Originally Published EMDM October 2001
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| The PushGate switch and other products designed by Duraswitch Industries will be marketed worldwide by Schurter GmbH. |
A German manufacturer has licensed technology from Duraswitch Industries Inc. (Mesa, AZ, USA) to increase its portfolio of piezoelectric, mechanical, and membrane switches. With a product line that includes switches, keypads, circuit-protection devices, and connectors, Schurter GmbH (Endingen, Germany) has secured the rights to manufacture and distribute PushGate, thiNcoder rotary, and other Duraswitch products worldwide for a period of two years. PushGate switches combine the tactile feel of discrete switches with the thin profile of membrane units. ThiNcoder products, on the other hand, allow design engineers to integrate rotary and push-button switches on the same thin package.
According to Duraswitch CEO Terry Dunlap, these durable and reliable switches have many applications in the medical industry. "Our switches are perfect for medical devices. They provide a crisp, tactile feel when activated, even when gloves are worn, and they can be sealed to increase sterility," he says. Other benefits include a design that allows surface mounting on flex circuits, eliminating the need for soldering and wire harnesses. Duraswitch is a technical research and design firm that specializes in testing and engineering new technologies.
For more information, contact Schurter GmbH, Elsässerstr. 3, D-79346 Endingen, Germany, phone: +49 7642 6820; fax: +49 7642 8820; email: info@schurter.de; Internet: http://www.schurter.de.
Zachary Turke
Copyright ©2001 European Medical Device Manufacturer
