The virus is raging and there seems to be no way out but in this situation that for the first time we all found ourselves living, reshaping our lives, it is our duty to strive to find a solution, to be an active part in the transformation that we are living and running towards "normality".
From this perspective, NEGRI BOSSI, the Italian leader of injection machines for moulding plastic material, has carried out an extraordinary work of change for the good of the community. Since Thursday 9 April 2020 the company, located in Cologno Monzese (Milan), has been using two injection machines to produce masks to counter the spread of COVID‐19, the most serious pandemic of this beginning of the century.
The idea started from the Moulding Manager, Mr. Ruggero Galbusera and the Operations Director, Mr. Maurizio Seregni, already engaged in social work; Mr. Seregni served for 20 years as a White Cross volunteer.
The project was immediately appreciated and supported in the various evolutionary phases by Mr. Giancarlo Costa, President of the Volunteer Coordination Committee of Monza and Brianza with whom the logistical aspects for distribution to the community were organized.
The masks, the result of a project made entirely by Negri Bossi, are in thermoplastic rubber, a very flexible material and for this reason they are comfortable and ergonomic.
This device can be reused thanks to the interchangeability of the filtering fabric and it provides for the possibility of upgrading to a higher level thanks to a possible insertion of the exhalation valve filter to cope with future certifications.
In this regard, the procedures required by the Legislative Decree itself for PPE are being implemented. (reference D.L. 17 March 2020 n. 18, art. 16, c. 2.)
Another positive factor of the masks, designed by Negri Bossi and with a totally ergonomic geometry, is that they are transparent therefore they do not limit the field of view and, moreover, they do not cause the lenses to mist up when using glasses.
Finally, they are easily sanitized in boiling water and neutral soap.
The mould was built in record time by ESISTAMPI, mould maker and our collaborator for many years based near Ancona. At full capacity, the production capacity reaches an extraordinary quantity of 500 masks per hour.
All the third parties involved to complete the production process proved ready and willing, together with Negri Bossi, to start a project so strongly linked to the good of the community: from the donation of plastic material (by the Francesco Franceschetti Elastomeri company) to the bagging machine (donated by the Ravizza Packaging company).
Even this time, Negri Bossi, in an exemplary way, has been able to demonstrate its innate qualities of adaptability and versatility and has shown that the real difference is made by the people who work there and commit themselves to the maximum every day.
