Xu Zhijun, head of Quzhou-based Zhejiang Niupai Safety Technology Co, hands out masks to sanitation workers in Jiangshan, a county in Quzhou, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/qz96811.com] 

Xu Zhijun, head of Quzhou-based Zhejiang Niupai Safety Technology Co, sent 2,000 handmade masks to frontline workers at a freeway exit in Jiangshan, a county in Quzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, on Feb 13, according to local media reports.

Niupai is primarily a manufacturer of fire-related products, but produces masks as well.

When the novel coronavirus pneumonia broke out in China at the beginning of 2020, masks became an urgently needed article. Because of this, Xu decided to shift his company's focus to manufacturing protective masks.

Given that automatic production equipment cannot be delivered immediately, making masks by hand was the only available course of action, said Xu.

After producing the first masks, Xu wasted no time in sending sample masks to the Zhejiang Quality Inspection Institute of Light Industrial Products for testing.

Results showed that the filter efficiency of the handmade masks was more than 95 percent, making them as efficient as N95 masks.

On Feb 6, Xu arranged for over 20 employees to participate in the production of protective masks.

"The mask is quite comfortable to wear," said Wu Huihua, a policeman on duty at the Nianbadu town checkpoint of national highway 205.

"Masks are what we currently need," noted Wu, adding that he has to deal with a large number of travelers every day, as Nianbadu is near the border between Fujian and Jiangxi provinces.

Xu told these frontline workers that the masks can be reused three to five times and can be washed with warm water and blow dried.

In addition to policemen, Xu also donated masks to local community workers and sanitation workers. 

Workers at Zhejiang Niupai Safety Technology Co are busy making protective masks. [Photo/21js.com]