Noch (model railroads)

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Noch GmbH & Co. KG, from Wangen im Allgäu (written Noch by the company) is a manufacturer and importer of accessories for model trains, especially for building landscapes. It makes products for all common sizes of model trains.

[edit] History

The company was founded in 1911 by Oswald Noch in Glauchau in Saxony, Germany. Because of the political reprisals and the nationalisation of the East German government at the time, the son of the company's founder, Erich Noch, saw no chance to expand his workshop. In 1957, he risked the move to the West. Leaving all of his assets and property behind, he began first in Munich and then in 1961 in Allgäu, to set up a new business.

Supported by his family, the company grew very quickly in the 1960s and 1970s. Soon, his son, Peter Noch, took over management of production and father and son together lead the company to success. In 1978, the private company was converted to a GmbH & Co. KG (limited partnership company). After the death of the senior manager, Erich Noch, in October of 1989, Peter Noch lead the company as the sole business manager. Dr. Rainer Noch, the son of Peter Noch and thus the fourth generation of the Noch family, has worked in the company since 1994. Father and son lead the company together until the death of Peter Noch in September of 1997.

[edit] Product Range

Noch is the German distributor for Athearn and Kato products. Besides a large range of materials for building landscapes, ready-made terrain of synthetic materials are the best known products of the Noch company.