Details are our Passion

2024

Herpa celebrates its 75th anniversary on March 9 and looks back on many eventful and successful years.

2023

Herpa holds its own in-house exhibition for the first time. Numerous customers and interested parties take advantage of this to also take a look at the production. Herpa also breaks new ground when it comes to its magazines DER MASS:STAB and WingsWorld – they are digitalized and will be released as online magazines on the new website. They can now be read by everyone without access restrictions. The Club is also becoming digital and thus more transparent. In the future, all services will be available online.

2021

The first new machine went into operation in the mold shop, with others following much later due to global delivery delays. Half a million euros were invested in the print shop alone, for example in a new pad printing machine that can print five sides of a truck’s cab in a single operation. The new machines are faster and significantly more energy-efficient.

2020

In April, Dipl.-Ing. Hermann Prinz zu Leiningen took over the management of Herpa. The industrial and mechanical engineer focuses on optimized production, he contributes his experience in quality, energy, and environmental management, and starts an extensive modernization in Dietenhofen. This way, the Herpa brand is enhanced further, and the location in Germany is expanded.

2019

Herpa’s “Open Day” has already been taking place for 20 years – it was launched on the occasion of the company’s fiftieth anniversary. To mark this anniversary, there was a super truck show this year with more than 100 show trucks.

2017

Herpa is getting its toy division on its own feet: following initial products with vehicles that can be puzzled, the company enters the licensing business with “Mia and me” and releases Herpa-City houses, vehicles, and accessories for children aged 5 and up. All other toy products will be marketed under the name of Herpa-Toys in the future.

2015

After the end of the distribution partnership with Roco, Herpa kicks of its own military brand, “Military”. The vehicles and airplanes are appreciated by devotees who are especially fascinated with the technology of the originals.

2010

Back to the 1/43 scale: After decades, with the Audi A3 and the Golf VII, Herpa again premieres additional vehicles in the more detailed scale. The two models are initially delivered to the respective manufacturers and a few months later in retail stores. Soon after, the luxury manufacturer Porsche also has miniatures of its vehicles made in this scale, which are also offered for retail. At the Toy Fair, Herpa presents an unprecedented major issue: The Liebherr caterpillar crane is successively released on many heavy-load semitrailers to be assembled with lots of love for detail.

2009

Count Andreas zu Leinigen takes over Herpa and puts the company back on solid financial footing. A restructured management is appointed to sustainably get the company on a course for commercial success. The Wagner family retires from the company and from management. At the International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Herpa manages a great marketing coup: together with a consortium of various partners Herpa presents a prototype of the “Trabant nT” – an electric-powered new edition of the legendary Trabant 601. With this project, Herpa becomes known far beyond the model building industry.

2007

Herpa conquers space! In cooperation with the American Space Agency NASA, we´ll premiere an authentic Space Shuttle model in the 1/500 scale. “The Enterprise” was the prototype of the Space Shuttle, with which the NASA has started its space shuttle project in 1977.

2006

At the Toy Fair, Herpa now presents entire building kits for airports in the 1/500 scale (including lighting), and an exact replication of a John Deere tractor to enter the field of agricultural models. In cooperation with the TV-channel ZDF, a model of the legendary construction trailer of the iconic TV-figure “Peter Lustig” is created.

2005

Consorted world in the middle of the year. For the very first time, Herpa is not responsible for a exact replica but for the original itself. For an air show in the USA a DC-3 has been pasted up with Herpa colors and commutes between various air shows in the USA. Of course Herpa has smaller ones of the original available: In 1/500 and 1/200 scale.

2004

Herpa again sets new standards. Especially as a giveaway for airlines, the first airplane model in the 1/1000 scale is released. The Liebherr mobile crane delights more than just fans of Herpa construction vehicles.

2001

Kick-off of the specialized trade initiative Herpa eXtra. With initially 50 retailers the combined online/offline distribution model is successfully launched. A Herpa Wings Christmas model is premiered - and sells out in no time.

1997

In June, with issue 1 of WINGSWORLD of Herpa, the first international trade journal for collectors of airplane miniatures appears. The first prototypes for a new series of airplane models in the 1/200 scale are introduced.

1993

Herpa presents its first motorcycle in the 1/87 scale consisting of 12 individual components. Another novelty is the launch of all-metal toy vehicles suitable for children.

1989

Computer technology revolutionizes the creation and construction of molds by means of CAD-CAM. At the Nuremberg Toy Fair, the Ferrari F40 is presented in the 1/87 and 1/43 scales. For airplane models in the 1/500 scale, the pad printing procedure is to be used which has already proved successful in car model production.

1988

The first plastic samples of a Boeing 747-200 in the 1/500 scale are produced. Unlike airplane models from other manufacturers, in a first for the industry, these are printed rather than being laminated with decals. Herpa presents these models for the christening of a Lufthansa Boeing 737-300 at Nuremberg Airport. Construction of a further, approx. 2,000 square meter production hall begins in Dietenhofen.

1982

At the Nuremberg Toy Fair the first edition of the model magazine Der MASS:STAB for collectors of miniature models is presented. Six issues have been released annually ever since.

1980

Herpa premieres its first truck models. Already one year later, all cabs are tiltable and equipped with an engine replication. Due to the outstanding level of detail and their true-to-scale appearance, Herpa models are in great demand and highly appreciated as giveaways.

1978-1979

At the Nuremberg Toy Fair, Herpa premieres car models in the H0 / 1/87 scale. Thanks to their filigree details these models quickly become coveted collectors’ items. Claus and Dieter Wagener, the two sons of Fritz Wagener, further expand this new product line. All other car models are launched in snap-fit design (sans adhesive bonds).

1971

The production halls in Dietenhofen are once again expanded to a total of 2,200 square meters. Compared to the production facilities in 1965, floor-space has doubled.

1965

On July 12, 1965, topping out of the new facility in Dietenhofen is celebrated, and in October, the first machines are already running. Herpa is taken-over. Henceforth, Fritz Wagener continues to produce plastic parts for the photo, phonographic and automobile industry under the RIWA name, and accessories for model railroads under the name of Herpa.

1961

On March 15, 1961, Fritz Wagener establishes RIWA-Plastik in Nuremberg for the production of plastic components for the photo and phonographic industry. Due to strong demand, the production facility in downtown Nuremberg soon becomes too small. Fritz Wagener looks for a bigger area outside the city.

1949

Wilhelm Hergenröther, inventor and patent holder, establishes Herpa on March 9, 1949. The name was created from the initials of Hergenröther-Patente. For the production inter alia of accessories for model railroads like grass mats, miniature trees, scatter material, model railroad installations in modular design and tunnel building kits, he also established a branch in Beilngries.