The ride, Top Thrill 2, stands 128 metres high and sends thrill seekers hurtling at speeds of up to 193 kph at the Cedar Point park at Sandusky.

“Just call us ride makers if you like, it’s what we’ve been doing for three generations,” said the chairman and CEO of the Zamperla family company, Antonio Zamperla.

“But this project means an awful lot to our 450 workers, who are enthusiastic that they brought onto the global market a new generation of technologies in the design of roller coasters.”

The ride has just been inaugurated after two years of work setting it up at Cedar Point.

ANSA