Razer — that gaming hardware company that produces gizmos with colourful blinking lights — wants to produce face masks right here in Singapore. Sans their trademark Chroma lighting system, we can safely say.

Last month, Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan stated that his engineers and designers have been working to temporarily convert a portion of the company’s production facilities to produce surgical masks in lieu of gaming peripherals. The plan is to donate up to one million masks to the authorities in different countries, starting with Singapore where the Razer Southeast Asia headquarters is located.

Earlier today (April 1), the man provided an update about the arrangements on social media. According to him, Frasers Property, JustCo and PBA Group are the first Singapore-based companies that have committed US$50,000 (S$71,565) each upfront to purchase the initial shipments of masks in support of Razer’s efforts.

This was after Min-Liang put a callout for corporate funding to set up a manufacturing line in Singapore with the aim to produce “a couple of million certified masks” monthly.

“Huge thanks to these three partners who have stepped (up). Looking forward to hearing from many more!” he wrote, tagging the Facebook post with #forsingaporeansbysingaporeans.

In a press release sent to the media, a Razer spokesperson noted that the company had initially converted existing product manufacturing lines in China to make and donate masks for immediate relief. But Razer was soon overwhelmed with requests due to an extreme shortage of face masks and personal protective equipment, particularly in Southeast Asia.

“Accordingly, Razer plans to set up a domestic mask manufacturing line in Singapore to manufacture and deliver certified face masks — made in Singapore and certified to Singapore and international standards — to supply the Singapore market and the region,” the statement noted.

The plan is to set up a fully-automated mask production and packing line here within 30 days.

CEOs of Frasers Property, JustCo and PBA Group expressed their pride in supporting Razer’s initiative to protect the safety and well-being of communities in Singapore and the region.

Covid-19 and the tech world

Similarly, other prominent figures in the realm of tech have all made efforts to provide aid in some way or another amidst the global Covid-19 crisis.

Tesla chief Elon Musk has promised to manufacture and offer free ventilators to all countries where his company operates.

Dyson has refocused its resources to design and engineer a new portable ventilator, which will be produced and donated in both the UK and other countries around the world.

AliBaba founder Jack Ma has pledged to donate emergency supplies such as face masks and testing kits to 24 Latin American countries and some of Asia's poorest nations to combat the coronavirus.

Google has launched a website for the United States market that provides information and resources about Covid-19.

Apple released its own Covid-19 screening tool which asks users questions about any coronavirus-related symptoms and offers advice on what to do next.

ilyas@asiaone.com