Category Archives: Membrane Switch

ALMAX Adds IATF Certification For Automotive Electronics

Kirkland, Washington – April 9, 2020 – ALMAX, a global leader in electronic interface design and manufacturing, announced their ALMAX Electronics Dongguan facility has earned IATF 16949:2016 compliance for its Quality Management Systems (QMS). The certification enables ALMAX to manufacture and deliver automotive electronic components.

“The IATF certification of our ALMAX Electronics Dongguan facility reflects the hard work of our manufacturing team to maintain quality standards while expanding our service offering,” said Bob Deppiesse, CEO of ALMAX. “At ALMAX we are dedicated to designing and manufacturing innovative electronic interfaces including membrane switches, capacitive switches, and integrated switch solutions.”

ALMAX owns three manufacturing facilities with certifications for automotive, medical, military and industrial manufacturing, including IATF 16949, ISO 13485, ISO 9001:2005, and their ITAR compliant site in Tuscon, Arizona.

Please call 888-211-6325 or email info@almaxeis.com if you need a copy of the new certificate.

ABOUT ALMAX

ALMAX manufactures a full line of custom electronic interface assemblies and interface components at virtually any price point and lead time. For over twenty years, OEMs, EMS companies and value-added re-sellers have trusted ALMAX with their electronic interface needs.  ALMAX has engineering and manufacturing facilities located in the United States and China.  More information about the company can be found at www.almaxeis.com.

ALMAX EIS Achieves ISO Recertification

Kirkland, Washington – June 21, 2016 – ALMAX EIS, a global leader in electronic interface design and membrane switch manufacturing, announced their Shenzhen facility has been granted ISO 9001:2016 and ISO 13485:2003 International Standard certification for its Quality Management Systems (QMS).   The updated certifications will remain valid until 2019.

The ISO 9001:2015 certification, which is the latest version of the world’s leading quality management standard ISO 9001, ensures that ALMAX EIS consistently provides high-quality products to its customers and aims to enhance their customers’ satisfaction.

“The updated certification of our Shenzhen facility in conjunction with our ability to produce prototypes in five days reflects the hard work of our manufacturing team to maintain quality standards while expanding our service offering,” said Bob Deppiesse, CEO of ALMAX EIS. “At ALMAX we are dedicated to designing and manufacturing innovative electronic interfaces including membrane switches, capacitive switches and integrated switch solutions.”

Please call 888-211-6325 or email info@almaxeis.com if you need a copy of the new certificates to update your vendor files.

Use a Heat-Sealed Membrane Switch to Protect Your Electronics

Heat-Sealed Membrane Switches

ALMAX manufactures Heat-Sealed membrane switches as a high-reliability alternative to traditional adhesive bonding. For over twenty years, we have partnered with our customers to bring high quality heat-sealed 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.

Protect Your Electronics with Heat-Sealed Membrane Switches

A membrane switch is made by screen printing conductive inks in a specifically designed pattern onto a heat stabilized substrate. A graphic is added to the circuit using an adhesive. When clicking a button, it connects with the circuit, thereby communicating with the equipment or device. Applying heat-seal technology to our high-quality membrane switches produces a true hermetically sealed tactile switch and offers several advantages, including:

Higher Reliability in Harsh Environments

A membrane switch makes a solid choice for humid or wet environments – but only if the switch electronics are sealed properly. Inefficient sealing of switch layers is a common reason why membrane switches fail. If the switch electronics are not properly sealed, moisture can seep into the membrane switch and cause erratic or complete switch failure. Therefore, it’s vital to seal membrane switch layers with heat under pressure.

Cost Savings

Heat-Sealed membrane switches can be a cost-effective solution for product designs. Heat-Sealing adds processing time and material cost, but a reduction in product field failures may offset those up-front costs. And a Heat-Sealed membrane switch is likely a lower-cost solution than a rubber keypad or other ruggedized switching solution.

Full Color Graphic Overlays

Sealed membrane switches allow full cover graphic overlays to add an aesthetically-pleasing visual component on a keypad while supporting the product and awareness of your company.

No External Venting

A Heat-Sealed membrane switch eliminates the need for external vending so you get superior resistance to dirt, cleaning solvents, and moisture than are provided by a traditional pressure-sensitive adhesive or PSA membrane switch.

Additional Benefits of Heat Sealed Membrane Switches

  • Protection of switch back-lights
  • 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

Use a Heat-Sealed Membrane Switch to Protect Your Electronics

Sealing a membrane switch is a manufacturing capability well outside of typical nameplate or graphic overlay companies. Using a single-source supplier for your membrane switch electronics and your graphic overlay is best. This ensures you get an adequately sealed interface.

As manufacturers of sealed, custom membrane switches, we have skilled engineering teams capable of evaluating your product switch needs and pricing parameters. Contact Us to take advantage of our free design review service to determine if a sealed membrane switch would be a cost-effective and reliable electronic interface for your product.

Unlike with many other custom manufacturers, you won’t have to wait forever to get your quote. Once we have your information, we can start the process it within 24 hours. 

LED Membrane Switch Back-Lighting

Almax  introduces a proprietary MaxFilm® LED backlighting solution that can be used with virtually any interface product.

The LED technology can be designed into a new membrane switch or retrofitted into an existing switch design.

Advantages of MaxFilm LED Backlighting

  • Provides a more even light distribution than can be achieved using a traditional LED
  • Can light larger areas than a traditional LED
  • Durable construction makes it appropriate for higher use applications
  • Contains an energy efficient LED as the light source
  • Expanded product branding and design options as multiple light colors are available
  • Possible to retrofit the technology into an existing interface design
  • Can be used with a variety interface technologies including membrane switches and rubber keypads
  • Proprietary manufacturing process enables high quality backlighting at competitive pricing

Please contact our engineering team to request a product sample or discuss integrating MaxFilm LED backlighting into your new or existing interface design.