What FALLER does

Gebr. FALLER GmbH is a German family-owned model building company founded in 1946 and headquartered in Gütenbach in the Southern Black Forest. The company designs, develops, manufactures and distributes prefabricated building kits, landscape construction materials, miniature figures, and model vehicle systems for the model railway and diorama hobby market. Its product portfolio spans four pillars: Miniaturwelten (building kits in H0 1:87, N 1:160 and Z 1:220 scales), Anlagenbau (terrain, trees, lighting, electronics, tools and airbrush equipment), the Car System and Car System Digital (self-propelled miniature road vehicles guided by an embedded wire, with the digital variant adding ultrasonic locating, radio communication, PC-based software control, and LocoNet/DCC command-station integration, protected by European patent EP 13 152 513.1-1658 and US patent US 8,781,648), and POLA G (1:22.5 garden-railway scale products). The catalog exceeds 6,000 SKUs across FALLER's own line and 26 distributed third-party brands including Academy, Airfix, Herpa, Hornby, Vallejo and Wiking.

FALLER serves two primary customer segments: model building hobbyists purchasing individual kits and accessories, and specialist model retailers (Fachhandel) reselling the catalog. Revenue is generated through one-time product purchases via two channels: a direct-to-consumer e-commerce shop at faller.de covering 27 EU countries, and a wholesale network of independent specialist retailers with an online dealer locator. Pricing follows standard unit pricing with a €50 free-shipping threshold in Germany and country-specific shipping tiers elsewhere; payments are processed through CrefoPay integrating PayPal, Klarna, Sofortüberweisung, and Visa/Mastercard. Marketing spans ePaper catalogs, newsletter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, trade shows, and on-site exhibitions at the Gütenbach headquarters.

The company operates as an independent GmbH under sole managing partner Horst Neidhard, with no external investors, parent company, or public listing disclosed. It maintains sector compliance including WEEE registration, ElektroG/BattG conformity, GDPR data-processing practices, and CE conformity for Car System Digital radio components. Spare-parts, instruction-manual and workshop services support legacy and discontinued kits, reinforcing long-tail customer retention within a 75-year-old hobby franchise.

Name

FALLER

Legal name

Gebr. FALLER GmbH

Website

https://faller.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

FALLER is a German family-owned model building manufacturer founded in 1946, producing building kits, landscape materials, miniature figures, and the patented Car System Digital vehicle system for hobbyists, and distributing 26 additional brands to specialist retailers across 27 EU countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Model Building Kits & Accessories

NAICS

Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (45912)

SIC

Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944)

akta.pro primary industry

Building Sets & Construction Toys Retail (CRALAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Scale Model Kits (Aircraft, Armor, Ships, Cars) (CRALAKAA), Hobby & Model Kits Distribution (RC, Scale Models, Miniatures) (CRAOAMAD)

Keywords

• Model building kits
• Model railway accessories
• Scale miniature models
• Model railroad buildings
• Hobby craft kits

Headquarters

HQ city

Guttenbach

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Model Building Products: FALLER generates revenue through the sale of model building kits, building sets, accessories, and components for model railways and miniatures. The company sells both its own branded products and distributes 26 additional brands of model building products. Revenue is generated through one-time product purchases via e-commerce and specialist retailers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

FALLER (Gebr. FALLER GmbH) manufactures and sells prefabricated building kits, landscape construction materials, and self-propelled model road vehicles (Car System, Car System Digital) for model railway layouts and miniature worlds. The company produces its own branded kits across multiple scales (H0 1:87, N 1:160, Z 1:220, POLA G 1:22.5) and additionally distributes 26 other model building brands through its online shop and Fachhandel retailer network.

Product overview

FALLER (Gebr. FALLER GmbH) is a German model building company founded in 1946, headquartered in Gütenbach/Schwarzwald, specializing in model railway buildings, miniature worlds, and model vehicle systems. The product portfolio centers on four core offerings: (1) Miniaturwelten building kits covering residential, commercial, and themed structures; (2) Anlagenbau landscape construction materials including terrain, trees, lighting, and electronics; (3) the Car System and Car System Digital road vehicle systems with guide wire navigation and PC-controlled digital automation; and (4) the POLA G large-scale (1:22.5) system. The range spans multiple scales (H0 1:87, N 1:160, Z 1:220, POLA G 1:22.5) and is complemented by miniature figures, military modeling kits, conversion chassis for third-party models, LED lighting, and Vallejo paint distribution. Services include spare parts, instruction manuals, workshops, and an on-site exhibition. FALLER also distributes 26 additional model building brands including Academy, Airfix, Herpa, Rietze, and Wiking.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• POLA G: A brand product line for model building at scale 1:22.5, featuring buildings, vehicles, and accessories for garden railway enthusiasts.
• Car System
• Car System Digital

Products and services

• Miniaturwelten Building Kits Prefabricated building kits for model railway layouts, including residential houses, commercial buildings, farm structures, and themed miniature worlds in scales H0 (1:87), N (1:160), and Z (1:220). Targeted at model railway hobbyists.
• Anlagenbau Landscape Construction Landscape construction materials including trees, bushes, terrain elements, fields, meadows, mountains, rocks, water features, roads, model backgrounds, lighting, electronics, tools, and airbrush equipment for complete model layout creation.
• Car System Analog self-propelled model road vehicle system where miniature cars, trucks, and buses follow a steel guide wire embedded in roads, with magnetic steering and reed-contact control points for stopping at signals and parking.
• Car System Digital Patented digital road vehicle control system using ultrasonic vehicle locating, radio communication, integrated DCC decoders, and PC-based software for fully automated traffic management with real-time vehicle tracking, automatic distance control, and customizable traffic scenarios. Covered by European patent EP 13 152 513.1-1658 and US patent US 8,781,648.
• POLA G Large-scale (1:22.5) model building system featuring buildings, vehicles, figures, and accessories designed for garden railway layouts and outdoor display models.
• FALLER Military Building Kits Military modeling product line including building kits for barracks, guard buildings, repair halls, vehicle shelters, tents, fencing, sandbags, and accessories for recreating military installations in 1:87 scale.
• FALLER Figuren Miniature Figures Scale-model human and animal figures in 1:87 and 1:160 scales, including travelers, railway staff, pedestrians, craftsmen, children, and themed character sets (cows, horses, sheep, dogs, cats) for populating model layouts.
• Ersatzteile Spare Parts Service Customer service providing replacement parts, spare sprues, masks, decals, and components for FALLER kits, including discontinued products.
• FALLER Workshops Model building workshops offered by FALLER for training and skill development in model construction techniques.
• Distributed Model Building Brands Distribution of 26 additional model building brands including Academy, Airfix, Herpa, Rietze, Wiking, Humbrol, Hornby, Vallejo, Trumpeter, Tomytec, and others, sold through the FALLER online shop and Fachhandel network.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products sold in Germany and throughout European export markets
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Hornby: Hornby is a major UK-based model railway group encompassing Hornby, Airfix, Humbrol, and Corgi, operating broadly across trains, scale models, and accessories. Airfix scale model kits are distributed by FALLER, illustrating the cross-ecosystem connection.
• Tamiya: Tamiya is a Japanese manufacturer of plastic model kits and RC vehicles, serving global hobbyists with scale models and accessories. As an internationally distributed brand also carried by FALLER, Tamiya represents a comparable large-scale hobby manufacturer.
• Märklin: Märklin is Germany's dominant model railway manufacturer, offering trains, track, digital control systems, and a wide portfolio including building kits. As a broad incumbent, Märklin overlaps with FALLER's model railway ecosystem and has historically been FALLER's largest distribution channel partner.
• Revell: Revell is a major German-based manufacturer of plastic scale model kits (aircraft, armor, ships, cars) and model paints, overlapping with parts of FALLER's distributed brand portfolio and competing in the broader hobbyist category.

Direct peers

• Auhagen: Auhagen is a German manufacturer of model railway building kits and structures, directly competing with FALLER in residential and commercial building kits for H0 and TT scales. The company serves the same specialist model retailer channel in Germany and Europe.
• Herpa: Herpa is a German manufacturer of scale model vehicles, deeply integrated with FALLER's Car System through conversion chassis that convert Herpa stationary models into self-propelled Car System vehicles. The two brands function as complementary ecosystem partners and compete in the model vehicle segment.
• Vollmer: Vollmer is a long-established German manufacturer specializing in model railway building kits and accessories, directly competing with FALLER's Miniaturwelten product line. The two brands are commonly stocked side-by-side by specialist model retailers (Fachhandel).
• Kibri: Kibri is a German manufacturer of model building kits and accessories for model railway layouts, directly competing with FALLER in the H0/N scale building kit category. Both companies serve German and European model railway hobbyists with comparable prefabricated structure kits.
• Busch: Busch is a German manufacturer specializing in model scenery, figures, and diorama accessories, overlapping with FALLER's Anlagenbau landscape construction and figurine categories. Both brands target hobbyists building detailed model railway layouts.

Regional players

• Walthers: Walthers is a major US-based distributor and manufacturer of model railway products including building kits and structures. As a regional player, Walthers competes with FALLER in concept but operates primarily in the North American market rather than Europe.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/faller
• Facebookfacebook.com/faller.de
• Instagraminstagram.com/gebrfaller
• Xx.com/gebrfaller
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gebr-faller-gmbh

Compliance5 records

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 FALLER