ST Engg's mask filters strengthen Singapore's supply chain resilience

Singapore

SINGAPORE is starting to stockpile high-quality mask filters, as the Republic strengthens its domestic mask production capabilities said Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing on Thursday morning, following the announcement that Singapore Technologies (ST) Engineering has started producing melt blown polypropylene filters.

These filters, which can be inserted into reusable masks, are suitable for medical use and are significantly more breathable than most commercially available filters of the same grade said Gareth Tang, senior vice- president/head, robotics and autonomous solutions, and head, urban environment solutions at ST Engineering .

According to a Facebook post by Temasek Holdings chief executive Ho Ching, the improved filter exceeds the ASTM-II standards for medical grade filters.

The ASTM-II and ASTM-III levels of medical grade surgical masks have filtration efficiency of over 98 per cent for small particles (0.1 um size) and bacteria (3 um), said Ms Ho, who is the founding chairman of ST Engineering.

She added: "The ASTM-III has higher level of water repellence (160 mmHg) for its outer layer, compared to the ASTM-II with water repellence of 120Hg. So unless we are in jobs which handle a lot of blood for instance, the ASTM-II masks are as good as the ASTM-III masks for protection against various bacteria and viruses," she said.

ST Engineering unit Innosparks has been supplying the more generally used N95 face mask internationally since 2015. Since mid-February of last year, it shifted focus and priority to the production of surgical masks.

Speaking to reporters after a closed-door visit to ST Engineering, Mr Chan noted that the process of developing capabilities was not as "straightforward" as simply buying the machines.

"We actually need to have deep knowledge on how the science behind the filter works in order for us to produce the right mixture, the right composition to get to the finer material that we want," he said.

ST Engineering's Mr Tang added: "The entire process, from sourcing to procuring the machines, research and development, to setting up the facility and machines took about 10 months. The various tracks ran in parallel."

Mr Chan further noted that with this new capability, the government will be able to provide every person in Singapore with at least two of these filters per week.

"A combination of the reusable masks, together with this filter, will provide us with the equivalent performance of a surgical mask that people may need in the event that the pandemic worsens," he said.

"Because we have the capability to produce the filter - the most critical component of the mask - in-house, we are able to do this on a sustained basis."

He added that these masks are made from polypropylene pellets which are "quite easily available".

"In time to come, we can also perhaps acquire some of these raw materials from our own speciality chemical plants on Jurong Island, so that gives us greater assurance on the integrity and the sustainability of our supply chains."

Asked when these filters might be distributed, Mr Chan said Singapore is in the "stockpiling" phase.

"If everyone uses a reusable mask, it provides us with adequate protection at this point in time... In the meantime, we continue to build up our stockpile of this filter so that in time to come, if we need to activate this plan, we will distribute this filter, to be combined with the reusable masks, to the population."