KNOBLOCH - Mailboxes since 1869

KNOBLOCH was founded in 1869 as a sheet metal workshop (as it was called back then) in Döbeln, located in the German federal state of Saxony. It remains a family-owned business to this day and used its original site until the major relocation in 2025. Over the years, many different metal products have been manufactured but mailboxes have been part of the range almost from the very beginning.

A growing company

Founded in 1869, we are the oldest mailbox manufacturer still in operation in Germany and offer expert consulting in the fields of mailboxes and mailbox systems. As the only full-range supplier in this segment, we are the third-largest manufacturer of mailbox systems in the German market.

Our product range is complemented by accessories such as doorbell elements, house numbers, and outdoor lighting, providing a complete selection of products for the entrance area. At KNOBLOCH, we stand for the highest quality made in Germany and a high degree of flexibility to meet our customers’ individual requirements. Customized products are an everyday part of our traditional company.

In 2002, we were still manufacturing our products with 30 employees on the original company premises founded in 1869. Today, 200 employees work at two production sites in Döbeln and at a branch office in Berlin. Our letterboxes are supplied to many European countries, as well as Japan, Canada, and the USA.

From Railway Radiators to Mailboxes

The company began by producing infrared radiators and railway radiators, and later made the pioneering decision to manufacture letterboxes and mailbox systems. This decision was largely driven by market needs, but a return to the company’s roots was also important. We look back with pride on what we have achieved and look forward to the challenges and successes to come!

We reflect on an eventful company history marked by wars, inflation, and losses, but also characterized by strength, determination, and ultimately faith in the company’s continued existence. Thanks especially to Erika and Reinhard Kolbe, Max Knobloch Nachf. GmbH still exists today. Their efforts led to the reprivatisation of the company, which had been nationalised and expropriated in the 1970s, following the political changes of 1990.

After reprivatisation, the Kolbe couple faced the challenge of existential reorientation. The beginning was difficult and demanded risk-taking and determination from the new entrepreneurs and the workforce at the time. With the existing sheet metal processing machines and paint shop, as well as the support of a highly motivated workforce, the foundations were laid for the company’s continuous development.