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The last major coaster to debut for example was ten years ago, and while Rudolf Barth, owner of Olympia Looping, has long had aspirations for a multi-looping coaster of quite Olympic proportions (see what I did there?), for the time being it is most definitely on the back burner.

At the same time as the Germans become more frugal with the money they spend, German manufacturers Huss start to focus their business towards theme parks, not – as they always have done – fairs.

While Huss introduce their new ‘Giants’ range of extra large versions of their existing line up for theme parks, their range of rides such as the Breakdance and Top Spin are sidelined and called ‘Classics’.

Infact, the last travelling ride debuted by Huss was the Huss Booster, an adaptation of the Breakdance. A wonderful ride, but it was a 32-seater ride that took the transport of a 48-seater Breakdance. While to the Germans the amount of lorries is less of an issue than it is over here, the profits are clearly going to be limited in comparison to the Breakdance 2

For the showmen, the choice was easy. So they voted with their feet – only two Huss Boosters were sold to showmen.

With little or no prospect of the large showmen investing in giant coasters, and now left with spin rides even their own manufacturer call ‘Classic’, the prospects on the continent are ironically almost as gloomy as they are here.

It is still difficult to make comparisons between the increasingly economical Germans and their consistently constrained British counterparts, though, and it is hard to think that a manufacturer exists with the ability to bridge two such diverse business models.

But, such a manufacturer exists. The name of these soldiers of fortune? KMG.

Yet, how can one single manufacturer cater for the inadequacies and demands of each country? How can British showman afford to gamble on a ride that is trusted and proven by the Germans?

KMG offer the greatest balance of value versus build quality available at the moment. Huss have always manufactured robust and dependable machines that will serve the showman well (even if Tussauds seem to get through Huss parts with alarming regularity). But their rides are very expensive. While the Germans used Huss and Mondial, we used Fabbri.

While this was happening, how could the British ever hope to compete?

But, with Huss’ new priorities, continental showmen have been left in the cold, while KMG open the door and invite anyone – British or German – into the warm.

KMG rides are also some of the most compact around. They are easy to transport, and – one of their biggest selling points – easy to build up. Almost everything is hydraulically lifted or folded into place, meaning that showmen’s involvement goes little beyond pressing a button and putting in a few (hundred) bolts.

The range of rides KMG offer, too, is near unbeatable.

Their Afterburner, for example, comes in five different versions now; 16-seater Freakout, 20, 24 and 32-seater, as well as their new 16-seater XXL version of the Freakout. Continues...