ST Engineering strengthens mask-making capabilities

SINGAPORE Technologies (ST) Engineering has started producing melt blown polypropylene filters as part of efforts to strengthen the Republic's domestic mask production capabilities.

These filters, which can be inserted into reusable masks, are not only lighter and more breathable than those available in the market; they also have a higher filtration quality, said Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing on Thursday morning.

According to a Facebook post by Temasek Holdings chief executive Ho Ching, these filters exceed 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), she noted.

"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," said Ms Ho, who is the founding chairman of ST Engineering.

At his virtual door stop on Thursday, Mr Chan noted that ST Engineering is able to supply every person in Singapore with at least two filters per week.

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"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 as long as we can get the raw materials. These polypropylene pellets are quite easily available across the world and we have different sources to acquire such materials from.

"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."