About KD Decoratives Ltd.

We are experienced at designing and building theme park rides, both indoor and exterior rides.

Normally the ride mechanism (track, cars, boats, etc.) will be installed by a ride manufacturer and we at KD Decoratives Ltd. design, build and install everything else – the theming, animated and animatronic characters, lighting, sound and special effects, to create the complete experience for your customers.

Our team of experts control every stage of the production, from concept design to manufacture and installation. As everything is manufactured and assembled by KD in-house, we keep control of all processes ensuring flexibility and professionalism.

Concept & design

We work with clients to define a brief. This is then communicated to our team of specialised, talented artists who draw plans, visuals and storyboards.

Artroom Studio

After the initial meeting with the client the process of turning your vision into reality starts in our art room.

The director leading the new project will draft initial plans and then meet with the art room manager whose team will then begin the task of transferring ideas into a design proposal. Intricate drawings are skilfully superimposed onto photographs to give the client a true sense of how a new realization becomes a reality.

Whether the design be for a static theme park decoration, a modern lighting show or a advanced themed animatronics bear show, it is the key part of our service that our skilled team can create accurate visuals that relate our ideas effectively to the client.

Sculpting

As our work is so varied and fascinating we are fortunate to have attracted the most skilled sculptors, moulders, set builders and model makers. Whatever you need to be sculptured or mouldered can be done.

Our sculptors work in a range of mediums from plaster, GRP, polystyrene, clay, wax, resin and polyurethane. Projects vary massively in scale from tiny miniatures to 15 metre high works of art.

Our sculpting team are aided by a new computer aided polystyrene cutting and profiling machine with laser scanning facilities.

They use the latest skin technology for near realistic skin movements using polyurethane, silicon, latex and latex foams.

Joinery

Part of the KD production process is the joinery department. Our skilled joiners create props and scenery for our shows and grottos. They also build internal and external structures and carry out shop fitting work, whatever the client's requirements may be, creative and/or structural.

Engineering

KD Decoratives Ltd. have been manufacturing animation and animatronics for over twenty years, so engineering lies at the very heart of what we do.

Our sophisticated animatronic characters have from 6 to 48 different movements. In order to truly bring these characters to life our highly skilled engineers work with the very latest in pneumatic and hydraulic technology. For instance we have pioneered a new pneumatic technology called Air Muscle, which enables our characters to move their limbs in the most realistic manner.

Durability is essential, so we use only light-weight, high strength materials. All our high quality mechanical components and mechanisms are proven and tested.

Technical & Electrical Lighting

Without state of the art technical installation, our characters, grottos, rides and theming cannot come to life! So we have invested in the best technology and expertly skilled engineers.

All of our systems are built in-house so that they can easily be adapted to your unique requirements. We have a solid state computer controller with media sound technology and in-house electronic 8 PCD design. Control systems can be interfaced with your existing house system (such as DMX, Ethernet, & Field bus systems). Our control systems are expandable for animatronics, lighting, AV and FX control.

Most importantly we have a remote system monitoring facility and diagnostic ensuring that we can resolve issues quickly and easily, "should they occur".

Costume

All of our characters – animatronic and animated are given their own identity and much of this is achieved by our costume department.

Our talented in-house team hand paint or fine air brush characters paying the finest attention to detail, giving real personality to each character. Costumes are created in our studio, using the finest of materials. All fabrics, materials and paints (whether these are UV, latex, silicon, polyurethane, acrylic or cellulose) meet the highest fire retardant standards.

In addition to "dressing" our animated and animatronic characters we make bespoke walk-around mascot costumes.