Dongguan LuPhi Electronics Technology Co., Ltd.

LUPHITOUCH Factory Tour

Membrane Switch Printing

When it comes to industrial printing, there are a fair number of highly specialized niche areas. One of these unique applications is the printing of graphic overlays for membrane switches. A membrane switch is an electrical contact on/off switch, that when pressed, activates or de-activates an electric circuit. Traditionally membrane switches are produced by screen printing the circuit directly onto plastic substrate using silver or carbon conductive inks. However, developments in UV digital printing technology open up new output options within this marketplace. Membrane switches, when coupled with components such as a tactile dome, graphic overlay, or integrated LEDs, can provide the designer with a host of capabilities to create the ideal custom user interface for their products.Digital Printing Making its MarkScreen printing works well when larger volumes are required or high-performance, functional graphics are needed, but digital printing appears to be a growing option in some areas.  Ono states that even though screen printing is most often used to print the circuits, other components within the membrane switch can be printed through more advanced digital technologies, and in many cases they are. “In particular, UV printing technology is gaining popularity to print the graphic overlay of the switch. This is because digital UV offers a more streamlined workflow and is less labor intensive than screen printing,” Ono says.  “The materials may be similar, flexible substrates range from 0.005 to 0.010-inches thick, although polyester is by far the choice for use in membrane switches, where polycarbonate and rigid vinyls are used for labels. This difference alone is significant in how the substrates are processed and techniques used to obtain maximum performance,” Bolding says. Bolding also says that while there are some similarities, companies thinking about getting involved with producing a membrane switch from outside the industry—even if they have good screen printing capability—will face significant challenges. Switching TrendsIn the U.S., the primary market for membrane switch printing is in the short- and micro-run space. This is because much of the volume manufacturing has been moved overseas. Membrane switches are typically produced close to the manufacturing hub.  Ono says that products that lend themselves to short production runs and require versatile manufacturing processes, such as custom machinery, are produced more often in the U.S. than abroad. “Prototyping of membrane switch overlays is another profitable application for UV printing in this market,” Ono says. “One-offs and design changes are much easier to manage through digital technologies than through analog printing processes.”  Ono reports that if a sign shop already has a UV-cure printer, it may be able to expand into the membrane switch printing market. “This line expansion can work well if a shop is based in an area where technology and engineering companies are located,” Ono says. “As with any new market, the print provider will need to reach out to these businesses and offer them their capabilities.”  Flatbed Options Wood says that with print volumes becoming more specialized, some screen printers are looking at adding a flatbed to their equipment mix. “Most of the membrane switch work is very precise,” Wood says. “By using a flatbed, they get the precision registration they need on those short run jobs without any set up costs associated with screen printing. For example, our Rastek T1000 UV flatbed printer allows them to print white at the same speed as CMYK. Plus the unit’s eight levels of grayscale enhance image quality and edge definition.”He adds that it is definitely a growing market and one that can be very profitable with proper research and investment. Drop-On-Demand Technology FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc., Santa Clara, Calif., a pioneer and leading supplier of piezoelectric drop-on-demand inkjet products used for industrial applications, is helping drive a revolution in inkjet technology to support a new generation of products used for industrial product decoration and materials deposition.The Santa Clara, Calif.-based company offers the Dimatix Materials Printers (DMP), which includes a line-up of materials deposition systems designed for micro-precision jetting of a variety of functional fluids onto virtually any surface. All DMP systems employ single-use cartridges that researchers can fill with their own fluid materials to minimize waste and reduce the cost and complexity associated with traditional product development and prototyping. “Our DMP-5000 and DMP-3000 printers feature a temperature controlled vacuum platen that can accurately register, maintain and thermally manage substrates during printing,” says Chuck Griggs, vice president, Applications Engineering of FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc. “These substrates include plastic, glass, ceramics, and silicon, as well as flexible substrates ranging from membranes, gels, and thin films to paper products.”  Substrate and Ink TrendsBolding says that the most commonly used inks in the industry for membrane switches are solvent inks, primarily polyester or sometimes vinyl resin based, depending on the substrate being used. “However, UV inks are also widely utilized and to obtain a good through cure, a well-designed UV curing system typically with metal halide doped mercury bulbs work best,” Bolden says. “The flexible circuitry predominantly uses thick film inks containing silver flake particles. UV curable dielectrics are printed as an insulating layer between traces that may come into contact with each other.”Bolding states that MacDermid Autotype supplies globally specialty print treated hard-coated polyester films for the graphic overlays. “We specialize in producing films to fit the diverse applications where a membrane switch is utilized,” he says. “The finish to the overlay is a chemically resistant textured finish. Fine or matte textured surfaces are offered, as well as finishes incorporating anti-microbial resistance for use in medical applications or in environments where surface cleanliness is critical.”One of the major ink suppliers in this area is Nazdar in Shawnee, Kan. The company was one of the first to develop viable LED-curing screen printing inks for the membrane overlay market. The inks were developed to provide adhesion to a variety of substrates.Laura Maybaum, screen ink product manager at Nazdar says that one trend she is seeing is the use of low heat mercury vapor curing systems or UV LED-curing systems that reduce or eliminate heat-related issues with the substrate, multi-layer printing, and yellowing.“Reduced heat in the curing process, reduces heat-related issues with substrates,” Maybaum says.She adds that thanks to improvements in raw materials, the range of UV-curable inks for this market has expanded substantially, bringing benefits such as high resolution, durability and better workflow to the process.  “Familiarity to substrates, inks and other process materials used in membrane switch may be applicable to graphics and sign applications,” Maybaum says. “For example, membrane switch inks should be compatible with aggressive adhesives. This compatibility may lend itself to using printable adhesives instead of tapes or glues. Some membrane switch inks can also be used for in-mold decorating. This process could lend itself as an alternative to thermoforming and provide a further reach into niche industrial printing.”

President/Marketing Manager

Mr. Jason K. Young: President and International Marketing ManagerJason was graduated in 2005 from Electronic Technology Major with bachelor's degree. After graduated from university, he worked as an quality engineer in a HK accoustic company for two years, mastered the ISO9001, 16949, 13485, QC08000 etc. quality system management experiences. In 2007 Jason worked in aChinamembrane switch factory as the international salesman. From 2008, Jason established LUPHITOUCH businessed in membrane switches, overlays, rubber keypads, touchscreens, LCDs. Until now Jason has over 8 years experiences in this industry. He knows the materials, technology and management very well. Under Jason's hard work, until now LUPHI has businesses from USA, Canada, Australia, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, Italy, France, India, Norway, Thainland, Malaysia, Spain and many other countries and areas. Today businessed products cover membrane switches, graphic overlays, labels, rubber keypads, touchscreens, LCDs, PCBAs and integrated assemblies. Jason has very good English capability and can communicate and discuss technology issue and others with overseas customers in English very well. His professional dedication and hard work gained much good impression from our served overseas customers. In LUPHITOUCH, Jason mainly responsibile for the international market business development and master the factory's development strategy. He is friendly, modest and easygoing. He likes playing football, climbing, cycling, enjoy music and reading.

Operational Manager and Vice-President

Mr. Samson Shi majored in Electronic Technology in his university period. He is a man of good learning. During his university time has made many small inventions and innovations. He is very experienced in electronics industry and membrane switches, rubbr keypads, PCBAs etc. Before he joined LUPHITOUCH he had 3 years experiences in Hengi Electronic Technologies Co., Ltd. as the printer, tester and quality engineer for membrane switches and later he served as project engineer Global Light Technologies LLC which is a USA membrane switch company. On this position he mainly responsibile for the design and project follow up of the membrane switches, rubber keypads and other releated integrated assemblies projects. Samson also knows some basic English, can read English drawing and also can make simple communications in English. In LUPHITOUCH he worked as the vice-president and Operation Manager to manage the factory operation and also provides the engineering support when necessary.

Germany Director & Vice-President of LUPHITOUCH, General Manager of KFS

Mr. Konrad Farnbauer Schmidt has more than 35 years working experiences. After his master in Polymer Science in 1981 he collected experience in different fields (R&D, sales, quality) as manager. His experience covers also fields like printing, coating, injection molding and mechanical processing like cutting, punching, thermoforming and manual and automated assembly. Since 1993 he started dealing with outsourcing in Taiwan more than 9 years. R&D Director and Quality Manager (2005 – 2008) in  Printec HT electronics of Dongguan (China) Responsible for R&D and quality in the manufacturing site in China. General Manager (2008-Now) of KFS and Vice-President & Germany Marketing Director (2016-Now) of LUPHITOUCH for membrane keypads, foils, switches, LCDs, Touchscreen, Plastic Molding, PCBA, Integrated Assemblies business. In 2016 joined LUPHI TECH, except for doing his own businesses, he also take the position of Vice-President and Germany Market Director in LUPHITOUCH.