built some of the world's most iconic coasters, including The Incredible Hulk Coaster at Universal's Islands of Adventure, Nemesis at Alton Towers, and Fury 325 at Carowinds.
B&M's reputation rests on three pillars: reliability, smoothness, and capacity. Their coasters are engineered to run for decades with minimal downtime, deliver a butter-smooth ride experience even at extreme speeds, and process thousands of riders per hour thanks to efficient loading systems. Universal has a long and successful relationship with B&M, making them a near-certain partner for Bedford.
Expect B&M to supply at least one major coaster for Bedford — potentially a hyper coaster, a flying coaster, or an inverted coaster. Their track record with Universal parks, including the recently opened VelociCoaster-style installations, makes them the obvious choice for Bedford's headline steel coasters.
Swiss-Liechtenstein manufacturer Intamin has been pushing the boundaries of ride technology for decades. Known for innovation over convention, Intamin builds rides that other manufacturers will not attempt. Their portfolio includes Kingda Ka (the world's tallest coaster), Formula Rossa (the world's fastest), and the revolutionary Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at Universal Orlando.
Intamin's willingness to build bespoke, highly themed attractions makes them a natural partner for Universal. Hagrid's, which combines a launched coaster with a dark ride and features multiple show scenes, free-fall drops, and a catapult launch, is widely considered one of the greatest theme park attractions ever built. If Bedford includes a similarly ambitious hybrid attraction, Intamin is the most likely manufacturer.
The company also builds excellent launch coasters, water rides, and drop towers, giving Universal multiple options for Bedford's attraction roster.
Dutch manufacturer Vekoma has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years. Once known primarily for budget coasters with rough ride experiences, the company has reinvented itself as a premium manufacturer of innovative, smooth, and highly themed rides. Their new-generation mine train coasters, family boomerangs, and launched coasters rival anything from B&M or Intamin.
Vekoma's close relationship with Walt Disney Parks — they built Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, and numerous other Disney classics — demonstrates their ability to deliver complex, themed attractions at the highest level. Universal could tap Vekoma for family-friendly coasters and dark ride systems that require precise, programmable ride vehicles.
Beyond coaster manufacturers, Universal will need dark ride specialists. Companies like Dynamic Attractions, ETF Ride Systems, and Oceaneering build the ride vehicles and motion platforms that power attractions like Transformers: The Ride, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, and The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man. These companies work behind the scenes but their technology is what makes Universal's signature screen-based dark rides possible.
Mack Rides, a German family-owned manufacturer, builds excellent launch coasters and water rides and has been expanding its partnerships beyond Europa-Park. Zamperla, an Italian company, has been winning contracts at major parks with innovative flat rides and compact coasters. S&S Worldwide supplies free-spin coasters and air-launch systems. Any of these companies could contribute to Bedford's ride line-up.
A well-designed theme park uses multiple manufacturers to diversify its ride portfolio. By working with B&M for capacity coasters, Intamin for innovative headline attractions, Vekoma for family rides, and specialist firms for dark rides, Universal can ensure Bedford offers a range of experiences that appeals to every visitor. The choice of manufacturers is one of the most telling indicators of a park's ambitions, and Universal's existing relationships with the industry's best suggest Bedford will be equipped with nothing less than world-class hardware.
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