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How it all began...
1960: The foundation for ROCO was laid by Mr. and Mrs. Rössler when Heinz Rössler founded the
company under his own name. The means were limited, but the vision grand ....
Turn back time. 1960: the economy was booming, there was a striving and an optimism that is
difficult to describe. TV was young, a new kind of wild and wonderful music Rock'n Roll was making
a name for itself, the conquest of space was just beginning, and, the relatively new material,
plastic, was coming into its own.
The Idea
And it was this material that fired Heinz Rößler's imagination. Plastic injection moulding provided
the means for far more detailed and economical models than die-cast metal could hope to achieve.
After putting together a team of highly skilled experts, military models were produced - much more
finely detailed models than had ever been seen before. Especially the US market, where demand for
such models was high, proved a great success. So much so that an American business partner wrote,
"Deliver as much as you can produce ..."
The start of model railways...
Only a few years later, the "Minitanks" were followed by ROCO wagon models of American prototypes,
first H0 and 0 scale. In 1965/66 the first N gauge models were produced. In 1967 ROCO entered the
European market with the first H0 models. Especially Germany proved to be a success, surprising
the competition both with the first class quality and the economical price.
And so, step by step, the programme grew. Today, ROCO is one of the largest manufacturers of H0
and N scale models worldwide. One of the most important factors in this development were
innovations that changed the model railway worlds.
Precision and innovation ...
Today, the name ROCO is still synonymous with the highest possible standards in detailing, scale
accuracy and precision - particularly in the exactly 1:87 scale models. The Austrian 310.23 steam
locomotive is a fine example of this. The detailing is almost as precise as if each model were
individually handcrafted, the smooth running qualities, and the almost silent ROCO motor further
enhance this locomotive. And, under digital operation, the locomotive speed can be reduced to
where forward motion is almost imperceptible - even on inclines.
On the road to success, ROCO has set milestones that have had a lasting influence on the world of
model railways. Short-coupling, for example, is an innovation promoted by ROCO. The introduction
of the ROCO LINE track system allowed model railway enthusiasts, for the first time ever, to
create accurately scaled gravel roadbed tracks. But not only the scaling was innovative, the
tracks are further characterized by robustness and reliability.
CORPORATE DESIGN
Why has ROCO chosen a new road?
At the end of 2002, after extensive market research and distributer feedback, we reached the
conclusion that it is not appropriate and helpful to address our various customer groups
(from children and beginner's to serious experts) the same way. Rather, we want to help you to
identify the range of products most appropriate to your needs. This means a new market
presentation and clearly defined criteria for different collections. The traditional clientel
with a high level of technical know-how is getting older, and fewer children and youngsters are
finding their way to model railways. Virtual worlds and games are fashionable. The anual flood
of new offers, and huge model railway collections provided by the various manufacturers is
almost too much for many customers and distributers. High costs may also deter would-be model
railway hobbyists.
Our declared object is to make model railways more attractive, and more economical, for the
younger generation and other beginners. ROCO is taking a new line in order to more closely match
the requirements of all groups of model railroaders in future. To do this we have developed
three product collections: Platin, Professional and Playtime.
| Platin - A distinguished selection of collector's items |
Outstanding models impressively demonstrate ROCO's passion for perfection in modelling. This
collection addresses the demands of specialists, collectors, and those who value distinctive
quality. These high-end models are specially presentation packaged. This valuable collection is
identified by the platin-silver colour.
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| Professional – The collection for pros |
Locomotives, wagons, and accessories in highest detailing, quality, and pioneering technology. For all
those who who take model railways seriously, and who want real-world railway authenticity. An
elegant shade of blue identifies the Professional collection.
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| Playtime – The economical start to a fascinating hobby |
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Robust locos, wagons, and tracks at a reasonable price open creative new perspectives. This
collection is intendend as an entry point to the hobby for newcomers, children and youngsters.
All ROCO products in the Playtime collection are easily identified by the orange colour.
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© Copyright 1998-2010 Kuhn EUROBAHN Trains. All rights reserved.
No portion of this document, including all graphics, may be copied electronically or used
for any commercial purpose without the written permission of Kuhn EUROBAHN Trains.
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Phone 717.426.2090
Fax 717.426.3422
42 West Market Street
Marietta, Pennsylvania 17547
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