Milestones in our history
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1787
The oldest map showing the Goričane paper mill: a military map from 1787.
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1872
In 1870, the paper mill – which had fallen into debt and been burnt down – was purchased by the Graz-based joint-stock company Leykam, which was renamed Leykam-Josefsthal after the previous owner’s wife, Josephine. Under the new ownership, a revolution took place in 1872: the Leobersdorf paper-making machine, with a working width of 142 cm, was commissioned at the paper mill for the first time. A calender and a warehouse were soon added.
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1931
The First World War was looming on the horizon, followed by the global economic crisis. Global paper production was on the rise, whilst the price of paper was falling. Goričane switched to pulp production. In 1931, Goričane shut down its first paper machine for good. Only 146 workers, 4 clerks and 1 foreman remained in employment.
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1976
In 1976, the Goričane factory made a grand comeback: under licence from Escher-Wyss, Andritz built it a state-of-the-art paper machine capable of producing 20,000 tons of the highest-quality wood-free paper annually. The first sheet of paper produced on the new machine in April 1976 – 11 days before the official opening on 23 April – was run from the wire to the winder by the shift led by foreman Dušan Murovec.
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1992
In 1992, the newly established country permanently halted pulp production, and with it, the production of lignosulfonates, which led to the factory’s rapid financial collapse. After an unsuccessful attempt to obtain compensation, the factory began a restructuring process; 75% of its equity was transferred to the Development Fund of the Republic of Slovenia, and the factory was renamed “Goričane, tovarna papirja Medvode, d. d.” (Goričane, Paper Mill Medvode, JSC).
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2002
The year 2002 was a turning point for Goričane in terms of technology and ownership, as investments reached 7.5 million euros. The Slovenian Development Corporation sold its 85.34 percent stake to Papigor, holding d. d. A new production hall was built, equipped with a slitting machine capable of keeping pace with increased paper production, and a new line for winding paper reels was introduced.
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2006
In 2006, the largest factory modernization since 1975 was carried out in Goričane. Through a thorough renovation of the paper machine and the introduction of modern technological, computer, and process equipment, production capacity was increased to approximately 80,000 tons of paper per year, and the quality and specialization of the products were improved.
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2014
In 2014, Goričane carried out its first major investment in energy in nearly 40 years: a new, high-efficiency Bosch steam boiler was installed, with a total investment of 1.2 million euros. The new boiler is better suited to the needs of paper production, enabling at least a 25 percent reduction in energy consumption and significantly lower emissions.
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2017
In 2017, a million-euro investment was made in Goričane to upgrade the wastewater treatment plant with a biological filtration system, which treats industrial wastewater and contributes to the paper mill’s more sustainable operations.
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2019
In 2019, in Goričane, the installation of a new, third cross-cutter eliminated a bottleneck in the cutting of sheet paper, shortened delivery times, and reduced outsourcing costs. At the same time, they are also developing new speciality papers, including papers with UV-fiber protection and packaging paper resistant to grease and oil.
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2025
In 2025, Goričane carried out significant technological upgrades, primarily the introduction of the new RunEco vacuum system and the replacement of part of the press frames. They secured long-term financing and became wholly owned by Papirus d. o. o. They are the only paper mill in Slovenia that is exclusively Slovenian-owned.
