A Family Story
I.
The beginnings
1952 - 1999
It was back in 1952 that Italo Frison founded his company, SBF SRL, in Casale di Scodosia, a rural area in the province of Padua, Italy. It was a small shop, sort of a workshop where mini-cars were built from sheet metal. Italo’s skills led the workshop to grow, building more elaborate attractions and involving other neighboring activities in the production chain.
After 1990, the company moved to conquer the European market by welcoming the second generation of the Frison family. The business partnership between the two cousins, Vittorio and Sandro, was sealed with the establishment of VISA INTERNATIONAL SRL, which joined SBF in the production and design of amusement rides. Sandro was a skilled builder and a brilliant innovator in terms of materials and production processes, while Vittorio brought to the table his innate creativity, strong communication and relational skills, and extensive knowledge of the sales business. It is precisely the originality of their products and the attention to detail that enabled Vittorio and Sandro to surpass their competition. Their attractions met at the same time the needs and desires of customers and the tastes of families, they were easy to operate, and the company offered a reliable after-sales assistance.
II.
The strength of the group
2000 - 2010
The year 2000 marked another significant turning point as the two companies, SBF and VISA, officially merged to form SBF-VISA Group. The once small workshop was now a giant in the global market, selling rides – and even building complete amusement parks – on all five continents. The Family Entertainment Center (FEC) market was thriving, and SBF-VISA Group was one of its key players. From this point on, success was nothing short of remarkable.
It developed a spacious 15,000-square-meter area within its production plants to host a permanent showroom with ready-to-deliver attractions. Finally, it successfully ventured into complex foreign markets, including Russia and the United States. In 1998, Rides4U was established in New Jersey, serving as the representative of SBF-VISA Group throughout North America. Similarly, in 2002, Italpark was founded in Moscow, acting as the group’s representative in Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union.
Within approximately ten years, SBF-VISA Group’s catalog of amusement rides became one of the most comprehensive and extensive among manufacturers.
III.
Third generation and consolidation
2010 - 2023
By 2010, SBF-VISA Group established itself as Europe’s largest manufacturer of family rides. It supplied indoor FEC chains, created entire leisure areas within shopping centers, and also designed and manufactured complete outdoor parks. Three highly successful amusement rides contributed to the group’s ever-increasing popularity: Drop ‘n Twist Tower, Dance Party, and Compact Spinning Coaster. Though these were relatively recent additions (2001, 2009, and 2013 respectively), they swiftly climbed to the top of the bestseller list. In particular, the Drop ‘n Twist Tower reached 200 installations in less than 10 years, the Dance Party achieved 120 installations within the same timeframe, and the Compact Spinning Coaster reached 50 installations in just the first two years, totaling today almost 400 units. A winning feature of these models was the high level of customization in terms of size and theming.
During the same decade, the third generation of the Frison family also came on board. Michele and Tommaso, after a few years of experience in customer support, joined the sales force and quickly rose to the positions of Sales Managers.
At their side, Elena, Caterina and Daniela also arrived: they became responsible for logistics, spare parts, and after-sales assistance. Their presence has been of utmost importance for the group’s growth. Team members Daniele and Augusto, who also work in the sales department, have played a vital role in the company’s growth as well.
The decade ended on a high note: the collaboration with Christoph Wunderlich, who was pivotal in enabling SBF-VISA Group to definitively conquer the German market and strengthen its presence all across Europe.
In 2023, VISA reached a milestone with the delivery of its 700th Family Coaster and decided to establish a dedicated division exclusively for this type of attraction. This division is called VISACOASTERS, and it specializes in designing and manufacturing customized and innovative rollercoasters.
IV.
Today
2024 - ∞
In a fast-paced market, the challenge lies in maintaining competitiveness. Therefore, the group has chosen to invest constantly in innovation and talent, often with the result of creating new markets. The group is quick in meeting customer needs, anticipates new trends and captures the market’s heart with its products. SBF-VISA projects introduce innovations in domains that seemed to be impervious to anything new.
Despite the passing of time and increasing commitments, the group continues to provide customers with the same level of service that led to its success. Customers have the opportunity to choose the ride they prefer from a wide variety of models, see them first-hand, customize every detail, receive their orders promptly, and benefit from timely assistance and after-sales services. The presence of a permanent showroom further enhances the group’s ability to meet these needs.