When a membrane switch is affixed to the enclosure or housing of the end product there are essentially two options: rear pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) or a backer plate. Many of our membrane switches require backers or support layers for rigidity and structural integrity. The design often dictates whether or not a metal backer is needed. For instance, often times the customer’s enclosure or housing design requires mechanical fastening.

The most commonly used materials are aluminum or stainless steel. Other options include G10, polycarbonate or acrylic backers. Metal backers can also be supplied with a variety of hardware installed such as PEM studs. 

If the keypad is PCB (printed circuit board) based, we can typically utilize the PCB as the backer and install hardware directly into the board.