Hot models and
hot weather

For many truckers and model fans, it is the most important date of the year: Herpa's Open Day. It’s when the model manufacturer shows how elaborately the miniature vehicles are produced in order to depict (almost) every last detail. Herpa seems to have a good relationship with the weather gods. Even in its 75th year, there was plenty of sunshine - almost a bit too much.

The exhibition with all the original trucks, most of which are available in the 1:87 scale, is always a highlight of the day. This year, more than 40 additional trucks made their way to Dietenhofen. These vehicles were much admired and photographed, and of course a technical discussion with the driver was a must. Many made the most of the opportunity for contact with the driving scene on the day.

A look behind the scenes

During the production tour, the more than 6,000 visitors discovered how very elaborately a truck is rendered as a model. A model consists of up to 40 parts, which are injection-molded in Dietenhofen. Many visitors were already familiar with the new energy-efficient machines from last year, but not with the new color mixers for injection molding, or the new pad printing machine, which can print several sides of a truck model in a single work step.

During the various talks on stage, interested visitors heard many background stories to do with Herpa. The employees' cake sale once again generated a substantial donation, this year for the Bavarian Red Cross. Managing Director Hermann Prinz zu Leiningen thanked employees who volunteered to work the long extra shift on a Saturday. "Without your great commitment, the day would not have been possible for our collectors. 2024 has been another highly successful Open Day."