Razer converts production capacity to make surgical masks

Can gaming peripheral makers help health professionals to get the protection they need during the coronavirus pandemic? Razer seems to think so as CEO Min-Liang Tan announced on Facebook that the company is converting some of its existing production lines to make surgical masks. The company aims to donate up to 1 million masks to countries around the world:

While there has been incredible demand for our products during this time with many staying home to avoid the crowds (and to play games), the team at Razer understands that all of us have a part to play in fighting the virus – no matter which industry we come from.

Over the past few days, our designers and engineers have been working 24-hour shifts to convert some of our existing manufacturing lines to produce surgical masks so that we can donate them to countries around the world.

We intend to donate up to 1M masks to the health authorities of different countries globally. For starters, we’ve been in touch with the authorities in Singapore (where Razer SEA HQ is based) to donate some of the initial shipments to assist their fight against COVID-19.

I'm not exactly sure which manufacturing lines the company is talking about, perhaps those that already make cloth products like mousepads or apparel?



Earlier this week, Tesla and SpaceX boss Elon Musk said on Twitter that Tesla could make medical ventilators should there be a shortage of these devices. Previously, Musk called the coronavirus panic "dumb" and downplayed the significance of the outbreak. Yesterday, Musk indicates that Tesla makes cars with sophisticated HVAC system and that SpaceX makes spacecraft with life support systems. However, he did confirm that ventilators can't be produced instantly. Musk latter added that he has a team working on ventilators, but he also wrote that he does'nt think there will be a shortage by the time they can make enough to matter.

We’re working on ventilators, even though I think there will not be a shortage by the time we can make enough to matter

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 19, 2020