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Polin delivers its world's first Sphere water slide
Turkish manufacturer Polin Waterparks and Pool Systems has completed installation of its first Sphere water slide, one of its newest signature rides, at Aqua Fantasy Waterpark in Turkey.
The small orb-shaped element forms here part of a larger water slide that also features a unique configuration of two other Polin products: a Space Boat (giant bowl) and an Uphill Navigatour (sort of water coaster ride powered by water jets). Named Super Combo by the park's owners, guests will experience this ride sitting on a two-person tube.
Introduced during the last edition of IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando, Sphere is a smaller version of another new slide concept developed by Polin's engineers: Magic Sphere, a giant sphere-shaped structure whose first model will open soon at CARTOON Network Amazone in Thailand. Unlike the latter, Sphere is a succession of small elements with enclosed sections in-between. Six additional projects of Sphere water slides have been confirmed to date by the company (five to open in 2014) in France, Russia, Tunisia, Ukraine and Croatia.
“Sphere is just another example of Polin's long-standing efforts to achieve its primary mission: offer superior quality, to always be innovative and technology leader in the water slide industry,” stated Sohret Pakis, Marketing Manager at Polin. “Those have allowed our company to create a variety of unique and thrilling water slides and water play attractions over the last few years. We continue to focus on achieving these goals, every day, every year," said Sohret Pakis. "In doing so, Polin has proven to be the recognized leader in each area. It is with great pride that we work to raise the bar for the industry to match Polin's success in creating unique and thrilling designs."
Aqua Fantasy Waterpark is part of a resort located in Selcuk along Turkey's Aegean coast. It is today one of the most important water parks in the country. This is the third project supplied by Polin since 2010. "We are excited to work again with Polin on this unique project," explained the park's General Manager Askin Altiparmak. "As an innovative waterpark, we are intrigued to welcome the first Spheres in the world. We are confident to say that the unique orb-shaped design, the appealing look and the ride experience of our new waterslide will make it one of the most popular attractions in our facility."
Just like Polin's other signature attractions, the Spheres slides are made by resin-transfer molding (RTM), the latest composites production technology available for waterslide manufacturing. “This technology has many advantages. We can obtain a perfectly shiny and smooth finish on both sides of the slide; a more homogeneous thickness distribution; perfectly smooth joints, and very important environmental advantages,” added Sohret Pakis. “Polin is the only water slide manufacturer in the world that can produce large water slide components using this technology. Most of our competitors use conventional open-mold processes, which result in dull finishes that must then go another finishing process to achieve an acceptable exterior.”
The line of Spheres products also offers Polin's patented Natural Light Effect (NLE) technology as reminded Sohret Pakis: “This manufacturing process allows the slide's tubes to come alive with a shifting rainbow of colors. This effect can be seen by both the riders inside the tubes, as well as guests looking at the rides from outside the ride. Polin's engineers invented this "natural light show" 20 years ago using a special technique that allows sunlight to filter through the slide's composite material. As water flows through the tubes, it interacts with the light to create the effect. It's true that other waterslide manufacturers offer lighting effects inside their slides. Polin's technology, however, is unique because it requires no electricity, LED lamps or phosphorous paint. Polin has now been offering Natural Light Effects with RTM manufactured waterslides and Polin is holding a patent on this.”
Sphere's technical specifications:
Height: 6 meters (19.6 feet)
Depth: 1,400 mm/5.2 meters (55 inches/17.05 feet)
Width: 1,400 mm/6 meters (55 inches/19.6 feet)
Slope: 10/40 percent
Capacity: approx 360 riders/hour (180 starts)
Drop angle: 22,50 degrees
Speed: 10 mps (22 mph)
Flow rate: 3,33 m3/min (880 gpm)
Space required: 11 meters x 7 meters for each module (36 feet x 23 feet)
For more details about Spheres water slides, Magic Spheres and Polin, please visit www.polin.com.tr or read our previous articles (see below)
NewsParcs will do a full coverage of the IAAPA Attractions Expo 2013 in Orlando to have a look at the latest trends and developments of the global theme park industry.
ped element forms here part of a larger water slide that also features a unique configuration of two other Polin products: a Space Boat (giant bowl) and an Uphill Navigatour (sort of water coaster ride powered by water jets). Named Super Combo by the park's owners, guests will experience this ride sitting on a two-person tube.
