Black Country theme park ride maker sees orders surge to £30m as overseas demand grows

Orders have trebled so far this year at Simworx, based on the Pensnett Estate in Kingswinford, as it comes up with rides like its Immersive Tunnel that uses a 360 degree 3D screen up to 70 metres long combined with '4D' effects such as water sprays, wind and even bubbles.

This year it has created an F1 racing experience at the Ferrari Land theme park at PortAventura World in Spain, and the Kung Fu Panda Ride at Motion Gate in Dubai.

And Simworx is now receiving major international orders from China, Russia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Mexico for its latest 4D/5D effects theatres, 3D audio visual services and immersive experiences. It already supplies its hi-tech rides to clients such a Drayton Manor Theme Park, Thorpe Park, Paultons Park and Shrek's Adventure.

Simworx’s latest orders include a 'flying theatre for Hanoi in Vietnam – a ride that lifts seated visitors up into a huge dome screen and gives them the sensation that they are flying. It also has an order for an Indonesian theme park called Trans Studios to create the world’s first media-based water ride by adding 3D audio visuals to a water flume ride built by Interlink.

And Simworx has just signed a £46 million strategic co-operation agreement with a major theme park developer in China to build three new ride’s a year for the next four years.

Terry Monkton, managing director of Simworx said: “I am thrilled with the recent growth in the business and the quantity of new orders we are receiving from international markets.

"Demand for innovative media-based attractions is growing exponentially in foreign markets and we are well placed to deliver in this space thanks to our range of cutting-edge attractions.

"We will continue to focus our efforts on delivering technical excellence as we bring more adventurous and exciting products to market.”

Simworx' plan to market its rides around the worlds follows a £4.5m funding boost two years ago from BGF, the former Business Growth Fund, which enabled it to double the size of its factory in Kingwinford and recruit 20 more design and engineering staff.