Membrane Keyboards & Overlays

Cost Effective Switching Solutions & Labelling

Polyester (PET) and Polycarbonate (PC) membrane keyboards have been a mainstay in electronics manufacturing for many years. Simple to design and a low-cost tooling investment, membranes can deliver reliable and effective solutions for electronic user interfaces.

Membrane Keyboards

For specific applications, membranes have a number of advantages over silicon keypads such as:

Low profile solution for smaller devices

Integrated flexible circuit (FPC) with a range of connector options

High IP rating making them a simple solution for applications subject to dust/fluid ingress

Reverse screen printing delivers protection from chemical contact and high levels of user contact

Tactile response so the user knows the switch has been activated

Embossed keys to enhance user experience – this can include embossed symbols, braille, dome, pillow and frame embossing.

Flat/low profile design makes cleaning easy and effective

Textured surfaces can be applied to display windows to provide anti-glare properties, whilst tinting can also be applied to icons that are illuminated once back lit.

Shielding layers such as RFI, ESD and EMC can also be incorporated into designs.

Membrane Overlays

When seeking a high-quality, durable labelling solution, polyester (PET) membrane overlays are a popular choice. Typically rigid in structure and often supplied with adhesive backing, assembly on to a plastic or metal surface is easy and repeatable. PET has a high level of scratch, crack and tear resistance in comparison to Polycarbonate (PC) or vinyl alternatives.

PET overlays are commonly used on outdoor applications, where they can be subjected to temperature fluctuations, moisture, UV radiation and corrosion. Additional layers of coating can be applied to further enhance scratch resistance.