N-100 mask has been manufactured by an Indian company named Excel 3D Advanced Technologies. They claim that this mask filters 99.97% air and have applied for a patent. They have made it under the Make in India drive, and have named it as XD100. This has been manufactured by Mumbai based Sameet Raut, and his London-based partners Dr Rahul Gore and his associates. It had taken them four months to design and develop this mask and was tested by DRDO. They had also sent it to the US for NIOSH approval.
“There is a USA based firm which sells N-100 mask in India. This firm manufactures the mask in China and they are costlier. We focused on the best quality by using the highest standard medical materials with a long life which will result in affordability. We provide 5 filters with this reusable mask,” he added.
This is the first Indian company to manufacture this mask. There are only 9 companies all over the world that make such masks. So far, N95 masks have been mass-produced in India, but this is claimed to be safer as it filters 99.97% of 3-micron particles in the air.
Furthermore, this is washable, and its filtration capacity does not reduce with every wash. Its filter is also replaceable. It is expected that, in the post COVID era, it can be used by those working in the chemical, pharmaceutical and cement industry. This comes at a time where the government has issued an advisory saying that the usage of masks with an exhalation valve is to be avoided.