General Silicones Debuts Compo-SiL® for Membrane Keypads in Europe

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Silicones expert is pioneering a novel use for silicone—in membrane keypads—and will demonstrate at MEDICA and Electronica how its proprietary, silicone-based solution improves sustainability and enhances product designs

HSINCHU, Oct. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- General Silicones, the Taiwan-based silicone components expert, is debuting its proprietary Compo-SiL^® decorative film in Europe at the upcoming MEDICA 2024 and Electronica 2024 trade shows. As a novel way to optimize the design of membrane keypads, Compo-SiL^® enhances products across medical and electronic devices, and several prototypes will be on display for visitors to experience firsthand.

To book a meeting with General Silicones experts at either MEDICA or Electronica, please contact: [email protected]

Trade show information:

MEDICA: 
Düsseldorf, Germany
Nov. 11-14, 2024
Hall 16, Booth: E14-5

Electronica: 
Munich, Germany
Nov. 12-15, 2024
Hall A2, Booth: 456-3

"As devices flourish and diversify, membrane keypads are becoming a key opportunity to replace plastic with alternatives like silicone, and we hope to lead the way," noted Michael Lin, President and CEO of General Silicones. "General Silicones has already leveraged silicone to optimize human-machine interface designs for several of the world's top automakers, and we hope to bring the versatility, sustainability, and durability Compo-SiL^® to a wider reach of industries across Europe."

A premium plastic alternative for improved sustainability

General Silicones has found that leveraging a silicone overlay like Compo-SiL^® enhances membrane keypads and improves sustainability. In fact, a recent study commissioned by Silicones Europe found that silicone has an annual greenhouse gas emission-saving potential of 96.4 megatons by 2030, underscoring its potential to accelerate Europe's decarbonization.

Innovating to improve keypad designs across industries

General Silicones is pioneering implementing silicone like Compo-SiL^® as the top layer—a novel approach that has the potential to optimize numerous applications, including medical devices, home appliances, electronics, and industrial human-machine interfaces (HMIs). Silicone's advantages for membrane keypads include:

- Resistant to degradation: Does not degrade from weather conditions, high temperatures, UV and ozone exposure, hydrolysis, or cleaning; its resistance to various cleaning agents makes it easily sterilizable and therefore crucial for medical uses

- Anti-microbial properties: By adding silver or zinc agents

- Biocompatible, skin-friendly, and latex-free: Externally safe

- Transparent: For backlighting and monitoring devices

- Tactile feedback: Softer and better click force

Particularly valuable for medical applications, Compo-SiL^® membrane keypads enhance healthcare devices, such as patient monitoring systems and diagnostic tools, where hygiene and durability are paramount. In addition, silicone as a raw material complies with medical-, health-, and safety-related certifications, including ISO 10993, FDA requirements, USP Class VI, NSF-61, LFGB, and UL-94.

Extensive experience and expertise on display at MEDICA and Electronica

As a one-stop shop for silicone components, General Silicones brings over 50 years of experience and over 30 years of customer success stories in the European automotive and medical industries. In addition to displaying Compo-SiL^®, experts will be on site at both shows to guide visitors in using silicone to optimize product designs.

At MEDICA, the company is demonstrating its broad capabilities for making various medical parts from silicone, including:

• Nebulizer plugs
• Sealing gaskets
• Mouthpieces
• Breathing masks

For Electronica, General Silicones is focusing on:

• HMI switch pads and keypads—of which it has produced over 20,000 types
• Hybrid components
• Seals and gaskets

About General Silicones

Founded in 1970, General Silicones Co., Ltd. has over half a century of silicone manufacturing expertise and caters to a broad range of applications with comprehensive capabilities. To serve its global customer base, General Silicones has service sites across Asia, including in China and Vietnam.

To learn more: https://www.generalsilicones.com.tw/?lang=en

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