Razer to give out millions of free face masks in Singapore

A Razer Goliathus Speed Gaming green mouse pad and box.   Shutterstock

Gaming equipment maker Razer is aiming to give out millions of free face masks in Singapore as the country grapples with a recent surge in coronavirus cases.

The tech firm, which is headquartered in both Singapore and the United States, had already pivoted to making masks in response to the pandemic. Now it's planning to double that production, as well as set up its own public vending machines.

To start off, Razer will place 20 machines at various malls and co-working spaces over the next few weeks. To pick up a mask, the company says that users will have to download its digital wallet app and scan a QR code at the vending machine.

The plan is to give all Singaporean adult residents one free surgical mask — adding up to about 5 million in total, according to the company. Once the program kicks off, more locations may be added.

Razer, a major hardware maker known for its computer mice and laptops, said in a recent statement that it had "initially converted existing product manufacturing lines in China to make and donate masks for immediate relief."
"However, [the company] has been inundated by requests due to an extreme shortage of face masks ... particularly in Southeast Asia," it added.

In response, the firm set up an automated factory in Singapore last month to churn out about 5 million surgical masks monthly.

It's now taking those plans another step further, with the goal of manufacturing as many as 10 million masks a month. The increased production is to "ensure a continuous resupply" in Singapore, the company said.

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