Horizon Hobby
Horizon Hobby, Inc. is an international hobby product distributor, headquartered in Champaign, Illinois, United States.[1] It currently manufactures various Hobby grade radio control (R/C) models, as well as Athearn model trains and die-cast models, which it sells direct to consumers as well as to hobby retailers.[2]
An employee-owned company, Horizon employs nearly 700 people and sells products in more than 50 countries around the world. Corporate headquarters, along with the main distribution facility and product service center, are located in Champaign, Illinois. Additional distribution centers are located in Ontario, California; Harlow, England (site of Horizon Hobby UK Ltd.); and Elmshorn, Germany (site of Horizon Hobby Deutschland GmbH). California is also home to the Losi RC car division (Ontario) and the Athearn train line (Long Beach). On December 9, 2013, Horizon announced that the company was being bought by a group of investors led by Horizon's CEO, Joe Ambrose. The group includes Minneapolis-based Mill City Capital L.P. and Champaign-based Armory Capital LLC founded by Jacob Ambrose.[3]
It is also the parent company for Athearn trains, Blade helis, Dynamite RC (Battery Chargers, Speed Controllers, Nitro Engines), E-flite, ElectrixRC, Force RC, Hangar 9, HobbyZone, ParkZone, Pro Boat, Team_Losi|Team Losi Racing (various RC models, parts), Spektrum Radio equipment and Vaterra. It is also the exclusive distributor of JR Radios in North America.