Herpa

Herpa Miniaturmodelle GMBH (or simply Herpa, an acronym for "Hergenröther und Patente”, the original name of the firm), is a German manufacturing company that produces die-cast scale model aircraft (under the "Herpa Wings" trademark) and plastic model cars and trucks under the "Herpa Cars & Trucks" trademark. The mainstay of the Herpa Wings range is in the 1/500 scale, although models have also been produced in the 1/400, 1/200, and 1/1000 scales as well.

The Herpa Cars & Trucks range is mainly produced in the 1:87 scale, although 1:120 and 1:160 scales are also offered.

Herpa also produces magazines for car & truck enthusiasts and model aircraft enthusiasts, known as Der Maßstab and WingsWorld respectively.

The company was founded in Nuremberg by inventor and patent holder Wilhelm Hergenröther to produce accessories for model railways. In 1978, model cars made in 1:87 scale were presented at the International Toy Fair in Nuremberg. Herpa continued to extend this product line. Every following car model was put on the market using snap-fit construction (without any necessary gluing).

In 1980, Herpa presented the first model trucks. Following that, in 1981, Herpa's truck models sport tipping cabins revealing an exact reproduction of an engine within. Industrial customers also start to use Herpa’s car models as an advertising instrument with their own company’s imprinting. The first issue of Der Maßstab was released in 1982. Herpa launched the HIGH-TECH series in the 1:87 scale in 1986, with the first model in the series a Ferrari Testarossa consisting of 22 pieces, an opening hood and technical features such as a 12-cylinder motor and wheels with separate suspension.

In 1987, the first plastic samples of model aircraft of Boeing 747-200s in the 1:500 scale are produced. These models were presented to Lufthansa at an initiation ceremony for a Boeing 737-300 at Nuremberg Airport. Lufthansa then orders the production of the Lufthansa Model-Edition in the 1/200 scale exclusively for the airline. Herpa then launches the Lufthansa Model-Edition in 1988 with a replica of the Boeing 737-300.

In 1992, the Herpa Wings series of airplane models in the 1:500 scale were launched in Nuremberg. These models came with rolling landing gear, an industry first that has not been duplicated. Tamp printing was used to create highly detailed replicas of their originals. Several airlines placed orders with Herpa for the production of airplane models in their respective liveries.

In 1993, Herpa created the first motorcycle in the 1:87 scale. A licensing contract with plane manufacturer Boeing was also signed in 1995. The first set of airport accessories was produced in 1996. Herpa received the ISO 9001 certificate from the Bavarian Trade and Business Institute for the upholding of a quality management system that meets the highest European norms.