How a slide is made
Slides are made in pieces in a factory. Workers paint a shiny colour (gelcoat) into a mould, add glass threads and plastic glue, and let it set hard.Almost every modern flume is fibreglass-reinforced plastic. A mould is waxed, gelcoat is sprayed in, then glass mat and polyester resin are laid up by hand or spray gun - or, in resin transfer moulding, dry fabric goes into a closed mould and resin is injected, giving a smooth outer face and consistent thickness. Sections a few metres long are bolted at flanges and the seams filled and sanded so no ridge is felt. Typical supplier data: ~35% glass content, ~500 µm UV coating, structural safety factor of 2.5 or more, 10-15 years outdoors and 20-plus indoors. Wiegand alone builds in stainless steel.
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Each piece is a few metres long. At the park they are bolted together and the joins are sanded smooth so you can't feel a bump. A fibreglass slide lasts about 10 to 15 years outside and 20 or more indoors. Some German slides are made of shiny steel instead.
A slide is a bit like a giant jigsaw puzzle that arrives on lorries.