Wolfgang Lemke GmbH

Wolfgang Lemke GmbH is a German company based in Haan that imports and manufactures model-building articles, with a particular focus on model railways in N and H0 scales. The firm is best known in the hobby market for its 'Lemke Collection' line of small-series and special-edition models, which have been produced since the early 1990s and are designed and manufactured in Germany or South Korea. Since 1990 the company has served as the general importer for the products of the Japanese model railway manufacturer KATO. This partnership has not only brought American and Japanese models to the German market but has also led to the production of models specifically for the German and European markets. In 2002 Lemke took over the tooling and brand rights of the Austrian model railway manufacturer Hobbytrain, and since 2004 it has produced models under that name in cooperation with KATO. Until the end of the 1990s, Lemke also held the official German distribution rights for the model railway brands Rivarossi, Lima and Jouef. After these brands were acquired by Hornby Railways in 2004, Lemke regained the German distribution rights, this time also covering Hornby's Arnold brand. In 2006 Hornby itself took over distribution. The company remains a privately held, family-style specialist business operating in the European model railway niche, combining import, brand ownership and small-series manufacturing.

Wolfgang Lemke GmbH, based in Haan, Germany, is an importer and manufacturer of model-building articles, especially model railways in N and H0 scales. The company has been the general importer for the products of the Japanese manufacturer KATO since 1990. Through this cooperation, not only American and Japanese models were imported, but models were also produced for the German and European markets. Since the early 1990s the firm has produced small-series and special-edition models under the name 'Lemke Collection'. These are designed and manufactured in Germany or South Korea. Until the end of the 1990s, Lemke also held the official German distribution rights for the model railway brands Rivarossi, Lima and Jouef. After these brands were acquired by Hornby Railways in 2004, Lemke — now also covering the products of Hornby's Arnold brand — again received the German distribution rights. In 2006 Hornby itself took over distribution. In 2002 Lemke took over the tooling and brand rights of the Austrian model railway manufacturer Hobbytrain, and since 2004 it has produced models under this name in cooperation with the Japanese company KATO.

• 2006

  Hornby takes over distribution itself.

• 2004

  Production of Hobbytrain models begins in cooperation with KATO.

• 2004

  Hornby Railways acquires Rivarossi, Lima and Jouef; Lemke regains German distribution rights, also covering Arnold.

• 2002

  Lemke takes over tooling and brand rights of Austrian model railway manufacturer Hobbytrain.

• 1990

  Lemke becomes general importer for KATO products.

• 1990

  Start of small-series and special-edition models under the name 'Lemke Collection'.

Specialist importer, brand owner and small-series manufacturer in the European model railway hobby market.

• Lemke Collection small-series and special-edition models

• Hobbytrain model railways

• KATO model railways (import)

1. 1Wolfgang Lemke GmbH — Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Wolfgang Lemke — Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
3. 3Wolfgang Lemke GmbH websitelemkecollection.de