Membrane Switches
We are experts at the design and manufacturing of all types of membrane switches. No matter the stage of your design, we can work with you to create a custom membrane switch for your application.
We have expertise with a variety of materials and features, including rubber keypads, backlit, Senstouch, sealed membrane, capacitive touch screen, silver/copper flex, Duraswitch, dead front, metal membrane keypad, tactile, non-tactile and more.
MSI is a global membrane switch manufacturer with capabilities ranging from logic enabled membrane switch electronics to full membrane switch assemblies with beautiful full color graphic overlays.
Our customers include:
- Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM)
- Electronic Manufacturing Service Companies (EMS)
- Membrane Switch Overlay Manufacturers
- Membrane Switch Re-Sellers
As a complete membrane switch manufacturer we produce a full line of membrane switch electronics including membrane switch backlighting and several membrane switch overlay finishes. We have both domestic and off-shore facilities so you need only one membrane switch manufacturer to support your entire product life-cycle from prototype through volume production.
We have a U.S.-based engineering staff that will work with you to refine your membrane switch designs. And as a full-spectrum membrane switch manufacturer, our engineering team has developed proprietary membrane switch technologies for backlighting, surface finishes and actuation options.
MSI is a full-service membrane switch manufacturer so you can source your membrane switch from the membrane switch design through the membrane switch prototype and on to volume production. We have a long history of membrane switch innovation.
Our plastic keypad manufacturing capabilities include:
- Domestic and off-shore membrane switch prototypes
- Order size flexibility from one piece to 1000+
- High definition graphics
- High tactile surfaces
- Chrome or stainless appearance
- Molded buttons over rubber keypad
- Backlighting
- Laser etching
- Engineering support to realize your switch technology
MSI is a full-service electronic interface manufacturer so you can source your keypad from the switch design through the prototype phase and on to volume production.
Scroll down for more information on the various types of industrial nameplates available.
BACKLIT
Many industries require membrane keypads and membrane switches with backlighting technology. When you are in need of a backlit membrane switch keypad, Marking Systems has customizable products to fit your needs.
MSI offers four backlighting technologies for your membrane switches and rubber keypads:
- MaxFilm proprietary backlighting
- LED backlighting
- Fiber optic backlighting
- Electroluminescent backlighting
We can integrate lighting into specialty switches and offer multiple colors to meet your brand and product requirements. Additionally, our proprietary MaxFilm backlighting technologies provide consistent lighting of large areas at a reasonable price point.
RUBBER KEYPADS
Our rubber keypad membrane switches at MSI are durable, well-made and affordable solutions. No matter what you need your rubber keypad for, Marking Systems has the skills and knowledge to make it happen. Get your rubber keypad membrane in any shape and layout you can dream of at Marking Systems today.
Specifications and Benefits:
- Low cost
- Durable
- Rubber keypads are compression-molded silicone rubber actuators with or without a conductor at the bottom of each key.
- A flexible printed circuit board, or PCB, provides the circuitry traces while the rubber keypad acts as the overlay and shorting pad.
- Weather-resistant, and can withstand moisture, dust, vibration and shock
- Design flexibility: keys can be molded to any shape
SEALED MEMBRANE
When you need membrane switch label printing that can withstand adverse conditions, look no further than sealed membrane products at Marking Systems. They’re reliable, simple, customizable and affordable.
Benefits:
- Higher reliability in harsh environments than traditional PSA membrane switch
- Superior lamination strength
- No external venting
- Protection of switch backlights
- Easy to shield
- Thin format applications are possible
- Utilizes polyester or metal dome contacts
- Silver or copper PCB solutions
- Full color graphic overlays
- Hardcoats available for graphic overlays
Sealed Membrane Applications:
- Marine
- Medical
- Industrial
- Restaurant
- Outdoor Installations
- Wearables – Consumer or Industrial
- Consumer Wet Environments
CAPACITIVE TOUCH SCREEN
Membrane switch products like the capacitive touch screen at Marking Systems are excellent solutions for medical devices, mobile devices, light industrial applications and more. Improve and protect your electronics with capacitive touch screen products!
Benefits:
- Higher durability touch screen gives longer product life
- Ability to specify a large range of design features
- Multiple surface treatments
- Easily combined with membrane switches and rubber keypads to make fully integrated assemblies
- Good for harsh environments
- Wide range of graphic printing options
Capacitive Touch Screen Applications:
- Consumer electronics
- Medical devices
- Mobile devices
- Light industrial applications
SILVER/COPPER FLEX
Our label-making company provides some of the best membrane switches and related products like silver/copper flex and rigid PCB in the industry. No matter the use or what product label printing services you need, Marking Systems has the right products for you.
Membrane Switch Circuit Options:
- Silver flex circuits
- Copper flex circuits
- Rigid PCB
Design Options:
- Non-tactile
- Stainless steel dome
- Poly domes
5-day Rapid Prototyping available
Graphic Options:
- Screen Print
- Digital Print
- Autotype Polyester
- Marnot Polycarbonate
- UV Protected Polyester and Polycarbonate
Lighting Options:
- Light Guide Films
- Embedded LEDs
- Fiber Optic
- Electroluminescent
Shielding:
- ESD/EMI
Connectors:
- Zif
- Crimped Connectors with housing
- Solder pins
- Cursor Control – Ultra Thin
- Over 1 Million Actuations
- Durable and Reliable
- Low Cost
- Environmentally Sealed
- Self-Centering
- Integration
- Low Profile
- Digital or Analog
DEADFRONT
Dead front membrane switches have a wide variety of applications and come with a multitude of benefits. These membrane switches at Marking Systems are backlit, simple and reliable.
Benefits:
- Dead front membrane switches and backlit overlays that deliver sleek and intuitive interfaces at a very reasonable price point
- Icons and/or nomenclature stay dark until the membrane switch backlighting is activated
- Dead front membrane switches can be created with either printed inks or by adding diffusing layers to the membrane switch itself
- Cost-effective dead front display
- Simplified user interface
- Less disruptive interface
- Multiple LED light colors
- Haptic feedback capable
- Easy to shield
- Thin format applications are possible
- Silver or copper PCB solutions
- Full-color graphic overlays
Dead Front Membrane Switch Applications:
- Product Retro-fits and Upgrades
- Medical
- Industrial
- Restaurant
- High-End Consumer
- Automotive
- Appliances
- Complex Interfaces
METAL MEMBRANE KEYPADS FOR HARSH ENVIRONMENTS
Metal Membrane Keypads for the Harshest Environments
We manufacture metal resistive membrane switches that are designed for rugged environments. The stainless steel overlay and keys can be combined with a fully sealed switching unit.
The metal membrane switching unit can be sealed against contamination including dust, water, sea water and oils. It also provides resistance against detergents and chemicals. If needed, the metal membrane switch can be designed to IP67 specifications to provide protection from even the harshest conditions.
Circuitry can be silver flex, copper flex or rigid PCB. The force to actuate keys can be designed to activate the switch while minimizing the risk of accidental actuation. Possible Switch Configurations
RESISTIVE TOUCHSCREEN MANUFACTURER
MSI manufactures both resistive touchscreens and capacitive touchscreens. Touchscreens can be used alone or integrated into complex interface assemblies. In addition to standard touchscreens, we can manufacture touchscreens designed for harsh environments, medical devices or luxury consumer goods.
Resistive Touchscreens
Resistive touchscreens are one of the most customizable interface solutions. MSI provides a wide range of design and cost options for your resistive touchscreen needs. Our manufacturing process is optimized for moderate to low volume production runs.
Some of the available design criteria you may specify include size, tail location, sealing options, surface treatments and graphic printing options. Numerous surface treatments are also available to suit various touch environments including fingers, stylus and/or gloved hands.
MSI manufactures four-wire or five-wire analog touchscreens. Four-wire resistive touchscreens are a lower cost option while five-wire screens provide increased reliability.
All of our resistive touchscreens can be combined with many types of membrane switches and/or rubber keypads to create multi I/O integrated interface assemblies. In addition to manufacturing the touchscreens, MSI manufactures all of the substrate electronics so you get a single-source supplier for your integrated assembly.
Resistive Touchscreen Key Benefits
- Optimum cost flexibility
- Ability to specify a large range of design features
- Multiple surface treatments
- 5-wire screens ensure long product life
- Ease of operation
- Easily combined with membrane switches and rubber keypads to make fully integrated assemblies
Resistive Touchscreen Applications
- Consumer electronics
- Medical devices
- Mobile devices
MEMBRANE SWITCH DESIGN
MSI has been an innovator in membrane switch design for over twenty years. We supply full design services, can supply general membrane switch guidelines, or manufacture the membrane switch you design. We are continually developing new processes and membrane switch products, making our engineering team uniquely qualified to provide you with membrane switch design guidelines.
Membrane Switch Design Services
As a single-source manufacturer from the circuit board through the final graphic overlay, our engineering team is uniquely positioned to review custom membrane switch designs for manufacturing ease, product reliability and cost-saving opportunities.
You choose the level of membrane switch design support that suits your situation:
- Completely designed turnkey membrane switch interfaces
- Membrane switch electronics design – no graphic overlay design
- Graphic overlay and/or usability support for your membrane switch design
- Review of your existing membrane switch design
- Cost analysis of various membrane switch designs
- Membrane switch upgrade designs
We Began as Membrane Switch Designers
MSI has a long history of innovating membrane switch designs. We began as an engineering consulting firm specializing in electronic interfaces including membrane switch designs.
For over twenty years we have partnered with our customers to bring high quality, correctly priced membrane switches to market. In addition to engineers, we have staff well versed in usability and printing technologies so your membrane switch design will perform well and look fantastic.
Contact our engineering team for a complimentary design or cost review. You may find that our membrane switch design expertise can save you money and help you build a higher quality product.
