PIKO’s Successful Performance at the Nuremberg International Toy Fair 2008 On the 12th February 2008, the International Toy Fair in Nurnberg came to an end. With this event attracting nearly 80,000 visitors, the fair is the largest industry event of the year. The fair has been international for many years and the percentage of foreign visitors was up again to 53% with over 118 countries in attendance. This trend was noticeable on the PIKO booth, where more and more visitors from overseas came to have a look at what PIKO had to offer. PIKO were extremely satisfied with the business generated at the fair with incoming orders up by 18% on previous events. Visitors were very positive about the garden railway scale (G) items being introduced and in particular, the G Scale track, was on display for the first time. This product proved very popular and 2008 looks set to be the breakthrough year for this system. There was also very favourable reaction to the G scale railbus which was on display. The new items in HO were also very well received with some good reaction from the visiting dealers. PIKO Managing Director, Dr Rene F Wilfer, said „based on the positive atmosphere at the fair, PIKO in 2008 could grow sales by 12%. The beginning of production in PIKO Chashan in the Chinese province of GuangDong will increase quality and capacity even further“ At the PIKO headquarters in Sonneberg, the company is very confident of achieving good growth and good profits. The signals at PIKO certainly show a green light. Dr Rene F Wilfer Sonnebeg, 14.02.2008

Mr Wieland Zimmer from the Austrian Association of Model Railway Clubs presents Dr Rene F Wilfer and Mr. Ing. Heribert Ischovitsch (Austrian PIKO Importer, on the right of the picture) the honour of „Model of the Year 2007 in the TT category“ for the OBB 2016 Hercules Diesel Locomotive.

Mr. Dr. René F. Wilfer welcomes the State Parliament delegate from Thuringia Beate Meißner together with Sonneberg Mayor Sibylle Abel and Rodental Mayor Gerhard Preß onto the PIKO stand.

Mr. Dr. René F. Wilfer and Mr. Zbigniew Kownacki (Polish PIKO importer SK Model) receive from Mr. Ryszard Pyssa of the magazine Swiat Kolei (Poznan), the honour of „Polish Model of the Year“ for the Polish Starter Sets.

Mr. Dr. René F. Wilfer pleased to welcome Mrs Natalja Sokolova and Mr. Igor Vishnevetskiy of the firm TREX AL from Minsk, who successfully import PIKO products into Russia.

The Secretary of State for the Bavarian work ministry and social ministry, Mr. Jürgen W. Heike, came together with the Christian Socialist Union chairperson of Neustadt (twin town to Sonneberg) Mrs Elke Protzmann to meet Dr. René F. Wilfer and Mrs Ortrun D. Wilfer who show them the PIKO products.

Dr. René F. Wilfer and Mrs Ortrun D. Wilfer stand together with the old proprietor of LGB Nuremberg, Wolfgang Richter along with Don and Alice Morris (dealers from the USA) showing the new PIKO G tracks which enjoyed huge sales success at the fair in Nuremberg. PIKO’s new G Track is fully compatible with that made by LGB, and on the other hand offers optimal and harmonious geometry. There is more information on the homepage under PIKO G track.

PIKO’s Export Manager, Mrs Karla Lind in conversation with Irina Podolsky, importer of PIKO products in Russia

Jonathan Meador of LGB of America (PIKO’s USA Importer), speaking with Alice and Don Morris from Miama Trains, Florida.

Tony Castallano, President of LGB of America, speaking to customers on the PIKO stand.

Mrs Martina Matthäi, one of our best-known PIKO Sales staff was busy seeing customers at the recent Nurnberg fair.

On the PIKO booth, things were frenetic with activity. Frequently, every discussion table and chairs were occupied and some customers had to wait a short while until their PIKO sales representative were able to secure the use of one!

Although the toy fair in Nuremberg strictly forbids the admittance of children under 16 years, it always seems one or two young Model Railway Fans get entrance somehow! Young Tom of Pegnitz together with his father visited the PIKO booth and Dr. René F. Wilfer was happy to show the young garden railway enthusiast the new PIKO Hupac Locomotive.

After the work is done, there is always the opportunity at the show for a short review of the day’s events. As you can see from the pictures, the mood was always good and it was no wonder with the good order situation that arose at the toy fair for PIKO.

Mr. Kehl from the Swiss PIKO Importer KML GmbH, in conversation with a Swiss PIKO dealer.

Mrs Haskova and Mr. Hasek from the Czech PIKO importer Nexes in conversation with a Czech customer.

For many years on the eve of the fair, publishers have invited the model train industry to a joint supper. The purpose of the event is to award the respective receipients of the "Model of the Year" accolade. Mrs Ortrun D Wilfer received the honour for PIKO’s G scale model BR 218 from Mr. Teloeken of specialist publisher „alba“ .

The day before the opening of the toy fair, there is a Sales Meeting at which the German sales representatives as well as some importers participate. Here, the latest information is exchanged, which is so important for a successful sale of PIKO products on the fair. This sales meeting is led by Sales Manager for Germany, Mr. Jens Beyer. For the foreign importers, also the Export Manager Mrs Karla Lind also participates.

As a prelude to the Sales meetings, the most successful sales zone in Germany is recognised by the company. For 2007, the happy Sales representative, Mr. Stefan Göckel, is awarded the PIKO „2007 Representative of the Year“ for the region of Baden-Wurttemberg. He is pictured along with Mr. Jens Beyer and Dr. René F. Wilfer with his special honour.

A photo call from the day before the fair (left to right): Export Manager Karla Lind, Sales Manager Jens Beyer, Director Mrs Ortrun D. Wilfer, Field Sales Representative Stefan Göckel, Managing Director Dr. René F. Wilfer, Product Manager (Railways) Hans Josef Börgers, Field Sales Representative Torsten Kulse.

PIKO’s exhibition stand in Nurnberg