On May 5, 1992, the whole team of the newly founded “PIKO Spielwaren Ltd.” had their first workday. On the day of the 50th anniversary of PIKO all PIKO managers and the office employees proudly presented themselves in front of the PIKO buildings.

1. The History of a Young Company

1999 was the year of PIKO’s 50th anniversary.
It was in 1949 when the first PIKO train set – the “PICO Express” – was presented to the public at the Leipzig Fair. Afterwards, the company became one of the major toy producers in the former GDR. The German Unification in 1990 marked the transition from a social economy to free market enterprise. On May 1, 1992, the formally state-owned company became the “PIKO Spielwaren Ltd.”.

Within the year 1949 it was the first time, that a PIKO product was shown to the public: The train set "PICO Express" was presented to the public during the Leipzig Autumn Fair in 1949. Since that time a quite big manufacturing operation was built up within in the former GDR. Since '49 PIKO is producing trains and plastic toys for children. In 1990 the reunification in Germany was a big challenge for the company. The former governmental owned company was sold May, 1^st, 1992 to the PIKO Spielwaren GmbH.

2. PIKO Spielwaren Ltd.

“PIKO Spielwaren Ltd.” was founded in April 1992 by Dr. René F. Wilfer, PIKO’s President, who had been working in the toy industry since 1986 and had managed a model building company until 1992.

Buying the toy company, Dr. René F. Wilfer realized his dream of owning a medium-sized company and to start up his own business. Initially, there was a management team who had already been working with Dr. Wilfer for several years and 90 employees in Sonneberg. Now about 150 employees are doing their best to satisfy model railroad fans in Sonneberg, in Germany, and all over the globe.

In only 2 years, the young company managed to become a competitor to be reckoned with. Three major lines of production were soon on a competitive and an up-to-date level:

• Plastic vehicles for children
• Domestic appliances for children
• AND our most famous line: model railways on a scale of 1:87 whose quality has been considerably improved*
  
  

3. PIKO Spielwaren Ltd.

In 1993, Ortrun D. Wilfer founded the company PIKO Modellspielwaren Ltd., offering a range of model buildings for the following scales:

• Model buildings on a scale of 1:160 (N)
• Model buildings on a scale of 1:87 (H0)
• Model buildings on a scale of 1:22.5 (G-scale, LGB)
• Model buildings on a scale of 1:32 (1)

Several model buildings were awarded the title “Model of the Year”, e. g. the N-scale model of guitar factory WARWICK (“Model of the Year 1993”) and the glass factory in H0 (“Model of the Year 1996).

4. PIKO Product Lines

4.1 Toys (Construction Site Vehicles) and Domestic Appliances

Even the less well-known PIKO production line, the PIKO construction site vehicles and the domestic appliances, managed to reach an influential position on the new markets in ex-West Germany. One reason for this success could have been the fact that some PIKO products were awarded the “Spielgut” testing seal, a prize that stands for high quality and creative toys. Award-winning toys are the solar cash register and several vehicles. Judging by the large number of toy vehicles that keep leaving our plant in Sonneberg, every single child in Germany is likely to have one already. The vehicles have the following features:

• They are extremely sturdy
• Colorful
• They have many playing features and functions
• They are suitable even for very young children
• Indestructible

All these product lines are developed, designed, and produced in Sonneberg in the heart of Germany. PIKO’s employees and the site Sonneberg stand for flexibility, high quality, and innovation. Willingness to venture new projects and to invest in new products are key words in PIKO’s philosophy. Thus our team in Sonneberg managed to maintain the site and to be able to compete on the international market. Our employees are highly motivated and keep putting much effort into satisfying our customers’ demands.

4.2 Model Buildings

PIKO’s model buildings, which were first launched in 1993, have quickly become well-known all over the globe: PIKO’s H0 and N models are noted for being perfectly realistic and authentic reproductions of original buildings. We guarantee perfect fitting accuracy of the individual parts, detailed instructions that are easily to understand, and buildings that seem to have undergone a natural aging process. The component parts in the kits allow model constructors to create their own buildings or to enlarge buildings according to their own taste.

PIKO’s G-scale model buildings have become renowned among almost every single garden railroader in Europe and the US in no time. Our G-models are weatherproof and can put together very easily. LGB railroaders are very pleased with PIKO products. The most popular buildings turned out to be the brewery, our beautiful western style buildings, and the train station “Rosenbach”, which was launched in 1997. In terms of scale 1 (1:32), PIKO is the only model building producer offering true to scale buildings.

4.3 H0 Model Railroad

The PIKO classics are, of course, the PIKO model trains. PIKO model freight cars, passenger cars, and locomotives are well-known by model railroaders world over. Since 1997, the model railroad line also includes a PIKO track system. Therefore PIKO’s starter sets are particularly suitable for newcomers to the hobby of model railroading.

5. History of PIKO

In 1949 the fist PIKO product ever was launched in Chemnitz. It was first presented to the public at the Leipzig Fair and immediately caused a stir in the toy industry. The so-called “PICO Express” consisted of a streamline steam locomotive, an express-train car, and tin tracks. It came in a beautiful wooden box with sliding lid. In those days, PIKO used to be spelled with a “C”, which was replaced by a “K” years later. This was the moment when name “PIKO” was said to be the short form for “Pionier-Konstruktionen”. In the early 50s, the company moved to Sonneberg, the famous town of toys in Thuringia to take advantage of the great experience and abilities of all the toy experts in the town. The first items to be produced in Sonneberg were PIKO switches, a transformer, and an H0 standard locomotive.

Even if the PIKO’s model train products were rather toys at the very beginning, the models soon became more detailed and technologically refined. The electric locomotive E 44, which was put on the market in the early 50s, was already equipped with an all-wheel drive. The second PIKO generation from 1958/59, whose bestseller was the legendary type series 23, turned out to be competitive with other rival products. It was in the 60s when PIKO started to produce N-scale models. Only 20 years later, the company decided to discontinue the N-scale products and to sell the molds to other N-scale firms.

For decades, the PIKO model trains set standards. It was particularly the freight car line that outmatched the products of other competitors. Some of these models are still very much in demand among model train fans and collectors. Over the years, these models have been adapted to modern technological standards. Precise coloring and historically correct and authentic printings are only a few examples for the new features which are expected by model railroaders today.

However, it is not only the maintenance and the updating of traditional models that challenges PIKO nowadays. In 1993, PIKO tackled the project of a completely new locomotive series, the BR 82. Model train fans couldn’t wait to get the series, which has not been offered by any other high volume producer before. PIKO set standards and was rewarded in 1995 when the BR 82 was voted “Model of the Year 1994”. In 1996, PIKO’s “Blauer Blitz” managed to enter the Austrian market that seemed to be cornered by other and way bigger companies. The Austrian association “Verein Österreichischer Modellbahner” awarded the title “Model of the Year 1996” to the “Blauer Blitz” – a highly detailed model that is equipped with the most sophisticated technology.

In 1996 another completely new developed model locomotive was created: the electric locomotive of the BR 180 series. It is equipped with a new drive mechanism: a highly flexible axle drive shaft from silicon connecting the powerful motor with 2 bogies. In 1996 this locomotive model served as archetype for the real-life “Olympia-Express-Train”. Of course, the model version of this special train is available at any retailer offering PIKO products. During the time of the Olympic Games, the model train was presented to several famous athletes, such as Franziska van Almsiek, who were interviewed in the ARD studios in Atlanta.

The latest H0 model that left the Sonneberg plant is the center flow hopper “Taoos” which ties in with PIKO’s previous technically refined freight car models. Wearing the loud DB-Cargo red and the classic DB brown, the train managed to find many new model railroad fans and PIKO fans in 1997.

6. PIKO’s Dedication to the PIKO Fans

PIKO is very optimistic about its ability to keep satisfying and pleasing the PIKO customers. We consider the high quality of the products, an excellent price-performance-ratio, a fast and flexible delivery system, and an accommodating customer service to be essentially responsible for a company’s success. The PIKO team is going to keep putting much effort in presenting our fans creative and beautiful model trains.

We hope you enjoy our PIKO products!

Sincerely,

Dr. René F. Wilfer and Ortrun D. Wilfer (Presidents)