The Italian factories are closed due to the Coronavirus Outbreak. Ducati closes until March 25, Brembo is set to resume its production from March 22
Ducati, Moto Morini and Brembo are the first Italian brands to close their factories due to the Coronavirus crisis that affected Italy in the past weeks.
Ducati has temporarily closed the Borgo Panigale factories. Production is set to restart after the COVID-19 situation allows it. Here's the official press release.
Ducati decides to extend the shutdown of its production lines to the next 25 March inclusive.
Since the beginning of the health emergency in Italy, on Monday 24 February, Ducati has adopted an important series of measures to limit the probability of the virus spreading at its plant in Borgo Panigale, in a very timely manner and in advance of later arrangements. The most important were the measurement of the temperature at each person entering the plant, trips limited to the strictly necessary, a strong impulse to smart working, meetings with reduction of participants and distance between them, canteen with special procedures and revision of shifts to reduce close contact between people.
Despite all this, Ducati had already decided to suspend production from Friday 13 March to Wednesday 18 March included, in order to implement a series of works and actions on the production lines, to further increase the safety level of workers and to introduce a multi-shift work programme to halve the number of people on the assembly line at the same time.
The postponement of the reopening to 25 March was necessary to ensure full compliance with the new guidelines (shared protocol, issued on 14 March), which will require a few more days of work and modifications to the structures.
On the other hand, all activities related to the development of new products and market support continue, in compliance with the rules of conduct against the spread of the virus, making extensive use of smart working technology.
“We have consciously decided to temporarily close our company, we believe that the safety of all the people who work with us and the whole community has a value bigger,” said Moto Morini management in a statement.
Furthermore, brake manufacturer Brembo has closed the production line from March 16 to 22 according to their official press release.
“Due to the objective emergency in the areas of Bergamo and Brescia (among the most affected in the world by the COVID-19 pandemic), where the Italian Brembo plants are based, the company has ordered that from March 16 to 22 its production activities in Stezzano, Curno, Mapello and Sellero will be temporarily suspended.
The decision is in line with the extraordinary provisions of the Italian Government and has the aim of protecting people's health and safety, in the face of the evolution of the COVID19 pandemic and the consequent objective impossibility of operating continuously.
Brembo made this decision with a great sense of responsibility and in agreement with all the social partners involved, to intensify the measures already adopted since the early stages of spreading the virus and to ensure greater safety and serenity for all its people.
The company continues to monitor the evolution of the situation with the utmost attention and is ready to resume its activities with the commitment and gaze towards the future that has always characterized it.”
Sources: Motociclismo, Corriere dell' Umbria, RideApart