Testing labs in Pastrengo

RICOTEST is Italy's first dedicated institute for Research, Testing, and CE Certification of personal protective equipment (PPE), founded in 1982 by engineer Meyer in the Verona region. Operating from its facility in Pastrengo (Verona), the laboratory has built more than four decades of expertise in the physico-mechanical and chemical analysis of protective products for the occupational, sports, and outdoor sectors. The lab tests and certifies finished products including safety footwear, protective gloves, high-performance garments, impact protectors, helmets, airbag and inflatable protective systems, motorcycle clothing, and firefighting equipment, as well as the constituent raw materials—leather, technical textiles, rubber compounds, and plastics—from which they are manufactured. The laboratory's testing portfolio spans a wide range of physico-mechanical evaluations covering the properties most critical to protective performance and regulatory compliance. Core physical tests include traction, elongation, breaking load, tear resistance, compression, penetration resistance, burst strength, and adhesion—performed on finished articles and constituent materials alike. Additional testing disciplines include cut resistance evaluation, impact absorption analysis, fire reaction and heat resistance characterisation, breathability and water-vapour transmission assessment, ergonomics evaluation, wear and abrasion resistance, and special conditioning procedures such as ageing and thermal cycling to simulate real-use environments. RICOTEST also conducts colour fastness analysis to assess the durability of dyes and surface treatments under mechanical and chemical exposure, and material innocuousness (material safety) verification to confirm compliance with restricted-substance requirements applicable to PPE placed on the European market. RICOTEST serves a broad range of industries within the protective equipment ecosystem. Primary sectors include occupational safety PPE manufacturers producing safety boots (including products under EN ISO 20345), cut-resistant gloves, high-visibility workwear, and body armour; firefighting and emergency services equipment producers; motorcycle apparel and rider-protection brands; winter sports and ski-boot manufacturers—the lab is a recognised partner for verifying ski-boot compatibility with ski bindings per applicable international norms; mountain and outdoor sports companies; and martial arts, equestrian, soccer, and hockey equipment suppliers. Beyond finished goods, the laboratory is an established technical partner for producers of leather, technical fabrics, polymers, and plastics that require material qualification against applicable European and international standards. RICOTEST holds a distinguished set of accreditations that underpin its status as a reference laboratory in the European PPE sector. It is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 by Accredia, the Italian national accreditation body, meaning its test reports bear the Accredia logo and carry full legal recognition across European and international markets. In 1992, RICOTEST was among the first Italian laboratories to achieve accreditation under EN 45001, the precursor to ISO/IEC 17025, establishing a long-standing culture of metrological rigour. In 2005 the organisation obtained SATRA accreditation, and in 2009 it achieved Accredia accreditation. In 2012, RICOTEST further gained ISO/IEC 17065:2012 accreditation as a product Certification Body. Critically, RICOTEST has been a European Notified Body (NB N°0498) since 1994, authorised under EU Regulation 2016/425 to issue EU-Type Examination Certificates (Module B) and conduct Module C2 annual surveillance for Category III PPE. This dual role—accredited testing laboratory and authorised Certification Body—makes RICOTEST a comprehensive one-stop partner for manufacturers seeking both compliant test data and the CE certification documentation required to place PPE on the European market. Founded during Italy's thriving footwear manufacturing era, RICOTEST initially served the shoe and leather goods districts of Verona and Montebelluna before expanding its geographic reach to Barletta, the Marche region, Tuscany, and international client bases. In 2017, the laboratory completed a significant expansion adding 600 m² of new testing space and updated machinery, reinforcing its capacity to handle high testing volumes across multiple product families simultaneously. Since 2008 the organisation has operated a fully digital workflow using electronic signatures, which since 2012 has taken the form of digitally signed PDF test reports and certificates—ensuring document integrity and enabling rapid delivery to clients worldwide. RICOTEST has been an active contributor to European standardisation and regulatory development throughout its history. The organisation was among the founding members of the European Coordination of Notified Bodies for PPE, a permanent discussion forum where Notified Bodies across the EU harmonise their interpretation of European harmonised standards. RICOTEST also participates in technical committees and working groups responsible for drafting and revising the standards referenced in EU PPE legislation, giving its technical team direct insight into evolving requirements and allowing it to offer clients early guidance on regulatory changes. For manufacturers, importers, and distributors of personal protective equipment seeking access to the European and international market, RICOTEST provides a legally recognised and technically rigorous testing and certification pathway. Its more than 40 years of uninterrupted operation, multi-accreditation framework including ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and ISO/IEC 17065:2012 via Accredia, European Notified Body authority under EU Regulation 2016/425, deep sector specialisation, and continuous investment in laboratory infrastructure make it the reference partner for companies that require both comprehensive physico-mechanical test data and the CE documentation needed to demonstrate product conformity.