Italian plastics, polyurethane and rubber machinery makers are exempt from Italy's coronavirus lockdown that is set to start and the end of the day March 24.
Amaplast, Italy's trade association for the plastics and rubber manufacturing sector, said in a statement released late on March 23 that it had received a letter making clear that the machinery firms are considered necessary.
That development came after an Italian presidential decree on March 22 to force all unnecessary economic activity to stop in the country. Companies operating factories had until end of business March 24 to comply unless they were exempted. They were to close March 25 to April 4.
"Factories will have to comply with the [order] ... list all the measures that hinder and limit the spread of the infection inside and outside worksite and keeping the safety and health of people involved in the production cycle as a priority," Amaplast wrote.
Companies still operating must show that they are "limiting production only to those units which activity is really essential as a consequence, work shifts will also have to be rescheduled, based on real necessities," the group noted.
It added that there are some delays to the supply of materials and components, but this is not affecting production. Deliveries of machinery continue.
