THE SITUATION
Specialist engineers within the HAYLEY DEXIS | Fluid Power team were already on-site replacing all of the hoses on the theme park’s hydraulic launch rollercoaster, during the annual shutdown. The team spotted contamination within some oil and it was determined that the cause was a failed bypass valve unit. A new valve kit was required in advance of the annual healthcheck performed by the ride’s manufacturer, just one week before the park was due to reopen to guests. The ride manufacturer had quoted a six-week leadtime on the bypass valve, but HAYLEY DEXIS were able to use their far-reaching supplier network to offer the replacement product at a lower price and on a four-week leadtime.
THE SOLUTION
The customer ordered a replacement valve unit from both the ride manufacturer and HAYLEY DEXIS. It was the HAYLEY DEXIS unit that reached the park first, four weeks after the order was placed. This enabled the planned health check of the ride to be completed in the week prior to the park reopening after its normal winter shutdown period.
"RIDE BREAKDOWN COSTS IN THE REGION OF £150K WERE AVOIDED."
THE RESULT
Thanks to the expedited delivery that HAYLEY DEXIS was able to secure for the theme park operator, money already paid for the ride’s annual health check wasn’t wasted, as it was able to go ahead as expected. In the week between the health check taking place and the park reopening to guests, the on-site operations team took the opportunity to train their staff on the ride. This would not have been possible with the original six-week leadtime quoted on the replacement valve kit.
With over 17,000 tickets sold for the park’s opening day alone, such a popular ride being unavailable would have negatively affected guest satisfaction. The costs associated with ticket refunds and free return tickets given in compensation for unhappy guests, and staffing costs for unavailable rides, would have totalled an estimated £150,000. This cost was avoided thanks to the support provided by the HAYLEY DEXIS team and their supply partner.