Because Of COVID-19, Technology Companies Shifting To Production Of Masks

JAKARTA - A number of technology companies based in China, namely Foxconn and BYD, have started to switch production to become mask manufacturers. This is because the supply of masks in the country is running low, due to the outbreak of the corona virus or COVID-19.

Launching the BBC, Foxconn said that these masks were needed to support government policies in preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the country. The company estimates its daily production capacity will reach 2 million masks by the end of February.

Most of its production will be reserved for use by its employees. Even so, Foxconn also plans to export its production of masks outside China.

Meanwhile BYD, China's leading automotive company, began designing and manufacturing protective equipment as well as assisting in the manufacture of masks and disinfectants to meet any shortage of health facilities in the bamboo curtain country.

BYD also plans to start shipping masks and disinfectants around February 17 with a capacity of up to five million pieces per day until the epidemic ends.

Likewise, lithium battery manufacturer Yinghe Technology announced that it had developed and produced an automatic integrated machine for producing masks. The company has also signed a cooperation agreement with Zhende Medical to jointly develop the automatic production line for the KN95 (M95) mask.

Oppo and Vivo cellphone manufacturers are participating in developing anti-bacterial and viral masks to ward off the spread of the corona outbreak. The two smartphone vendors from China have sent technicians and workers to support related companies in mask production.

The latest report is that the Japan-based Sharp Corporation has also changed its direction from a TV manufacturer to a mask manufacturer. Sharp has decided to use their TV factory as a place to produce masks.

Sharp claims this can assist the government in supplying masks for the Chinese people and outside the country. The company will start producing 150,000 masks every day.

The Japanese manufacturer, which is located in eastern Osaka, will also produce 500,000 masks a day by utilizing existing equipment at the factory.

The technology giant producers are claimed to be producing the types of masks that we usually use or better known as surgical masks. Not a few claim that these masks have not been proven to protect users against infection, nor do they filter the air effectively.

But on the other hand, they will also produce respirator masks which are claimed to be much more effective at filtering air particles. However, the selling price will be more expensive because it can be used continuously.