Industry Application
Stainless Steel Keyboards and Keypads for Self Service Kiosks and ATMs
Public terminals are used by everyone, in every mood, with no operator standing by, which is why ATMs and self-service kiosks use stainless steel input devices rather than the plastic keyboards found on a desk.
Public terminals are used by everyone, in every mood, with no operator standing by, which is why ATMs and self-service kiosks use stainless steel input devices rather than the plastic keyboards found on a desk. KEYU produces these units from 304 stainless steel, a material chosen for corrosion resistance and durability under continuous public handling. The range for this sector covers metal keyboards, black keyboards, backlit keyboards, trackballs and numeric keypads with LCM.
What Goes Wrong On Site
- A terminal in a public space attracts deliberate damage, and replacing an input device means an engineer visit and downtime at that machine
- Plastic keys hold the heat of a finger long enough for a thermal camera to read the order in which a code was entered
- Machines placed in lobbies, stations and outdoor walls face dust, spilled drinks and cleaning water with no shelter
- Users bring very different expectations of how a machine should be operated, and an unfamiliar or unlit layout stalls the transaction
- Cash and payment terminals need input hardware that resists drilling, dismantling and key substitution as much as ordinary wear
What Buyers In This Sector Need
- 304 stainless steel construction chosen for corrosion resistance and a long service life in public use
- Fast thermal conduction across the key surface so residual heat does not reveal which keys were pressed
- Sealed, panel-mount assembly that keeps liquid and dust out of the cash handling and computing modules behind it
- An on-board pointing device, such as a trackball, where the kiosk application needs cursor control alongside key entry
Typical Installations
- Bank ATMs where a metal numeric keypad handles PIN entry and the surrounding keys drive the menu
- Ticketing and transport kiosks in stations and terminals, running unattended through long service hours
- Retail and hospitality self-checkout stations where the keyboard is cleaned down repeatedly through the day
- Information and wayfinding kiosks that need a full metal keyboard with an integrated trackball for search and map panning
- Queue and registration terminals in public buildings, where a backlit keyboard helps in variable lighting
- Vending and top-up machines using a numeric keypad with LCM so the display and keys arrive as one sealed part
How A Project Runs
Step
Define the terminal opening, the key layout and whether a trackball, touchpad or display window has to sit in the same plate
Step
We map that against our existing molds and tell you what can reuse tooling and what needs a new plate
Step
Engineering drawings and a 3D model go out for your review, including fixing points and harness exit
Step
We manufacture a sample on our own CNC and sheet-metal equipment for you to install in a real terminal
Step
On approval we move to production, with metal processing controlled under our ISO 9001:2015 quality management system
Step
Records are retained so the units you order in future years match the terminals already deployed
Products Used In This Sector
67 Key Metallic Keyboard With Braille KY-PC-NT3 BR
View Specification
Industrial RS485 Keyboard With 16 Stainless Steel Keys
View Specification
Metal Blue LED Backlit Keyboard With Trackball KY-PC-F3-LED
View Specification
12 Key Industrial Backlight USB Keypad KY2068A-LED
View Specification
KY-PC-MINI-LED Backlit Metal Keyboard With SUS304 Panel
View Specification
KY-3088LP-2 Low Temperature Metal Industrial Keyboard
View Specification
Industrial 50mm Trackball Module KY-MS-MH50-BRS-A
View Specification
KY-PC-25G 25mm Metal Trackball Module With Two Keys
View SpecificationWhat We Deliver
- OEM and ODM manufacturing from a wholly-owned 4,500 square metre factory, with over 1,000 sets of molds available
- Sealing and impact options across the range including IP65, IP66, IP67 and IK07, confirmed for the model you choose
- Documentation drawn from our test-report record covering ISO 9001, IP67, RoHS, CE, SGS and FCC
Self Service Kiosks and ATM Questions
Why do ATMs use stainless steel keypads instead of plastic?
Two reasons. Metal survives the rough handling a public machine receives, which lowers maintenance cost over the life of the terminal. Metal also conducts heat quickly, so the warmth left by a finger disperses fast and the key order is hard to recover from a thermal image.
Which grade of stainless steel do you use?
Our stainless steel keyboards are made from 304 stainless steel, selected for corrosion resistance and durability in continuous public use.
Can a trackball be built into the same plate as the keyboard?
Yes. Trackballs are part of our product range and can be integrated into a single panel-mount assembly with the keyboard, which saves a second cut-out in the kiosk face and keeps the sealing line simple.
Do you supply keyboards in colours other than bare steel?
Black keyboards are a standard part of the self-service range alongside the plain metal finish. Finish is one of the items we confirm during drawing review, together with legends and backlighting.
Can you build to our kiosk drawing rather than a standard footprint?
That is how most of this work runs. Send the panel drawing and layout requirement and our engineers design the plate, key matrix and mounting to suit, returning drawings for approval before tooling starts.
Specifying Input Devices For Self Service Kiosks and ATM
Send the panel cutout, the interface your controller expects and the environment the terminal sits in.