Theme park ride maker behind James Bond attractions collapses into administration after 26 years

RoboCoaster Ltd, the British theme park ride manufacturer whose robotic technology featured in James Bond films and attractions at some of the world's best-known leisure destinations, has entered administration after 26 years in business.

Joint administrators Mark Malone and Gareth Prince of Begbies Traynor were appointed on June 22, bringing an end to more than a quarter of a century of trading for the specialist company.

The business, which was registered at the Pensnett Estate in Kingswinford, specialised in manufacturing metal structures and components for the leisure industry and built a reputation for combining robotic engineering with immersive entertainment experiences.

Those seeking further information about the administration process have been advised to contact William Davies at Begbies Traynor's Birmingham office.

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RoboCoaster was founded with the aim of integrating robotic technology into the entertainment and leisure sectors, developing ride systems that went on to secure international recognition.

Its distinctive robotic arms appeared in several major Hollywood productions, including the James Bond film "Die Another Day", "The Da Vinci Code" and "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life".

The exposure helped establish RoboCoaster as a recognised name within the global attractions industry and supported its expansion into theme parks and visitor destinations around the world.

The company developed close partnerships with robotics manufacturer KUKA and attractions specialist Dynamic Attractions, with the relationship playing a key role in the creation and development of its signature ride systems.

By 2012, more than 200 RoboCoaster units had been installed worldwide, alongside a number of travelling models designed for temporary attractions and events.

Its technology was adopted by several high-profile operators, including Universal Studios parks in Hollywood and Japan.

Legoland parks in California, Germany and Billund in Denmark also incorporated RoboCoaster ride systems into their attractions.

Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi was among the firm's international customers, while UK visitors could experience the technology at the Grand Pier and Xscape Braehead in Renfrew.

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The original RoboCoaster G1 concept emerged from the company's collaboration with KUKA and featured pairs of passengers seated on a stationary robotic arm capable of delivering a highly controlled ride experience.

The business later expanded its offering with the G2 series, which was introduced in 2004 through a partnership with AMEC Dynamic Structures, now known as Dynamic Attractions.

This more advanced system combined KUKA robotic arms with track-mounted technology, allowing vehicles to move through attractions while delivering complex ride motions.

From 2014, RoboCoaster also began supplying four-person G2 vehicles aimed at smaller leisure venues seeking fixed attractions with a reduced footprint.

In 2015, media attraction specialist Simworx acquired RoboCoaster following a £4.5million investment from The British Growth Fund.

The funding package supported the acquisition, provided additional working capital and facilitated the buyout of previous private equity investors.

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