About Umarex:
Umarex Defense is the world’s largest manufacturer of over-the-counter firearm replicas and the largest importer of air guns in Europe. Founded in 1972, the mid-sized company is now run by the second generation of the two founding families. It has approximately 1,000 employees worldwide. The key to the company’s success has been the acquisition of licenses to build replicas of well-known weapons, which then can be sold without restrictions. Umarex currently holds licenses for the brands' Beretta, Browning, Colt, GLOCK, Heckler & Koch, Ruger, Smith & Wesson, IWI, and Walther.
Leading the way:
The words of Franz Kafka describe what makes Umarex special: the courage to move ahead. The company’s motto “Looking forward” takes up this theme. New paths present themselves only to those who have their eyes on the future.
Ever since its establishment in 1972, Umarex has been pushing toward new horizons. Its founders, Wulf-Heinz Pflaumer and Franz Wonisch had a strong entrepreneurial spirit and set themselves ambitious goals. Together with more than 850 dedicated employees and partners in Germany and abroad, they achieved their objectives.
Today the company is managed by the second generation of managing partners, Eyck Pflaumer and Martin Wonisch.
They are leading the way with entrepreneurial courage. The outlook is exciting indeed.
Millions of active people enjoy shooting with guns that can be bought over the counter. They expect exceptional products from Umarex – and they get them.
Umarex has created a world of adventure for sports shooters, recreational shooters, and hunters. Its high-performance models permit training under highly realistic conditions.
By steadily improving its products, providing worldwide service through international distributors, and upholding superb quality standards, Umarex enjoys the confidence of gun lovers the world over.
History of the Umarex Defense:
The first steps led to the first big success: Umarex developed a line of guns with a powerful appeal to 10 million recreational shooters. These blank-firing guns and airguns could be freely purchased over the counter. That was a key advantage, because Germany’s new weapons act, passed in 1972, required a permit for the purchase of lethal weapons.
Meeting the demand for over-the-counter guns.
Meeting this demand was no easy task. In fact, it seemed almost impossible, because Umarex, at that time still called Mayer & Riem, manufactured only one gun. It was the Perfecta Model G1,a blank-firing pistol.
Wulf-Heinz Pflaumer, who joined Umarex in 1972, pressed forward with the expansion of the product range. Together with Franz Wonisch and Karl Mayer Senior, he applied what he had learned at the mail-order company Neckermann: give the customers what they want.
A wise move, with fast results.
Success came swiftly. Umarex became the largest importer of airguns from China. In 1974/75 it made a big impact with internationally renowned brands like Daisy, Marksman, Milbro, and Norica. It secured exclusive rights for Marksman and became the general importer of Daisy rifles.
No more detours.
In 1972, the sales path for guns was from wholesalers to retailers. There was no direct path from manufacturers to retailers – until Wulf-Heinz Pflaumer came along and tried it. The industry was amazed. Umarex was ahead of its time.
Direct sales were necessary because the wholesalers were ignoring Umarex. So Umarex ignored the wholesalers. By 1976, Umarex had six field representatives. Their job was to visit gun dealers in Germany, some 1,000 in all, and present the company’s products. Both sides agreed: We’re a good match. In this way, Umarex achieved growth rates between 30% and 50%.
The Sherlock Holmes Set:
The ingenious Sherlock Holmes finally met his equal: Umarex created a package in the shape of a book, containing a magnifying glass and a revolver with blank cartridges and flares. The set, which displayed the figure of Sherlock Holmes on the outside, sold at a rate of 80,000 per year. A license fee of 25 cents per set went to the family of Arthur Conan Doyle, which held the rights to the character.
Success without borders
Umarex Defense began its expansion in the 1970s by exporting to Egypt, France, Italy, Austria, and Switzerland. In 1985, the company strengthened its international presence with the founding of Umarex Austria. Based in Walchsee and headed by Bernd Reppmann, Umarex Austria remains a highly regarded member of the Umarex Group.
Umarex Austria offers gun dealers in southeastern Europe a product range that is specially geared to the needs of recreational shooters and hunters. Its experienced and well-trained employees provide expert advice and are known for their excellent service.
View all our Umarex Defense Launchers here
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