Silicone Keypads
Conductive, composite, illuminated, and sealed keypad assemblies for OEM applications
Product Overview
SIKING manufactures custom silicone keypads for remote controls, industrial control panels, medical devices, test equipment, and consumer electronics. Keypad design integrates tactile feedback, conductive sensing, surface finishing, and — where required — sealing or backlighting into a single molded component.
All keypads are manufactured in-house using compression molding. Surface treatments and conductive printing are applied in SIKING's secondary processing line without outsourcing.
- Custom actuation force profiles and key geometry
- Multi-color and multi-material construction
- Surface finishes: laser etching, pad printing, spray coating
- Tolerances: ±0.05mm–±0.15mm typical (confirm at DFM review)
Keypad Variants
Four main keypad constructions — select based on actuation sensing method, environment, and assembly requirements.
Conductive Carbon-Pill Keypads
Standard construction for most button-actuated interfaces. A conductive carbon pill on the underside of each key closes a circuit on a PCB when pressed. Reliable, cost-effective, and suitable for the majority of remote control and panel applications.
- Pill resistance: 100–300 Ω typical (tuned to PCB pad design)
- Lifecycle: 1M+ actuations typical
- Applications: remote controls, POS terminals, industrial panels
P+R (Plastic + Rubber) Composite Keypads
Hard plastic keycap overmolded with silicone body. Provides a rigid key feel with silicone's sealing and tactile properties retained in the base. Used where aesthetic quality or key definition is critical.
- Keycap material: PC or ABS, molded in-house
- Applications: premium remotes, wearable controls, telephone handsets
- Produced via SIKING's overmolding capability
Illuminated / Backlit Keypads
Light-guide or direct-LED backlighting integrated into the keypad. The silicone body is formulated for light transmission; legends are printed or etched to control illuminated areas.
- Light diffusion: uniform or per-key zone
- Legend methods: laser etching, dual-color printing
- Applications: low-light environments, consumer electronics, audio equipment
Sealed / IP-Rated Keypads
Designed for ingress protection in harsh environments. The keypad acts as the primary seal between the user interface and internal electronics. Tested to IP54 through IP67 depending on geometry and compression seal design.
- IP ratings: IP54 through IP67 (geometry-dependent)
- Applications: industrial equipment, field instruments, test equipment
- Material: standard silicone or fluorosilicone for chemical resistance
Specifications
Material & Process Parameters
| Parameter | Range / Options | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness (Shore A) | 30–70 typical for keypads | Softer = lighter actuation feel; harder = crisper snap |
| Carbon pill resistance | 100–300 Ω typical | Must match PCB pad design |
| Temperature range | -40°C to +120°C (standard silicone) | Fluorosilicone available for wider range |
| Surface finish options | Laser etching, pad printing, spray coating | Applied in-house, no outsourcing |
| MOQ | 1,000 units (tooled parts) | DFM validation and FAI available below MOQ |
Where These Keypads Are Used
Remote Controls
High-volume carbon-pill keypads for TV, set-top box, and AV equipment remotes. Volume production with consistent actuation force and surface print durability.
Medical Devices
Sealed keypads for handheld diagnostic equipment and monitoring devices. Cleanable surfaces, IP-rated sealing, and traceability documentation on request.
Industrial Panels
IP-rated and high-durability keypads for factory equipment, PLCs, and field instruments. Harsh-environment materials and custom key geometry available.
Test Equipment
Sealed and high-cycle keypads for laboratory and field test instruments. Long lifecycle requirements met through material selection and carbon pill formulation.
Consumer Electronics
P+R composites and illuminated keypads for audio equipment, wearables, and consumer devices where aesthetics and feel quality are evaluated by end users.
Manufacturing Process
Silicone keypads are produced by compression molding — SIKING's primary production process, running across 20+ presses at 200–400T capacity. Tooling is manufactured in-house by SIKING's CNC team, enabling DFM review and fast tooling iteration without external vendors.
After molding, surface treatments — laser etching, pad printing, spray coating — are applied in SIKING's secondary processing line. Conductive printing for EMI or capacitive applications is available in the same facility.
- In-house tooling: CNC mold making, DFM analysis
- Compression molding: 20+ presses, 200–400T
- Secondary processing: laser, pad print, spray coat, conductive print
- Full traceability: material batch to finished part
Need Custom Keypads?
Share your drawing, PCB layout, or specification. We'll confirm feasibility and quote within 48 hours.