This branded content was published before the Covid-19 pandemic. Details may no longer reflect the current situation.
With about 18 million confirmed cases of Covid-19 at the time of writing, global healthcare workers have been under immense pressure. And since June 2020, when the World Health Organisation (WHO) began advising the universal use of face-coverings, demand for masks has skyrocketed.
Amid this struggle, Taiwan is notable for having contained the virus at an early stage, quickly pivoting its manufacturing industry to begin exporting ventilators, protective visors and even machines that make face coverings.
No doubt Taiwan’s high-quality healthcare infrastructure – ranked ninth in the world according to the International Health Care Index – has helped it fight the pandemic. But as much of the world’s manufacturing capacity was halted by Covid-19 lockdowns, factories in Taiwan remained operational, resulting in Taiwan becoming one of the world’s largest face mask suppliers to countries in Europe and the US.
United we stand
After Taiwan’s first confirmed Covid-19 case on 21 January 2020, 29 domestic companies quickly worked together to build 92 new mask production lines – a task which would normally take six months – but which they achieved in just 40 days. These firms include Taiwan Takisawa Technology, Tongtai Machine & Tool, Habor Precision and HIWIN Technologies, to name a few.
While Taiwan’s machine tool builders are usually highly competitive, they worked together for this objective, with employees working long hours to respond to the health crisis. Bolstered by funds raised of NT$290 million (US$9.8 million) by the end of May, Taiwan was producing more than 19 million masks daily, up from 1.88 million pre-Covid.
The anti-leak diamond shape face mask by Taiwanese medical supplies manufacturer Motex Healthcare Corp
One such mask maker is Motex Healthcare Corp, a Taiwanese medical supplies manufacturer, which created the Anti-Leak Diamond Shape Face Mask, designed to be more comfortable with a tighter seal around the mouth than normal surgical masks. To avoid disruption of its supply chain during the pandemic, Motex bought new manufacturing equipment and increased production of filter melt-blown, non-woven fabric and ear straps to stabilise its raw material supply.
Motex now produces 25 million masks a month, a fifth of which are the Diamond Shape masks, and supplies them to the US, Europe, Asia, and Central and South America. It is also working on a new generation of high-adhesion N95 grade masks, featuring an anti-side-leakage airtight sheet combined with a patented loop-adjuster and nose foam.
As well as masks, Taiwanese companies pivoted their production lines to make protective gowns. Apparel and garment maker Makalot Industrial is more accustomed to sewing yoga leggings and polo shirts for H&M, Gap and Walmart. But in response to Covid-19 it became part of a team with five other textile manufacturers to switch to making high-quality isolation gowns and other personal protective equipment (PPE). Makalot had the advantage of hindsight, having conducted research and development on garments 17 years ago when Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) spread through Asia.
Taiwanese companies are also supplying countries with temperature surveillance equipment to help them combat the virus. Home-grown Taiwanese brand Advantech, for example, believes its Video AI Solution can help prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Using thermographic cameras, facial recognition and temperature scanning, non-contact temperature checks can reduce infection in crowded spaces. Cameras placed at the entrances of buildings can conduct temperature scanning and identity detection then the health and location of all people within a particular building can be monitored and analysed. Then in the event that somebody with an elevated body temperature is detected, the system can determine who that person has been in contact with and who else might be affected. This solution can be integrated with existing surveillance equipment to ensure easy integration and rapid deployment.
Supporting others
With the spread of the virus under control domestically, Taiwan donated 17 million surgical face masks to countries fighting the virus, including the US and 11 European countries, plus Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, India, Myanmar, Singapore and Malaysia, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
Taiwanese citizens themselves have also been donating masks to foreign countries. As of May, nearly four million masks had been donated by 480,000 people in Taiwan via a new mobile app. This was organised by the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) after it found that people had not needed or claimed their free, rationed nine masks per fortnight.
Yet as Covid-19 continues to spread, global demand for medical supplies, including PPE kits, N95 masks, ventilators and sanitiser, continues to rise. The global market for face masks is expected to reach US$21.2 billion by the end of 2026, up from a projected US$4.5 billion this year, according to Market Study Report, LLC.
Chern-Chyi Chen, deputy minister of Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs
“We must leverage trade to help others access the best anti-epidemic products in our fight against Covid-19,” says Chern-Chyi Chen, deputy minister of Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs. In response to Covid-19, Taiwan has adopted the slogan “Taiwan can help”. It’s fitting as at this moment, international co-operation will play a key role in bringing the pandemic under control.
