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Draft:Simtec Systems

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Simtec Systems GmbH
Industry
  • Motion simulation
  • entertainment technology
  • automotive testing
Founded1989
Founders
  • Bernd Kaufmann
  • Volker Brandt
Headquarters
Braunschweig
,
Germany
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Andreas Stickel (CEO)
Products
Subsidiaries
    • Simtec Asia Co., Ltd.
    • Simtec North America, Inc
Websitewww.simtec.de

Simtec Systems GmbH is a German engineering company based in Braunschweig, Germany that designs and manufactures motion simulation systems, flying theaters, and industrial test platforms. The company operates internationally in the fields of themed entertainment, pilot training and automotive and research testing.[1][2][3] Simtec is known for developing a certified full-flight simulator for the Dornier 228 aircraft, which has been in continuous operation at the Simtec facilities at Braunschweig Research Airport since 1992.[4][5] The company has subsidiaries in China and the United States.[2][6]

History

Simtec was founded in 1989 by engineers Bernd Kaufmann and Volker Brandt at the Braunschweig university technology park. The firm’s first project was a pilot-training simulator for the Dornier 228. After the company moved to Braunschweig Research Airport, the full-flight Dornier 228 simulator was completed. It is reported as the only certified simulator for this type of aircraft.[7]

In the 1990s Simtec expanded into the entertainment sector. The Galaxy simulator at Phantasialand was developed in 1994. At the time it was one of Europe’s largest simulator attractions and the first to use an IMAX film.[8]

For the Expo '98 in Lisbon and the Expo 2000 in Hanover, the company delivered large-scale custom simulators for the German Pavilion, such as the Oceanis submarine simulator.[9][10]

During the 2000s Simtec introduced additional products. In 2005 the Alaska Ice Adventure at ZOOM Erlebniswelt Gelsenkirchen marked the company’s first zoo project.[5][11] A year later two driving simulators were installed at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.[12] Simtec also expanded into industrial applications, delivering the first HEXaDRIVE six-axis test systems for fuel tanks and automotive components.[5][3]

A breakthrough in Asia came in 2010, when Simtec developed a large FUNRIDE TR simulator for the Expo 2010 in Shanghai. The project helped establish the company’s reputation in the Chinese market.[5][10][13] In the years that followed, multiple installations were delivered to China, including HEXaFLITE flying theaters for Wanda Group parks in Nanchang and Harbin (2016–2017).[10][14] To support this growth, the subsidiary Simtec Asia Co., Ltd. was founded in 2016 with offices in Shanghai and Wuhan.[2][7][15]

In 2018 the company launched ScreenFLITE, a kinetic digital signage system at Rome Fiumicino Airport,[15] which later received the Red Dot Design Award.[16] A year later, Simtec developed Volarium at Cinecittà World in Italy,[17] which was awarded the Parksmania Award.[18] That same year, HEXaFLITE 72 theaters in Wuxi and Kunming received Golden Crown Awards in China.[19]

The 2020s saw further international growth. In 2021 the company delivered a FUNRIDE simulator to the indoor theme park Doha Quest in Qatar.[20] Three FUNRIDE 21 open-cabin simulators were supplied for the Super Wings attraction at OCT Happy Valley Chongqing in Chongqing, China.[21] To strengthen its presence in North America, the company established Simtec North America, Inc. in Orlando, Florida in 2022.[6] In 2024 Simtec installed a double-deck HEXaFLITE mini at Mercury Towers in Malta.[22]

Products and Technologies

Simtec Systems offers a range of motion simulation and ride systems for entertainment, industrial testing, flight training, and custom engineering. The company’s product portfolio is presented below, grouped into core categories:[2][4]

Entertainment and Attraction Systems

  • **HEXaFLITE Flying Theaters** – motion-based rides using six degrees of freedom (6-DOF) platforms with horizontal floor-level loading and a transition into a flight show position with riders’ feet hanging.[13][23] Available with seating for 16, 40, or 72 passengers, delivered as turnkey packages including ride system, screen, projection, audio-visual equipment, and optionally content.[24]
  • **HEXaFLITE mini** – compact variant of the flying theater designed for venues with limited ceiling height, providing full 6-DOF motion within a smaller footprint. It features a rotating loading-to-show mechanism, up to 10 seats, immersive special effects, and options for VR integration.[22][25]
  • **FUNRIDE Simulator Series** – modular motion-based simulator attractions offered in open-cabin (OCS), closed-cabin (CCS), and track-based (TR) formats, accommodating between 2 and 96 guests. They include 3–6 DOF movement, synchronization with 2D/3D projection and special effects such as wind, water, and scent.[26][27][28]
  • **HEXaPOT Dark Ride System** – 6-DOF ride platform combining unlimited yaw rotation and Stewart platform motion for high-capacity dark rides.[29]
  • **Custom Ride Engineering** – tailored development of ride cabins, motion control, audiovisual integration, show control systems, and special effects, engineered for reliability and seamless integration in complex attractions.[29]

Industrial and Automotive Test Systems

  • **HEXaDRIVE** – six-axis hydraulic motion platforms used in laboratory testing of automotive components such as fuel tanks, seats and batteries.[5][3] According to company information, the systems are also available in versions designed for explosive environments (ATEX/IECEx compliant).[30]
  • **Flight and Driving Simulation** – systems derived from industrial research methods; tailored for flight or driving testing scenarios; supports integrated component and vehicle testing.[4]

Digital Signage Systems

  • **ScreenFLITE** – kinetic display system consisting of multiple LED panels mounted on robotic arms. The system allows the screens to move, rotate, and combine into dynamic formations, enabling airports and venues to present advertising and information in an eye-catching format.[15] The first installation was completed in 2018 at Rome Fiumicino Airport.[31]

Pilot Training

Simtec continues to operate the only certified full-flight simulator for the Dornier 228 aircraft, based in Braunschweig. The facility provides Type Rating and recurrent pilot training under EASA/JAA standards and attracts pilots from around the world.[4]

Major projects

Name Model Park / Venue Location Year Description Reference
Dornier 228 flight simulator Full-flight simulator Simtec Systems Facilities Braunschweig, Germany 1992 Only certified full-flight simulator for Dornier 228, used for pilot training. [4]
Galaxy FUNRIDE simulator Phantasialand Brühl, Germany 1994 Large simulator attraction, used an IMAX film. [8][10]
Oceanis FUNRIDE simulator German Pavilion, Expo '98 Lisbon, Portugal 1998 Submarine-themed simulator for the world exposition, carrying up to 80 passengers. [9]
Time Shuttle FUNRIDE installations EU Pavilion, Expo 2000 Hanover, Germany 2000 Multiple simulators, including 'Time Shuttle', Regenwaldhaus and Oceanis Museum. [2][9][10]
Alaska Ice Adventure FUNRIDE CCS 50 ZOOM Erlebniswelt Gelsenkirchen Gelsenkirchen, Germany 2005 Closed-cabin simulator, first turnkey zoo project. [5][11]
Driving simulators HEXaDRIVE HOVER Mercedes-Benz Museum Stuttgart, Germany 2006 Immersive driving simulators. [5][12]
Shanghai Pavilion simulator FUNRIDE TR 60 Expo 2010, Shanghai Shanghai, China 2010 60-seat simulator with dome projection; marked Simtec’s breakthrough in China. [10]
Power of Nature FUNRIDE OCS 96 Wanda Movie Park, Wuhan Wuhan, China 2014 Moving platform with seating for 96 visitors distributed across several sections.

[27][32]

Fly over Jiangxi HEXaFLITE 72 Wanda Movie Park, Nanchang Nanchang, China 2016 Large dome flying theater with 72 seats. [33]
Dark ride Interactive dark ride system Wanda Harbin Theme Park Harbin, China 2017 Track-based interactive dark ride with 360° rotation. [14]
Le Chandelier ScreenFLITE Rome Fiumicino Airport Fiumicino, Italy 2018 Kinetic digital signage system with 12 rotating LED displays. [15][31]
Volarium HEXaFLITE 40 Cinecittà World Rome, Italy 2019 First flying theater in Italy; received the Parksmania Award. [34][35]
Jiangsu in the Air HEXaFLITE 72 Wuxi Sunac Land Wuxi, China 2019 Large-scale flying theater; received an Asian Attractions Golden Crown Award. [19]
Yunnan in the Air HEXaFLITE 72 Kunming Sunac Land Kunming, China 2019 Large-scale flying theater, received an Asian Attractions Golden Crown Award. [19]
Legend of the Golden Oryx FUNRIDE CCS 30 Quest Doha Oasis Doha, Qatar 2021 Closed-cabin motion simulator with special effects. [20]
Super Wings FUNRIDE OCS 21 (3 units) Happy Valley Chongqing Chongqing, China 2021 Three open-cabin simulators for theme park, received Asian Attractions Golden Crown Award. [21][26]
Odyssey Malta HEXaFLITE mini (dual) Mercury Towers St. Julian's, Malta 2024 Double-deck mini flying theater with two 10-seat gondolas.

[22][36]

Awards

  • 2019 – Red Dot Award for Product Design for the ScreenFLITE digital signage system at Rome Fiumicino Airport.[16]
  • 2019 – Parksmania Award for the Volarium flying theater at Cinecittà World, Rome.[18][34]
  • 2020 – Two Asia Attractions Golden Crown Awards: Outstanding Thrill Rides Supplier (International) for HEXaFLITE 72 in Kunming and Outstanding Big Rides Supplier (International) for HEXaFLITE 72 in Wuxi.[19]
  • 2022 – Two Asia Attractions Golden Crown Awards: Outstanding Motion/Flying Theaters Supplier (International) for HEXaFLITE 72 in Chongqing and Outstanding Family Ride Supplier (International) for FUNRIDE 21 in Chongqing.[26]


References

  1. ^ "Simtec Systems". Planet Attractions. Planet Attractions Ltd. 22 September 2021. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Simtec Systems: Motion Simulation Expertise" (PDF). Attractions Management (4). Leisure Media: 106. 2018. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  3. ^ a b c "Pulsschlag der Manufaktur – ERP system at Simtec Systems". PSI Software AG. 2023. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Simtec simulation technology GmbH – pilot training and Dornier 228 full-flight simulator". Forschungsflughafen Braunschweig. Forschungsflughafen GmbH. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "Simtec Systems – Hidden Champion aus Braunschweig". braunschweig.de (in German). City of Braunschweig. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  6. ^ a b "Simtec Systems opens North American subsidiary". Blooloop. Blooloop Ltd. 2022-09-15. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  7. ^ a b "Simtec Systems: company history and foundation 1989". AP Verlag (in German). AP-Verlag GmbH. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  8. ^ a b "Galaxy – Phantasialand (Simtec / IMAX Simulator Ride)". Dark Ride Database. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  9. ^ a b c "Passing by 1 Flight Sim – Case Study (Oceanis, Expo 1998 Lisbon)" (PDF). BSF Filtertechniek. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  10. ^ a b c d e f "Nervenkitzel pur: Was sich hinter dem fliegenden Theater von Simtec verbirgt". die-region.de (in German). Allianz für die Region. 2022-07-14. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  11. ^ a b "Alaska Ice Adventure – ZOOM Erlebniswelt Gelsenkirchen". Coaster.Cloud (in German). Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  12. ^ a b "Simtec Driving Simulator at New Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart". EAP Magazine. G. P. Probst Verlag GmbH. 2006. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  13. ^ a b "Highly precise motion control and synchronization in Simtec test systems". Beckhoff Automation. Beckhoff Automation GmbH & Co. KG. 2015. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  14. ^ a b "Simtec Systems delivers dark ride to Wanda City Movie Park". Blooloop. Blooloop Ltd. 2017-07-31. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  15. ^ a b c d "Simtec Systems' ScreenFLITE installed at Rome Fiumicino Airport". Blooloop. Blooloop Ltd. 2018-06-15. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  16. ^ a b "ScreenFLITE wins Red Dot Award: Product Design 2019". Red Dot Design Award. Red Dot GmbH & Co. KG. 2019. Retrieved 2025-09-08.
  17. ^ "Volarium – Cinecittà World". Dark Ride Database. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  18. ^ a b "Volarium – the flying Cinema". Cinecittà World. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
  19. ^ a b c d Coates, Charlotte (18 December 2020). "Simtec Systems receives Asia Attractions Golden Crown Awards in two categories". Blooloop. Blooloop Ltd. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  20. ^ a b "Germany: Simtec Develops New "FUNRIDE 30" Ride System". EAP Magazine. G. P. Probst Verlag GmbH. 2019-08-07. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  21. ^ a b Coates, Charlotte (2020-10-28). "Simtec Systems to supply FUNRIDE-21 simulators for Super Wings attraction at OCT Happy Valley Chongqing". Blooloop. Blooloop Ltd. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  22. ^ a b c Whittaker, Adam (2024-08-05). "Odyssey: Malta's world first flying theater attraction launches in 2024". Blooloop. Blooloop Ltd. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  23. ^ "HEXaFLITE Flying Theater – Product Page". Dark Ride Database. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  24. ^ "Simtec HEXaFLITE Flying Theater – Overview". FlyingTheaters.com. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  25. ^ "Smaller flying theater is the new trend". Endure Screens. Endure Screens Ltd. 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  26. ^ a b c "Simtec Systems receives two Golden Crown Awards". Blooloop. Blooloop Ltd. 2022-04-28. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  27. ^ a b "Simtec Systems develops new FUNRIDE 30 simulator". Blooloop. Blooloop Ltd. 2019-08-09. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  28. ^ "FUNRIDE™ Simulator Series – Product Page". Dark Ride Database. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  29. ^ a b "Simtec Systems GmbH – Company Directory Entry". Blooloop. Blooloop Ltd. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  30. ^ "Testsysteme – Flug- und Fahrsimulatoren". Simtec Systems GmbH (in German). Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  31. ^ a b "Anwendungen – Simtec Systems". Wittenstein SE (in German). Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  32. ^ "Power of Nature – Dark Ride Database". Dark Ride Database. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  33. ^ "Fly Jiangxi – Dark Ride Database". Dark Ride Database. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  34. ^ a b "Parksmania Awards 2019 Winners". Parksmania.it (in Italian). Parksmania. 18 October 2019. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  35. ^ Novak, Stefan (2019-05-14). "Cinecittà World startet Flying-Theater "Volarium" neu 2019 – Erstes Flying-Theater Italiens". Parkerlebnis.de (in German). Parkerlebnis. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  36. ^ "Odyssey Malta". Museum Explorer. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
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