Hobbico Acquires Revell Germany
Revell brand again united under one owner.
Champaign, Illinois, February 15, 2012 - Hobbico, Inc. of Champaign, IL announced today that it has acquired Revell Germany.
Revell Germany will continue to operate from its headquarters in Bünde, located near Hannover, Germany and will be led by Hans Remfert, President of Revell Germany.
Established in 1956, Revell is the European market leader in the plastic model building segment. For the last four years, Revell has also been a key player in toy radio control vehicles in the European toy market. Several new product lines were just announced at this year's Nuremberg Toy Fair.
Hobbico is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of model hobby products, including radio controlled models, plastic model kits, flying model rockets and other hobby and toy products. The 100% employee-owned company sells products through several subsidiaries including Revell, Estes, Great Planes Model Distributors and Tower Hobbies. Since 2007, Hobbico has owned the U.S. Revell operation. Just prior in 2006, Revell Germany was spun off as a separate company.
After starting the original U.S. company in 1945, Revell founder Lou Glaser established the German operation in 1956. Since then, Revell Germany has been known as the European leader in plastic model kits as well as paints, tools and accessories. In 2008, the "Revell Control" line of radio controlled vehicles was introduced and successfully gained a strong position in the European toy market. In 2011, Revell introduced the award-winning Orbis children's airbrush system.
"Hobbico's acquisition of Revell Germany creates an enormous opportunity for our company and our employees", said Hans Remfert, President of Revell Germany. "With the support of Hobbico as a strong parent company, we have a great opportunity to expand our entry into the RC hobby segment of the European market. Hobbico has experience and know-how in this area as well as a strong assortment of product with worldwide recognition which we will integrate according to the European market conditions."
"We are pleased to reunite the Revell brand under one owner," said Wayne Hemming, President of Hobbico. "Now, Revell can proceed with a worldwide strategy for growth of the core plastic model business."
Hobbico was started in 1986 through the combination of Tower Hobbies and Great Planes Model Distributors, founded in 1971 and 1973, respectively. In 2001, Hobbico acquired United Model, a leading hobby products distributor founded in 1959. Hobbico acquired the Revell-Monogram plastic model kit lines in 2007 and Estes-Cox in 2010. In January of this year, Hobbico announced the acquisition of three hobby R/C car brands: Axial, ARRMA and Team Durango.
For further information or graphics, contact:
Ms. Carol Pesch, Publicity Coordinator, Hobbico
Telephone (217) 398-3630 • cpesch@hobbico.com
Hobbico Acquires R/C Car Lines:
Axial, Team Durango & ARRMA
Champaign, Illinois, USA January 9, 2012 - Hobbico, Inc. announced today that it has acquired several R/C car product lines: Axial, Team Durango and ARRMA.
Founded in 2005, Axial offers industry-leading R/C vehicles, focused on rock crawling and rock racing products. With excellent design features and a high level of detail, Axial specializes in highly realistic ready-to-run vehicles including the recently released EXO Terra Buggy and the popular Wraith Rock Racer.
Established in 2009, Team Durango is known for state-of-the-art race vehicles in 1/10 and 1/8 scale including the revolutionary and patented DEX210 2WD buggy and the fastest 4WD competition SC truck, the DESC410R. Team Durango holds world and national championship titles around the globe.
ARRMA is a new product line introduced in 2011, offering a selection of vehicles with advanced features, unique designs and parts compatibility. The Raider Buggy and Fury Short Course Truck are popular items from ARRMA. The acquisition also includes the dBoots brand of R/C tires which specialize in off-road tires for multi-surface indoor and outdoor tracks.
Hobbico is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of model hobby products, including radio controlled models, plastic model kits, rockets and other hobby products. The employee-owned company manufactures and distributes many famous hobby brands such as Duratrax, TrakPower, O'Donnell Racing Fuel, Revell, Estes, Great Planes, HeliMax, MonoKote, Real Flight, Top Flite, SuperTigre, Aquacraft, and others.
Axial will continue to operate as an independent company from its facility in Irvine, California. Team Durango and ARRMA will also continue independently from their current offices in Ashby, Leicestershire, UK. The product lines will continue to be available through a worldwide network of distributors.
"We're proud to bring these strong product lines into the Hobbico family," said Wayne Hemming, President of Hobbico. "I'm particularly happy to welcome the teams of talented professionals at Axial, Team Durango and ARRMA and look forward to the innovative products that they are developing."
"I'm excited about this new affiliation with Hobbico," said Jeff Johns, General Manager of Axial R/C Inc., "This will give Axial additional resources to continue our rapid growth."
"I look forward to working with Durango and ARRMA staff as well as those within Hobbico to continue to introduce innovative and successful products. This is an exciting step which we are sure will help take us to the next level" said Jason Dearden, Managing Director of ARRMA Durango, Ltd.
For further information or graphics, contact:
Ms. Carol Pesch, Publicity Coordinator, Hobbico
Telephone (217) 398-3630 • cpesch@hobbico.com
Mr. Jeff Johns, General Manager, Axial R/C Inc.
Telephone (949) 600-8642 • jjohns@axialracing.com
Mr. Jason Dearden, Managing Director, ARRMA Durango, Ltd.
Telephone (UK) 44-1530-412352 • jasond@dradiocontrol.com
