Face Mask Manufacturing Machines and Equipments

In a previous article, we covered different types of face masks available for medical purposes and as personal protective equipment. In this article, we will share different types of equipment used to make these indispensable products in mass production. We are covering mask manufacturing technology and machine details after researching over the internet. These machines and videos shared here are only for your information. For more details, you can contact machine manufacturers and machine suppliers.

Fully automatic face mask making machine

As discussed in the earlier post, the face masks are of two types - Surgical mask and Respirators. The manufacturing process of these two is also going to be different.

Surgical Mask

These are the simplest of the masks and thus are very easy to manufacture. There are two types of surgical masks available, one with an elastic loop and the other with a tie-on strap. For both the types manufacturing process is very similar and the machines available are of two types, fully automatic and semi-automatic.

1. Fully automatic machines:

Fully automatic machines function as completing the entire operation in a single go. The raw materials are the 3-4 layers of polypropylene spun bond nonwoven fabric, elastic loops or non-woven fabric belts and the nose bar. The process starts with feeding the fabrics and placing them on top of each other. This is followed by folding in the middle which allows for expansion of the mask. Along the way, the nose bar is placed and a fabric belt is placed over it. After this, the layers are passed through ultrasonic welding machines that weld along the borders and over the nose bar to keep it sealed. This provides a finished border and more efficient bacterial filtration. Along the process, the masks are individually cut according to the size required.

After this, the masks are collected and passed through earloop welding attachment or belt welding attachment to give a complete face mask. The average production capacity of the machine can range up to 45-55 masks per minute with a human capital of at most 3 people consisting of one skilled and rest unskilled. Below is the video of the machine working.

Video: Automatic machine

2. Semi-automatic machines:

The process of the manufacturing remains the same but for semi-automatic, the machine components are separated in the way that the belt loops/ tie bands are attached in a different machine. The first part of the process consists of making the blank mask from feeding to nose-clip fixing, edge sealing, and cutting the finished product. The second part consists of putting over the loop and thus the masks are prepared. Below are the respective videos for the two types. Click on the image to watch the machine and equipment videos.

2.1. Video for Blank mask making machine

2.2. Video for Elastic loop attaching machine

2.3. Tie band attaching machine

3. Respirators making machines

The manufacturing of the respirators is mostly similar in the process but its different shape and parts which include filter, molded foam, etc call for the requirement of different machine attachments. The simplest of respirators can be made in a fully automatic machine. These can also be made in a way in which blank masks are cut out at first in the dies which are then welded at the various joins. While molded respirators are made semi-automatically. Below are a few videos that show how different respirators are made. Click on the image to watch the machine and equipment videos.

3-1. Fully automatic respirator machine: