17.06.2019 Press release: PIKO "Open House Day 2019" in Sonneberg

On Saturday the 22nd of June 2019 PIKO celebrates the 11th "Open House Day" together with thousands of guests at the company headquarters in Sonneberg-Oberlind.

The "Open House Day" takes place every two years and has been a highlight for countless PIKO fans from all over the world since 1999, when it was held for the first time for the 50th anniversary of PIKO.

In addition to information on the "Open House Day", the media representatives also received an outlook on the general business development of PIKO.

Business development until June 2019:

PIKO CEO Dr René F. Wilfer was pleased to report a very positive start into the year 2019 to the participants of the press conference.

At the end of May, PIKO was able to report sales growth of approximately + 4% compared to the previous year and thus successfully continued the positive sales and revenue development of recent years.

The development in the export sector is especially positive in Italy, Switzerland and Poland, where corresponding country-specific innovations such as the Italian Expert diesel locomotive D.145 or the Polish ST44 were well received by the market.

In Germany, the largest sales division for PIKO with a share of more than 60% of total sales, the company is currently slightly above the previous year's sales and thus on target. In recent years, the Sonneberg-based manufacturer has developed into a reliable partner of the specialist trade due to the punctual and stable supply of goods as well as an excellent price-performance ratio, which is rewarded by the specialist retail sector, which is presenting and successfully selling PIKO model railway products more and more widely in its shops. Thus, PIKO has further strengthened its position as the third largest model railway manufacturer in continental Europe.

Due to the very attractive and extensive new product range of nearly 400 new products in the four offered gauge sizes, PIKO is confident that it will be able to continue the positive developments in the course of the year to date in the coming months and to achieve the declared goals in 2019.

PIKO has been a reliable and innovative manufacturer of model railways and model railway accessories for 70 years. With over 550 employees at its two production sites in Sonneberg and Chashan in southern China, the traditional company is one of the leading companies in the industry. In the four gauge sizes G, H0, TT and N, PIKO offers its customers a wide range of model-true locomotive and car models as well as numerous attractive innovations every year. PIKO offers a complete range of locomotives, multiple units, passenger and freight cars, its own track and digital system as well as attractive building models.

Inspired by these positive figures, nothing stands in the way of the festivities on 22 June together with many thousands of PIKO fans from near and far.

 

PIKO "Open House Day" on June 22, 2019

Since the summer of 2018, PIKO has invited people from all over the world to attend the 11th "Open Day", via its homepage, social media, advertising and a special flyer. For the first time, a MDR television team will be present at the event and report live from the event.

To date, over 3,500 guests from all over Germany and neighbouring countries have registered, and even from the USA, Kuwait and Chile, PIKO friends have announced their arrival.

Under the direction of sales manager Jens Beyer, the employees have been preparing for this major event for months and will be offering visitors the opportunity to experience first-hand how PIKO model railways and building models are created on June 22nd from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

The PIKO employees are looking forward to showing their company to the visitors on this day and to experiencing the fascination of model railways live with the guests.

To make this "Open House Day " an experience for the whole family, PIKO offers an extensive program for all model railway enthusiasts, big and small:

  • Company tour during ongoing production
  • Special sale of PIKO products, rarities and souvenirs
  • Information on PIKO history and the PIKO plant in Chashan
  • Tombola with high quality prices
  • Limited and exclusive special cars for the track size H0 and G
  • Thuringian specialities for the physical well-being
  • Large model systems in the track sizes H0, TT and garden railway
  • PIKO models with individual print as a special souvenir
  • Childcare and a huge bouncy castle
  • Large PIKO garden railroad playground
  • Painting campaign for children who want to design their own model railway carriages
  • MDR Promomobile
  • Special historic trains at the station

Guests also have the opportunity to purchase models of the PIKO "Kreisellok" in the two track sizes H0 and TT, which has been receiving visitors at the PIKO roundabout since June 2017 and is a much noticed and photographed attraction in Sonneberg.

On several demonstration layouts, PIKO offers the opportunity to learn more about the PIKO digital systems and the brand-new Expert model of the PIKO ICE 4 as well as the product highlights of 2019.

For guests arriving by train or one of the seven special trains, PIKO has set up a free shuttle bus from Sonneberg station to PIKO and back.

Guests arriving by car will find ample parking facilities in the immediate vicinity of the factory site.

Sonneberg, 18.06.2019

Dr René F. Wilfer
CEO

PIKO owner, Dr. René F. Wilfer, presents the special model for this year's "Open House Day" to the attending press representatives.

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