In your eye who is the most successful coaster manufacturer?

[IrishCasual]

Arrow, pioneers.

[hey...hey]

Steel-B&M, but Arrow would be a close second for being a pioneer and paving the way.

Wood-GCI...RMC coasters aren't really wood like GCI or a CCI...closer towards a steel coaster most of the time (except for Outlaw Run and such).

Edited September 22, 2014 by hey...hey

[Woodie Warrior]

B&M and Gravity Group. Sure, other companies may make more ground-breaking and intense coasters, but both companies are probably the most successful financially in the business.

[XII]

I'm gonna go with Arrow as I feel that if it wasn't for Arrow, there wouldn't be an Intamin or a B&M or any of the other major companies (except for Schwarzkoph). They may be bankrupt (thank you SFMM), but their innovations with the first steel coaster, first suspended coaster, first hyper coaster, and first 4D still stand with us today.

[thrillseeker4552]

B&M. While they may not be the company that "pushes the limits", they definitely create solid, reliable coasters that parks go crazy for. Cedar Fair has been a big purchaser from them recently, not to mention a few international parks. They have also expanded their horizons a little more recently with their first giga coaster, first family coaster, and first LSM launch coaster. Who knows, maybe we'll see a wooden coaster or a flat ride from them some day.

[JonnyRCT3]

B&M and Arrow all the way.

[rcdude]

Of the modern manufacturers, B&M. They may be a little more conservative than some companies, but B&M is the only company that can consistently deliver a major crowd pleasing steel coaster that doesn't have any significant issues. They produce a wide range of coaster types (and were the first to make several), and while some enthusiasts find their rides gimmicky or cookie-cutter they typically have the longest lines at any park with a B&M. No B&M has ever had a serious accident, and no B&M has required modification following construction due to issues discovered during testing. I've heard several parks say B&M is the best coaster company to work with, and while some of B&M's coasters are lackluster or uninspired, are any truly bad?

 

Of all manufacturers in history, however, Arrow takes the cake. They are almost solely responsible for the existence and evolution of major steel coasters. The company was very innovative, and I can't help but think they may have been limited by the technology of their time. If Arrow was still around today, I'd bet they would be the #1 roller coaster manufacturer. Think about it this way: Most Arrows pale by comparison to modern coasters, but what would your top ten steel list be excluding anything built 1990 or later? Chances are it would be mostly Arrows. Given what they did with hand calculations, and given their last traditional coaster (Tennessee Tornado), this company could have done great things had they not gone bankrupt.