FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 03, 2013
Istanbul, Turkey
Aqua Fantasy Waterpark Unveils World’s First “Sphere”
Waterslide
Introduced at last fall’s IAAPA show in Orlando, the Sphere water slide is first in
the World with Polin’s patented orb-shaped design.
Istanbul, Turkey (June 03, 2013) –Polin Waterparks and Pool Systems (Turkey) is proud to announce the opening of one of its
newest signature rides: The “Sphere” waterslide.
Introduced at the November 2012 International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Expo, Polin is installing
seven of these pioneering waterslides at facilities in France, Tunisia, Ukraine, Croatia, Russia and Turkey. The first five locations are
expected to open their “Spheres” by next year. But the honor of launching the first “Sphere” in the world goes to the facility in
Selcuk, Izmir: Aqua Fantasy Waterpark. The installation of the waterslide at Aquafantasy is nearing completion and the ride will be
opening by mid June.
The Spheres is just another example of Polin’s long-standing efforts to achieve its primary mission:
To be always innovative
To offer superior quality worldwide
To be the technology leader in the waterslide industry.
Those goals have allowed the company to create a variety of unique and thrilling water slides and water play attractions over the
last few years. In particular, the company introduced the original Magic Sphere and Spheres rides in 2011 and the King Cobra in
2010.
“We continue to focus on achieving these goals, every day, every year,” says 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 Inaugurates First Spheres
Aqua Fantasy Waterpark which is one of the most prominent waterpark in Turkey, began working with Polin several years ago when
it began expanding its offerings. The park is a part of the Aqua Fantasy Hotel and Spa, located in the ancient city of Selcuk along
th
Turkey’s Aegean cost. The first project involved Polin in helping the park celebrate its 10 anniversary three years ago with the
installation of several new rides. A year later, Aqua Fantasy again chose Polin to add another new signature ride.
Now, in 2013, Aqua Fantasy aims to create even greater enthusiasm among its guests with the addition of Polin’s Sphere within a
unique 4 in 1 ride design. The installation of the Sphere at Aqua Fantasy will be the first to show off the ride’s inventive design and
ride configuration—features so unique that Polin recently received both international and U.S. patents on them. Plus, it is not only
the new ride, Sphere to be a first in the industry, but also the 4 in 1 ride configuration is the first in the industry. Aquafantasy named
the new ride as “Super Combo”.
“Super Combo” is the first in the World to feature a 4 in 1 ride configuration
Aqua Fantasy expects the new ride to incite particular excitement among guests because it has been combined with several other
highly popular Polin attractions: a Space Boat, a Navigatour, an Uphill Navigatour and Sphere. Guests board the ride on a twoperson tube from a soaring tower that launches them down an enclosed tube and into Polin’s popular Space Boat ride. Gaining
speed from their lofty launch, riders gain velocity as they shoot into the huge, open bowl of this ride. Centrifugal force leads guests
on a whirling turn around and around the bowl before they plummet through the bottom into a tunnel. There, guests begin
travelling via hydro jets and water-injection propulsion through a series of exhilarating highs and lows via Polin’s Navigatour and
Uphill Navigatour inventions.
After that exhilarating journey, guests reach the groundbreaking new attraction, a Sphere connected by tubes. As riders rocket into
the orb (smaller version of Polin’s giant 4 persons family ride Magic Sphere – see the image below-, which was introduced two
years ago, and is now being installed at Cartoon Network Amazone Waterpark), they loop around the perimeter multiple times
before shooting out the bottom, through a tunnel. Finally, after experiencing a dizzying and thrilling ride through the orb, they
splash out into a pool that ends their journey.
“We are excited to work with Polin on this unique project again this year. 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 multiple ride
route and the ride experience of our new waterslide will make it one of our most popular waterslide in our park,” said Aquafantasy
Waterpark General Coordinator Askin Altiparmak.
Attractions That Thrill Both Riders and Spectators
The Spheres, like Polin’s other signature attractions, is manufactured via resin-transfer molding (RTM) closed molded composites
production technology which is the latest technology in waterslide manufacturing. This technology has many advantages. We can
obtain a perfectly shiny and smooth finish on both sides of the slide; a more homogenous thickness distribution; perfectly smooth
joints, and very important environmental advantages. Polin refers to the look as Magic Shine. Most waterslide manufacturers use
conventional open-mold processes, which result in dull finishes that must then go another finishing process to achieve an acceptable
exterior. RTM technology is mostly used in the automotive, marine and aircraft industries. Polin is the only waterslide manufacturer
in the world that can produce large waterslide components using this technology and that can offer the complete line as RTM.
Along with the appealing aesthetic of a glossy exterior, Polin’s Spheres waterslide also offers another innovative and patented
feature: Polin’s Natural Light Effect (NLE) technology. During daylight, 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. No other waterslide manufacturer can offer this appealing special
effect with an RTM manufactured waterslide.
Sphere’s Special Features
One of the features that make the Spheres particularly appealing to guests is its unique ride path. No trip through the attraction is
ever the same as guides whirl around the orb’s interiors. Other major advantages to the ride include:
A size and design that allows the attraction to match a park’s specific theme and colors
Strong visual impact
A fully enclosed version for a completely dark attraction
A partly open version with half open or partly open bowls
Conveyor or tower entry options
Optional special effects (visual and auditory)
Double, triple and quadruple version choices
Pool or run-out exits.
Sphere’s Technical Specifications
Typical 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: 180*2 persons/hour
Tubes: Double
Drop angle: 22,50 degrees
Speed: 10 mps (22 mph)
Exit: Dry out or Pool
Natural Light Effect (NLE) applicability
Magic Shine applicability
Special Pattern Effects (SPE) applicability
Translucency applicability
Flow rate: 880 gpm
Space required: 11 meters x 7 meters for each module (36 feet x 23 feet)
###
For more on Aqua Fantasy Waterpark, visit its website at http://www.aquafantasy.com/.
Please click here for high-resolution images to accompany this story.
Click here for more information about Spheres
Click here for more information about Magic Sphere
Image # 1
Image # 2
Image # 3
Image # 4
Image # 5
Image # 6
Image # 7
Image # 8
More on Polin Waterparks and Pool Systems:
Polin Waterparks and Pool Systems was founded in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1976 and has become one of the world’s leading companies
in the design, manufacture and installation of waterparks, waterslides and water-play attractions. Polin is intimately involved in all
the projects it takes on, guiding each step from concept to completion. Polin has been a pioneer in the advancement and application
of closed-molded manufacturing technology in waterslide development. Since 2006, Polin has converted more than 95 percent of its
annual fiberglass production to resin transfer molding (RTM). Polin offers both bowl rides and family rides featuring RTM techniques.
Polin also offers its unique and patented Natural Light Effect technology, Special Pattern Effects technology in RTM and translucent
RTM waterslides. Polin features a wide range of slides, including signature rides such as the patented King Cobra, Magic Spheres,
Spheres, Magi Cone and Space Shuttle. Polin is committed to providing the best-quality product and service by investing in
continuous research and development. The company plans to further expand its L-RTM line while introducing new signature rides
and innovations. For more information, visit www.polin.com.tr.
For additional information, contact Sohret Pakis at +90 262 656 64 67 or [email protected]. Please visit us at
www.polin.com.tr for product information, news, events and other updates.
Contact: Sohret Pakis/Polin
Tel.: +90 262 656 64 67
Mobile: +90 532 261 44 77
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.polin.com.tr