In today’s workplace, machines and systems can cause a disaster in less than a second. The day-to-day tempo has never been more demanding. This has motivated manufacturers like Si-Tech to ensure products like silicone keypads can keep up with the fast pace through specific customizations suitable to your applications. Let’s consider a few of these common customizations.

High Visibility

If the equipment might be used in a dim room, or in a construction area thick with dust, then workers may have trouble making out the right controls, and this can lead to dangerous mistakes. An important step is to design the custom keypads for the worst visibility conditions your equipment will experience.

Simple Design

We advise keeping custom keypads simple; particularly the section that contains the most commonly used controls. Group controls by function and use contrasting colors to help separate buttons into intuitive groups. Stay away from lettering if possible, using clear and simple symbols instead. If you need to use words, stick with large, clear fonts that are easy to read in low light. Clearly designed control schemes allow workers to respond more quickly in an emergency.

Keep Controls within Reach

Well-designed custom keypads provide workers with good ergonomics and rapid emergency response. Controls should be laid out so they can be reached, without straining, by workers of a range of heights. Users shouldn’t have to stretch to reach them, and wrists shouldn’t be bent.  When workers have to stretch or twist into an unnatural position to reach a button, they increase the chance of injury or hitting the wrong button.

Accessible controls allow employees to react faster in a crisis. They don’t have to hunt for a control or wrench themselves around to reach it. A split second can mean the difference between safe resolution and disaster.

Different Operating Conditions

It is important to design custom keypads for the all conditions your equipment will experience.

• Consider whether the workers wear heavy gloves that may mash the wrong buttons.
• Perhaps button force might need to be adjusted to make a specific control more or less easily activated.
• Controls that are fine when standing might be unacceptable if a worker is sitting or vice versa.

Evolving Design

We have found that successful custom keypads are often the result of several versions. Partner with a keypad manufacture that helps you through the process of perfecting your keypad. No matter how much forethought you may put into the keypad, it can often be worker recommendation or your own trial and error that will bring out the best possible function and design.

Work With a Trusted Brand

At Si-Tech, our staff is willing to help you create the perfect control scheme for your device, suited to whatever working conditions you might find necessary. We can even quickly produce prototypes of your custom keypads so you can test them in a production environment. With decades of experience, you can trust Si-Tech to create a safe and durable custom keypad that’s just right for you. Contact us today!