Herpa

Wilhelm Hergenröther established Herpa in 1949 to produce patented ideas. The name came from “Hergenröther-Patente.” Early products included accessories for model railways, among them grass mats, miniature trees, scatter material, modular layouts and tunnel kits. The company also established a branch in Beilngries. In 1965, Herpa was taken over; Fritz Wagener continued the model railway accessories business under the Herpa name while producing plastic components for other industries under RIWA.

In 1978, Herpa presented its first five 1:87 scale car models at the Nuremberg Toy Fair. The cars were designed with fine details and snap-fit construction, allowing them to be assembled without adhesive. Herpa made its own molds and developed vehicle variants using interchangeable mold inserts. The first truck models followed in 1980. From 1988, the company generally worked from original vehicle data and used CAD technology to develop more detailed models. That year it also produced initial 1:500 scale aircraft models for presentation at the christening of a Lufthansa Boeing 737-300; the printed finish distinguished them from models decorated with decals. The former landscaping product line ended in 1988, and Herpa discontinued its photo articles in 1996, after which it concentrated on model vehicles. In 2009, Count Andreas zu Leiningen took over the company; the Wagner family left the business and its management.