Family Business Slovenia 2024

DOBA Business Group derives its name from the founder, Jasna Dominko Baloh, combining her two surnames. Over time, it has become synonymous with what the company is striving for and bringing to life every day: the concept of lifelong learning. The group consists of four units: a technical college, a language learning centre, an international business academy, and — most prominently — the DOBA Business School. Many students, balancing full-time jobs, enrol in the DOBA Business School to gain new practical, up-to-date know-how, advance their careers through promotions, and ensure personal growth. The teaching staff responds to this decision with a profound sense of responsibility. This is felt by all employees, including Jasna’s husband Peter Baloh, who is the Chief Financial Officer, and their daughter Polona Baloh Kremavc, the Director of Academic Programmes at DOBA Business School. For several years, they have been actively facilitating a smooth transition of leadership to the second generation. This entails a strong focus on supporting employees and their families.

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DOM TRADE, based in the Gorenjska region, has been a trusted name in the builders’ merchant sector for over three decades, offering comprehensive solutions for home construction and renovation. Their slogan, “Everything for construction from foundation to roof plus renovation,” embodies their commitment to providing comprehensive solutions and ensuring customer satisfaction. The sale of construction material, ceramics, and bathroom equipment is their core business, complemented by home deliveries and customer service advice on the right choice of materials. The team advises customers on everything from building materials to specific products for the final phase of construction, as well as maintenance products for the home and garden.

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Gabrijel Aluminium is a Slovenian family business foundedby Stane Gabrijel in the 1960s. From its modest beginnings, the company developed into a global supplier of aluminium components for established international brands, including VW, Samsung, Philips, BSH, Bang & Olufsen, and others. The company manufactures complex decorative aluminium components by using both mechanical and surface treatment of aluminium. In 1999, the company opened an automatised aluminium anodising plant in Lavrica, enabling Gabrijel Aluminium to begin mass production. Their clients include manufacturers of TV sets, screens, computers, AV components, and loudspeakers. They work with manufacturers of household appliances, as well as the automobile, furniture, nautical, aviation, and railway industries, and many others. Due to its aesthetic appeal, lightweight nature, and ease of handling, aluminium is an attractive and highly sought-after material in these fields. Additionally, it is recyclable.

Founder Stane Gabrijel set up his first workshop together with his brother Miro in 1963. A year later, he officially established his own company. In 1991, he handed over the reins to his son Andrej Gabrijel, who remains the majority owner.

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The Old Post Office, a beautiful and important landmark in the old town centre of Kranj. Several residential and commercial units and land. The company Olma, which commands a large share of the lubricants market in Slovenia and South-East Europe. Monte Rosso, an idyllic Istrian estate with award-winning olive oil and wine. GALVANOTEHNIKA d.o.o., where the tradition of high-quality galvanising continues to this day. The Gorjanc family – whether independently or in partnership – is the force behind all of these ventures.

Uroš Gorjanc, along with his wife Barbara, is firmly following in the footsteps of his ancestors, especially his grandfather Franc, a visionary entrepreneur in the early twentieth century, and his father Alojz Jurij, a renowned ski-jumping coach whose work ethic significantly influenced the family’s way of thinking. The fourth generation is gradually becoming involved in the family business, especially sons Črt and Jan, while Bor is still in secondary school. With a strong sense of mutual respect, a commitment to honouring agreements, honesty and sincerity, the Gorjanc family is moving forward in a way that reflects the meaning of their surname: UP! (“gor” in Slovenian means “up”).

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Malalan is a company driven by determination and fuelled by a passion for jewellery and timepieces, now carried on by the third generation of the family. The cornerstone of the company is timelessness, while their slogan — We forge your dreams into eternity — is a pledge that the family has been turning into reality for three quarters of a century. 

Situated in the heart of Ljubljana, the Malalan Jewellery Store captivates at first sight, offering a collection that exemplifies watchmaking and jewellery craftsmanship. The store sells high-end watches and jewellery and is the certified service location for the most prestigious Swiss watch brands. The family store includes a goldsmith workshop, where they create their own lines of gold and silver jewellery. Their range of watchmaking and jewellery partnerships was built gradually, over the course of many years. These days, Malalan is partner of prestigious global watch brands such as Rolex, Cartier, IWC Schaffhausen, as well as leading names in jewellery, such as Pomellato, Pasquale Bruni, and Messika. Their range of products includes no fewer than 25 exceptional brands.

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More than 50 years of advanced manufacturing. This is the slogan of the Marovt Group, whose family of companies include Marovt, the Gazelle of the Savinja-Zasavje Region recipient, as well as MTEH, Inkolteh, Aklimat and Enset. These specialised companies cover various fields in synergy, ranging from high-quality forging, the automation and robotisation of production processes, and IT architecture to the manufacturing of designer aluminium radiators and complete solar energy system solutions. The story of these companies began in a modest workshop.

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Metalika, based in the Posavje region, combines tradition, innovation, and a commitment to family values. Today, the company specialises in interior furnishings for ships and yachts, a niche focus that has driven their success and growth. “Over the past six or seven years, we have shifted our focus more on furnishing megayachts and superyachts. In addition to making furniture, we also assemble it. We’ve also developed complete engineering solutions and proprietary project management,” explains owner Igor Arh and adds that they can deliver a project from start to finish. They are embracing the concept of Industry 4.0 and showcasing their innovative spirit with Nautilus Sleeping Pods for ships.

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Size is not an indicator of importance. According to its CEO and founder Janez Novak, RLS Measurement Technology “makes little things that end up as part of big things.” RLS is a Slovenian business with 290 employees. Its sensors can be found in many different industries, including robotics, medicine, and even space technology. The sensors deliver precise measurements of positions and movements, playing a key role in monitoring speed, angularity, and other parameters in various high-tech devices. The company generates 95 percent of its revenue abroad, primarily in the EU, the US, Japan, China, and South Korea.

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Founded in 2007, Robotehnika, located in northeastern Slovenia, is a company offering CNC metal processing solutions, as well as automation and robotisation of manufacturing processes. It is based in Nova Vas pri Markovcih, where a new manufacturing facility is being built. The company employs 47 people and generated nearly four million euros in revenue in 2023. More than two thirds of its output is exported, mostly to German-speaking countries and the US, where customers value them for their high quality and versatility.

Andrej Orovič, CEO and founder of the company, manages it with the help of his family, with each member playing a role in its success. His wife Marija and children Jernej and Janja also work at the company.

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With its optimised website and a superb user experience, the company now distributes mechanical components to virtually the entire world and is considered a leader in its field. In more than 72 countries, they are helping to find solutions when it comes to bearings, as well as linear and power transmission technology. Their knowledge and experience help them provide their customers with consulting and technical support. These goals, which Danica Pleško, the founder of Tuli, never considered when she was setting up the company in the family garage, are now coming to life under the leadership of her children, Urška, Jure, and CEO Erika.

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