Knowledge Centre
36 guides on specifying, comparing, installing and maintaining industrial input devices, written from what we see coming back from the field.
13 Steps to Buying an Industrial Keyboard From a Chinese Factory
Sourcing an industrial keyboard from China is a specification problem before it is a price problem.
Read Article2.4G Wireless Stainless Steel Keyboard With Integrated Touchpad
This wireless industrial keyboard pairs a stainless steel body with a built in touchpad, so keyboard and pointer travel as one unit.
Read ArticleAccess Control Keyboards Types Integration and Sourcing
An access control keyboard grants or denies entry to a space by requiring a code or credential at the door.
Read ArticleBIS Certification for Metal Keyboards Sold in India
BIS certification is issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards, the only product certification body in India, and is marked with the ISI mark.
Read ArticleBacklit Trackballs for Work in Low Light Environments
A backlit trackball is a precision pointing device with illumination built into the ball, so the rolling surface stays visible in dark working conditions.
Read ArticleBrushed Stainless Steel Keyboards Finish Hygiene and Applications
A brushed stainless steel keyboard combines a steel body with a brushed surface finish that resists scratching and everyday wear.
Read ArticleBuilding an Industrial Keyboard Business in Ten Steps
Industrial keyboard demand has grown steadily as more industries need durable input hardware for machinery and equipment.
Read ArticleChoosing a Medical Keyboard for Clinical Workstations
Clinical keyboards face a requirement no office device meets: they must survive repeated disinfection, work under gloves and wet hands, and make contamination visible.
Read ArticleCustom Metal Keyboards Materials Finishes and Applications
A custom metal keyboard uses a metal frame in place of plastic and can be built to any layout with options such as backlighting, hotkeys, and macros.
Read ArticleCustomising a Metal Mechanical Keyboard for Industrial Use
A custom metal mechanical keyboard is defined by four groups of decisions: the components, the manufacturing processes applied to them, the functional configuration in…
Read ArticleDaily Maintenance for Industrial Keyboards
Industrial keyboards are sealed against water and dust, but sealing is a defence against incidents rather than a licence to ignore the unit.
Read ArticleEncrypted Keypads How They Work and Where They Are Used
An encrypted keypad encrypts the code as it is entered, so the PIN is protected between the keypad and the verifying system.
Read ArticleFive Reasons to Specify an Embedded Industrial Keyboard
Embedded industrial keyboards are built into machinery, control panels, and equipment rather than sitting loose on a desk.
Read ArticleFive Ways to Judge the Quality of an Industrial Metal Keyboard
An industrial metal keyboard is usually panel mounted, sealed with silicone to around IP65, and fitted to equipment that cannot be easily serviced.
Read ArticleHow Industrial Keyboards Are Made from Material to Shipment
An industrial keyboard reaches the buyer through six linked stages: material selection, CAD design, prototyping, tooling, volume production and inspection.
Read ArticleHow to Strip Clean and Reassemble a Metal Keyboard
A contact-type metal keyboard can be fully stripped, cleaned and rebuilt with a Phillips screwdriver, a flat blade, a brush and a damp cloth.
Read ArticleIP65 Keyboards What the Rating Means for Buyers
IP65 means a keyboard is dust-tight and protected against water jets, which is why the rating appears wherever washdown, dust or weather is part of daily operation.
Read ArticleIndustrial Grade Trackballs for Harsh Operating Environments
In an industrial setting the reliability of the input device affects both output and safety.
Read ArticleIndustrial Input Equipment Types Sectors and Requirements
Industrial input equipment, more commonly called the industrial keyboard, covers a wide family of input devices built for environments where ordinary hardware fails.
Read ArticleIndustrial Keyboard Features and Types Explained
An industrial keyboard is specified around its environment first and its layout second.
Read ArticleIndustrial Keyboard and Mouse Types Standards and Sourcing
Industrial keyboards and mice, sometimes called rugged input devices, are built to work in factories, construction sites and outdoor locations.
Read ArticleIndustrial Keyboards a Buyer Guide to Types and Options
Industrial keyboards are input devices built to keep working in dust, water, chemicals and temperature extremes without losing function.
Read ArticleIndustrial Membrane Keyboards Features and Applications
An industrial membrane keyboard uses flexible membrane switch technology, with the key circuits printed onto a membrane layer.
Read ArticleIndustrial Metal Keyboards Construction and Types
An industrial metal keyboard is a sealed, rugged input device for industrial, military and medical equipment.
Read ArticleIndustrial Touchpad Functions and Types
A touchpad replaces the mouse with a sealed surface that has no moving parts to contaminate, which is why it suits industrial control, automated offices and medical…
Read ArticleIndustrial Trackballs Types and Applications
An industrial trackball is a pointing device built for harsh environments and continuous heavy use.
Read ArticleInput Devices and Output Devices Where the Line Falls
An input device sends data and control signals into a computer; an output device takes data out and turns it into something a person can use.
Read ArticleKeyboards and Mice in Industrial and Medical Settings
Computer enclosures protect the monitor and the processor, but the keyboard and mouse sit outside that protection and take the abuse directly.
Read ArticleMaintenance Routine for Industrial Metal Keyboards
Industrial metal keyboards work in conditions that office hardware never sees, so the maintenance requirement is correspondingly higher.
Read ArticleMetal Keyboards in the Age of Intelligent Manufacturing
Touch screens and flexible displays have taken over many interfaces, which raises a fair question about where a physical metal keyboard still belongs.
Read ArticleProtection Ratings Connectors and Key Technology Explained
Once the layout and mounting of an industrial keyboard are settled, three technical questions remain: what protection standard the unit must meet, which connector the…
Read ArticleSelecting an Industrial Metal Keyboard for Your Application
Four decisions define an industrial keyboard specification: how many keys the operator needs, how the unit mounts into the equipment, what it must be protected against…
Read ArticleSourcing Industrial Keyboards from China
Sourcing industrial keyboards from China works well when the evaluation is structured.
Read ArticleSurface Treatment Methods for Metal Keyboards
Industrial metal keyboards are made from stainless steel, and the surface treatment applied to the panel and keys decides how the unit resists corrosion and how it feels…
Read ArticleTrackball Mouse Compared With a Conventional Mouse
A trackball mouse replaces the sliding motion of a conventional mouse with a ball turned by the fingers, so the hand stays still.
Read ArticleTroubleshooting Common Industrial Keyboard Faults
Even a sealed industrial keyboard can develop faults after long service in dust, water and temperature extremes.
Read ArticleStill Not Sure Which Specification You Need
Our engineers answer specification questions directly, without routing you through a form.