Chronicle of the NOCH company

from 1911 until today

In 2011, the NOCH company celebrated its 100th anniversary. It is certainly not a matter of course that a company is allowed to celebrate its 100th birthday.

The company was founded in 1911 as a plumbing business in Saxony/Germany and has survived during the last 100 years two world wars and also the flight from nationalisation in the GDR. NOCH has been involved in accessories for model railways for 75 years.

Initially, the company traded in model railway articles on the side, and later established its own manufactory, which slowly but steadily developed into the company it is today. We have now been at home in Wangen im Allgäu for 50 years. NOCH is owner-managed in the 4th generation and currently employs over 80 people.

In the 100-year history of the company and its products, there have been many technical innovations and products that have revolutionised model landscaping.

The best examples are the deep-drawn preformed layouts in 1961, the first electrostatically flocked grass mat in 1963, super-realistic hard foam portals from 1983 and the Gras Master, which has been providing perfect grass application for everyone since 2005. In its anniversary year, NOCH also ventured into the field of modern technology and innovative production methods: The new Laser-Cut+ building models mark the turning point for modern building model construction. It is not surprising that decisive innovations in this field come from NOCH: The first model buildings were handmade at NOCH as early as 1949.

We wish you a lot of fun in model landscaping with our products.

Your NOCH Team

2021

NOCH celebrates its 110th anniversary.

2020

1. NOCH Online Fair has taken place! Experience the "fair feeling" even in times of Corona - comfortably and safely from home! Unfortunately, all model railway fairs in 2020 - e.g.

Intermodellbau in Dortmund and Faszination Modellbau in Sinsheim - have been cancelled or postponed due to current developments around COVID-19. But were thinking: a spring without a model making fair is not a real spring. This is how the 1. NOCH Online Fair was created!

2018

The NOCH Innovation: 3D Printing Models in series Production! Those who follow the current news in modelling magazines and who are interested in technology will have already heard of it: the 3D printing production revolution.

As with the introduction of the Laser-Cut technology, NOCH is a leading light of this innovative production technology and offer these new 3D minis for the first time this year: models which set new benchmarks for detail – »Fine Scale« in series production! The 3D minis, ready assembled and realistically painted, can be directly placed on your model landscape.

2017

This year we celebrate a small anniversary: The miniature model figures of NOCH will be 20 years old! In 1997 we launched the first figure-set on the market. In the meantime model figures are one of our most important pillars so that we are glad to say that we have developed to a leading manufacturer of model figures.

For many years our model figures have been available in H0, TT, N and Z scale. Today our figures range comprises over 250 figure sets.

2015

In 2015 we started our automatic warehouse at our Head Office in Wangen / Allgäu. The new construction of hall 3 and the installation of the automatic warehouse have been the highest investment in the company’s history.

Thanks to the new warehouse system we are prepared for our future target of being efficient in warehousing and dispatching numerous products.

2013

Opening of the NOCH Modellbau-Welt (NOCH Model Building World).

2011

NOCH celebrates its 100th anniversary.

2010

30 years after the end of model buildings NOCH launches own model buildings. The Laser-Cut+ houses set a new quality benchmark.

2009

Another new production hall ist added.

2009

NOCH Asia is founded in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), Vietnam. You can also find more info on the 100% subsidiary company here.

2007

The first series of delicate accessories manufactured with the modern Laser-Cut technology are produced.

2005

NOCH introduces the revolutionary Gras-Master® that makes it possible for all to electrostatically cover model landscapes with grass fibres.

2002

A new office is built.

1997

The fourth generation, Dr. Rainer Noch, joins the company. He launches the NOCH model figures.

1989

In the late 1970´s Peter Noch, Erich’s son, joined the company. Together, father and son managed the company until Erich died in 1989.

1984

NOCH simplifies the construction of model landscapes with its new TERRA-FORM system.

1982

The development of an innovative hardfoam allows the first production of extremely realistic walls and tunnel portals. This new material enables NOCH also to start a new business with sales displays.

1978

NOCH brings the model building series to an end.

1971

Owing to its increasing success NOCH has an extension to its factory to enlarge the production.

1966/1967

Peter Noch, the son of Erich Noch, develops highly detailed NOCH injection moulded trees.

1963/1964

Electrostatically covered grass mats are launched.

1961

The company NOCH relocates to Wangen in the Allgäu region. For the first time model railroad tunnels are manufactured using modern vacuum thermoforming technology.

1956

In Nuremberg NOCH presents his new product range at the Toy Fair for the first time. Except for the model railway rolling stock all of the products were designed in Glauchau.

1953

First participation in the spring fair in Leipzig.

1953

Under the pressure of the socialistic government of the GDR NOCH nearly collapses. But the company remains because of private loans.

1949

The first NOCH Catalogue is published including its own products including tunnels and background models. At the end of the year the first NOCH model railway rolling stock is available.

1945

After the War Erich Noch returns from the captivity and starts the company again. To earn money he builds complete model railway layouts for rich customers.

1940

As Erich Noch has been conscripted, he suspended the company in Glauchau until the end of the war.

1936

NOCH starts selling model buildings manufactured by its resident carpenter Hecker.

1935

The company moves to 5 Nikolai Street and starts distributing Märklin model railways.

1930

Erich Noch founds the "Engineering Office NOCH“ as a subsidiary of his father's workshop.

1911

Oswald Noch founds his plumbers workshop in Glauchau (Saxony).