Tams Elektronik

What Tams Elektronik does

Tams Elektronik GmbH is a privately-held German manufacturer and online retailer of electronic components and digital control systems for model railways (Modellbahn), headquartered in Hannover and operating for over 20 years. The company designs, develops, and sells a full-stack ecosystem of model railway electronics under its own brand, including locomotive decoders (LD-G and LD-W series with motor current ratings up to 3 A), digital command stations (mc², EasyControl), brake modules (ABC-2 Automatic Brake Control), function and accessory decoders, booster modules, detection systems (s88), BiDiB interface products, and a comprehensive line of model railway lighting (LEDs with integrated resistors, colored LEDs, and traditional incandescent bulbs). Products support the dominant European digital protocols DCC (NMRA/RCN) and Motorola II, with RailCom bi-directional feedback, and conform to standardized interfaces including NEM 652, PluX22, Next18, and SUSI. The proprietary ABC braking technology uses asymmetric track voltage to enable precise, automated signal stops, a feature the company highlights as a differentiator from generic hobby electronics suppliers.

The company runs a direct-to-consumer e-commerce business through its owned storefront at tams-online.de, supplemented by an authorized dealer network (Händlerliste) and physical presence at five major German model railway trade shows. It ships to end consumers across Germany, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, and distributes multi-language technical manuals (German, English, French, Dutch). Revenue is generated purely through one-time hardware sales at unit prices typically ranging from approximately €1.78 (LEDs in volume) to €39.95+ (locomotive decoders), with volume discounts of 5–20% and an additional 5% club discount for members of BDEF and MOBA model railway associations on orders of at least €100. There is no subscription, software, or recurring component to the revenue model. The business is led by founder and Managing Director Dipl. Ing. Kersten Tams, a trained electrical engineer, with a headcount of 11–50 employees.

Name

Tams Elektronik

Legal name

Tams Elektronik GmbH

Website

https://tams-online.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tams Elektronik GmbH is a German manufacturer and online retailer of electronic components and digital control systems for model railways, selling locomotive decoders, brake modules, command stations, lighting, and accessories to individual hobbyists and model railway clubs in five European countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Model Railway Electronics

NAICS

Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing (335314)

SIC

Railroad Equipment (3743), Electronic Components & Accessories (3670)

akta.pro primary industry

Electromechanical Components (Relays, Switches, Potentiometers, Encoders) (IMAGAJAB)

Keywords

• Model railway electronics
• Locomotive decoders
• Digital command stations
• Model train lighting
• Brake modules

Headquarters

HQ city

Hanover

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Sales: The company operates its own online shop (tams-online.de) selling electronic components and systems directly to model railway hobbyists and clubs. All products are sold as one-time purchases with no recurring subscription component. Revenue is generated from the sale of digital control electronics (decoders, brake modules, command stations), lighting products (LEDs, incandescent lamps), and workshop accessories.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Tams Elektronik designs, manufactures, and sells electronic components and digital control systems for model railways. Its core offering includes locomotive decoders (LD-G and LD-W series), the ABC-2 brake module, digital command stations (mc², EasyControl), boosters, function and accessory decoders, LED and incandescent lighting products, and workshop accessories such as s88 detection modules, BiDiB interfaces, and RailCom feedback systems. Both DIY kits (Bausatz) and finished assembled devices are offered.

Product overview

Tams Elektronik is a German company specializing in electronics for model railways. The product portfolio centers on digital control systems for model railways with the core offerings including locomotive decoders (LD-G and LD-W series), brake modules (ABC series), and lighting solutions (LEDs and incandescent bulbs). The ecosystem includes digital command stations (mc², EasyControl), boosters, function decoders, accessory decoders, detection systems (s88), and BiDiB interface systems. The product line supports multiple digital protocols including DCC, Motorola II (MM II), and RailCom, with various decoder interfaces such as SUSI, PluX22, and NEM 652. The company also offers comprehensive electronic workshop components including resistors, capacitors, connectors, cables, and programmed microcontrollers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ABC-2 ABC-Bremsmodul (ABC Brake Module) Brake module for the ABC (Automatic Brake Control) digital braking system that creates asymmetric track voltage in the ABC brake section. Supports DCC and Motorola protocols; can be switched on/off via digital turnout commands and/or external push button; features an auxiliary output for controlling signals and/or turnouts, an optional emergency stop section, and is available as a board (€29.95) or in an enclosure (€36.95).
• LD-G-43 Lokdecoder (Locomotive Decoder) Feature-rich locomotive decoder supporting DCC (with up to 10,239 extended addresses, 14/28/128 speed steps, 29 functions F0–F28) and Motorola II protocols. Includes 8 functional outputs (max. 300 mA each), 2 switching inputs, SUSI interface, RailCom, DCC-A automatic vehicle registration, constant brake distance, and load regulation with adjustable KP/KI/KD parameters. 1,000 mA motor current rating. Available without cable at €34.95, with cables at €39.95, with NEM 652 connector at €37.95, or with PluX22 connector at €37.95.
• LD-G-44 Lokdecoder (Locomotive Decoder) High-power locomotive decoder with up to 3 A motor current, designed for H0, 0, I, and small garden railway locomotives. Supports DCC and Motorola II protocols with multiple function outputs, ABC braking, and constant brake distance. Without cable priced from €39.95.
• LD-W-42.2 Lokdecoder (Locomotive Decoder) Specialized locomotive decoder for direct control of locomotives with AC motors without motor conversion. Compact design with 4 switching outputs and 1 switching input.
• LD-G-42.2 Lokdecoder (Locomotive Decoder) Standard H0 locomotive decoder with 1.5 A total current and 1.0 A motor current, 4 switching outputs (300 mA each), and 1 switching input. Available with or without cables and NEM 652 interface.
• LD-G-41 Lokdecoder (Locomotive Decoder) Compact locomotive decoder recommended for N, TT, and small H0 locomotives with Next18 interface. Supports DCC, MM II, RailCom, DCC-A, and ABC braking; max 1.0 A total current, 500 mA motor current.
• LEDs mit Lampensockel, 10-24 V (LEDs with Lamp Base) Custom-manufactured LEDs with integrated series resistors for model railway supply voltages of 10–24 V. Available in warm white and cold white, large beam angle (120–150°), high luminous intensity, and multiple socket types (E5.5, BA5S, MS4). Can directly replace incandescent lamps without external resistors. 5-pack at €3.95 (€1.98/unit); €1.78/unit at 10% volume discount.
• Farbige LEDs mit Lampensockel, 16-24 V (Colored LEDs with Lamp Base) Colored LEDs with integrated resistor for signals and locomotive tail lights. Available in red and green with MS4 socket type; designed for 16–24 V model railway supplies.
• Glühlampen mit Sockel (Incandescent Bulbs with Socket) Traditional incandescent bulbs with various socket types (E5.5, BA5S, MS4, MS2.8) for locomotive and rolling stock lighting.
• Allglaslampen (All-Glass Bulbs) Miniature all-glass bulbs for model railway and model building applications. Available in various bulb sizes (T1.8–T4.2) and connections (free wire ends, BiPin/ECBP socket).
• FI-1 Funktions-Inverter (Function Inverter) Function inverter for connecting Duo-LEDs with common cathode to locomotive or function decoder outputs. Inverts polarity of decoder connections.
• Beleuchtungs-Umbauset / FI-Set (Lighting Conversion Kit) Conversion kit for upgrading locomotive lighting, including 2 function inverters, 4 red-yellow Duo-LEDs, 2 yellow LEDs, and 6 resistors.
• BI-Pin-Sockel für Allglaslämpchen (BiPin Socket for All-Glass Bulbs) BiPin socket for all-glass bulbs with 2.54 mm pitch. Compatible with T3.2 and T4.2 all-glass bulbs.
• mc² Digitalzentrale (Digital Command Station) Digital command station for controlling digital model railway layouts, used as the central control unit in a DCC / Motorola model railway system.
• EasyControl (Digital Control System) Digital control system for model railways, used to drive locomotives and accessories via DCC / Motorola.
• Booster (Power Booster) Power boosters for digital model railway control systems, supplying additional track power to extend digital layout capacity beyond the command station's rated output.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products support DCC protocol with up to 10,239 extended addresses and 128 speed steps, enabling sophisticated multi-locomotive control
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• BDEF (Bund Deutscher Eisenbahn-Freunde)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBDEF is a German model railway club association. Tams Elektronik offers a 5% special discount on orders of €100 or more to club members who are affiliated with BDEF, providing a commercial incentive that drives club-level purchasing.
• MOBA (Gemeinschaft der Modellbauer und Eisenbahnfreunde)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMOBA is a German model railway community/club organization. Tams Elektronik extends a 5% special discount on orders of €100 or more to members of MOBA, similar to the BDEF arrangement, to encourage club-based bulk purchases.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• LGB (Lehmann Gross Bahn): German manufacturer of large-scale garden railway equipment, now part of Märklin. Relevant comparator because Tams explicitly offers high-current decoders (LD-G-44, 3A) sized for garden-railway applications.

Direct peers

• Digitrax: US-based DCC system manufacturer producing command stations, decoders, and detection modules. Directly comparable on product category, though regional focus differs — a benchmark for North American scale and a competitive reference point.
• Lenz Elektronik: Pioneering German DCC system manufacturer producing decoders, command stations, and feedback modules. Directly comparable as a long-established German DCC specialist serving the same model railway hobbyist segment.
• ESU (Electronic Solutions Ulm): German manufacturer of DCC decoders, command stations (ECoS), and digital model railway control systems — directly comparable to Tams in target customers (DCC/Motorola hobbyists), product range, and DACH market focus.
• NCE (North Coast Engineering): American manufacturer of DCC command stations, boosters, and decoders for model railways. Directly comparable on DCC product portfolio, though operating primarily in North America.
• Zimo Elektronik: Austrian manufacturer of high-end DCC/Motorola decoders and command stations. Directly comparable on product category (decoders, command stations), protocol support, and European hobbyist customer base.
• Doehler & Haass: German manufacturer of DCC and Motorola locomotive decoders and accessories. Closely comparable as a small-to-mid-size German specialist competitor in the decoder niche with overlapping protocols and customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Hornby Hobbies: UK-based model railway manufacturer producing locomotives, rolling stock, and digital control (DCC). Comparable as a broad incumbent in the same end hobby market; relevant for sizing the UK opportunity Tams is currently shut out of.
• Märklin (Gebr. Märklin & Cie. GmbH): Germany's largest model railway manufacturer producing locomotives, track, and integrated digital systems (mfx, Märklin Digital). Comparable as a broad incumbent whose digital ecosystem overlaps with Tams decoders in Märklin-compatible layouts.
• Roco / Modelleisenbahn GmbH (Fleischmann): Austrian/German model railway manufacturer producing digital-compatible locomotives and accessories. Comparable as a broad incumbent whose products integrate with third-party DCC decoder ecosystems like Tams's.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TamsElektronik

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tams Elektronik