Vita Mayer is the name of a huge paper mill, stretching along the Olona river for 2 km in the north-west of Milano. The paper mill is divided in two different plants, Vita Mayer 1 and Vita Mayer 2, with a common history from the 50s.

Vita Mayer 1, the older one, was built in 1853 as small spinning mill, over a previous one owned by Nuns since 1700. At the turn of the century the mill was converted into a paper factory, owned by a famous Italian paper manufacturer, the Sterzis. Later they sold the plant to another family, the Mayers. They were an important Jewish family from Torino, managing a lot of entrepreneurial activities. Between the two Wars the paper mill was enlarged in the south with some tall yellow-painted buildings and modern machineries.

1910 - Vita Mayer 1

During the 30s, the owner Astorre Mayer was a councillor of the Fascist Federation of Paper Producers. In these productive years the ownership was shared between the Mayer brothers: Astorre, Gugliemo and Sally. It needs a mention the opening of a professional institute nearby the factory, for the workforce training. The emanation of race laws against Jewish led to a critical situation: the Mayers were forced to leave their industrial activities, and the regime took control. Vita Mayer 1 was classified as "A" industry - strictly necessary for the national defence. In 1940 it employed 957 people. Ended the war and collapsed the regime, the ownership returned to the Mayers. The decade from 1950 to 1960 is known as the "golden age", financially supported by Marshall Plan.

Sally Mayer

1949 - Power plant under construction

The paper mill was enlarged and highly modernized: it was installed a new cellulose treatment discovered in Sweden, the Kamyr Process. In 1952 the company purchased a large area 1 km south from the factory, partially occupied by an ancient mill. This one was included in the construction of a second paper mill, Vita Mayer 2. Between the two plants took place the lumber depot and a wide train yard. A big power plant, active since 1949 inside the first Vita Mayer, supplied the necessary power to the entire complex. This power plant is still today the most impressive building of the valley, with its characteristic chimney on the hilltop. Some numbers of the 60s: production around 80.000 tons/year, six freight trains per day from and to the complex, 2000 workers in Vita Mayer 1 and 750 in Vita Mayer 2. The slow end of Vita Mayer started in 1971, when a paper industry crisis hit the company. Added to this difficult financial situation, the railway line was closed for lack using, then the paper complex was deprived of its most important freight channel. On August 10, 1977 machineries ceased every activity and gates were closed forever.

Number of galleries is referred to Vita Mayer factories (1 and 2).