To address the Covid-19 emergency, on 16 March 2020, the Lombardy Region began seeking companies willing to repurpose their production to supply suitable protective products, specifically surgical masks and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), by establishing a Task Force chaired by the Lombardy Region's Councillor for the Environment, Raffaele Cattaneo.

Confindustria Lombardia joined the Task Force, providing technical expertise and constant support to the Lombardy Region alongside representatives from the Politecnico di Milano, certified industry experts (BLS Spa for masks and Indutex Spa for gowns), regional managers and officials from the Environment, Welfare and Economic Development departments, and representatives from certification laboratories (Italcert and CentroCot).

Following the realisation, in the very first days of the outbreak, that existing stocks were inadequate and that it was impossible to source the necessary quantities of materials on national and international markets, a supply chain was promoted—including through industrial conversion—capable of ensuring local production that met requirements in terms of quantity, quality and delivery times.

Over 160 companies, about half of which are based in Lombardy, joined this initiative and repurposed part of their production. The Politecnico di Milano received more than 2,000 samples from companies across the country and, during March and April, conducted over 800 tests on materials for the production of surgical masks, with the following results:

• 48 companies, 26 of which are in Lombardy and 22 in other regions, obtained authorisation from the Istituto Superiore di Sanità for the production and marketing of masks under the emergency derogation procedure
• 27 companies, 11 of which are in Lombardy and 16 in other regions, obtained authorisation from the Istituto Superiore di Sanità for the production of masks under the emergency derogation procedure
• 26 companies, 21 of which are in Lombardy and 5 in other regions, despite receiving positive results from the Politecnico regarding their materials, did not complete or initiate the procedure with the Istituto Superiore di Sanità
• 61 companies, including 28 in Lombardy, 32 in other regions and one abroad, obtained CE certification for protective gowns and coveralls, issued by CentroCot S.p.A.
• One Lombardy-based company completed the conversion of its operations to produce FFP2 masks classified as Personal Protective Equipment

On 16 June, after three months of activity, the Task Force concluded its work. Confindustria Lombardia would like to thank all the companies that made themselves available to repurpose part of their production, the Lombardy territorial associations, and the Lombardy Region for the significant work carried out during this critical emergency phase for the region.