60-years-of-experience

60+ Years of Experience

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Satisfaction Guarantee

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Short Lead Times

Month: November 2016

Membrane Switch Options

At Hallmark Nameplate, we strive to provide our clients with top of the line technology that works well and looks great. One of Hallmark’s specialties are membrane switches. Membrane switches are a huge advancement in technology that allow users to operate machinery with greater ease. With just the touch of a button, you can turn circuits on or off, send messages, and operate machinery. Not only do we specialize in the technology of creating these amazing gadgets, but we also create them to the exact specifications that the customer desires. We offer a wide variety of features and applications that are all constructed to be completely sealed from the outside environment.

The purpose of a membrane switch is to turn a circuit on and off. The materials that the membrane switch are made of are extremely important for safety and functionality. We use ink that is conductive and able to pass electrical currents to actually make the buttons on the switch function. They allow our clients to use equipment with greater ease and are also a more attractive and more functional alternative to mechanical switches. Each membrane switch is made specifically for the client and product specifications.

We offer two different types of membrane switches. It is important to consider how a membrane switch will be used, who will be using it, and also the environment it will be used in when deciding on which membrane switch is the best option. Depending on the factors, each membrane switch will be either a non-tactile switch type or a tactile switch type.

Tactile Switch Types

Our tactile membrane switches are engineered around the sense of touch. What the user sees is an attractive pad with user friendly buttons that allow the user to actually feel the buttons being pushed in. Under the pad are conductors and buttons that send messages of action. They are completely sealed from the external environment and are capable of more than 5 million actuations. What this means for our clients is that these membrane switches can do more than 5 million things with the touch of a button. These switches work great for keypads, instruments, doctor’s offices, and operating large doors. We take pride in being able to create extremely useful tactile switches and also being able to produce pleasing graphics that please our customers from a functional and aesthetic standpoint.

Non-Tactile Switch Types

Depending on the uses for membrane switches, the non-tactile switch type may be the best option. The difference of switch types is all about the user. Non-tactile switches do not provide direct sensory feedback to users. When buttons are pressed, they may give feedback from an LED light or possibly a noise alert. The custom shapes and sizes of these switches are more versatile and the diversity of fiber optic backlighting or sound varieties are what make the non-tactile switches an exciting alternative to tactile switches. The non-tactile switches we create at Hallmark Nameplate are internally vented for a complete seal and are capable of more than 1 million actuations.

Construction elements of our membrane switches are also customizable. We offer 3 different types of conductors that each provide unique services to the user. Conductive silver, copper flex, and PCB based are all available for custom membrane switches. Depending on the use and placement of the switch, engineers will be able to help choose the most appropriate material.

Our membrane switches are ISO 9001:2008 registered which means that we have met the requirements put in place by a Quality Management System. It verifies our intent to be focused on meeting customer expectations and delivering customer satisfaction so that we give every client the attention they deserve.

Call us today to get in touch with an engineer regarding your custom membrane switch. We are ready and able to create the best membrane switch that will provide you with the function you need and the look that you want. We are able to enhance our nameplates using LED lighting, fiber optic backlighting, and beautiful graphic overlays. Set up an appointment with a representative and we hope you have your custom membrane switch in no time.

Thinking Outside the Box Build

In our industry, standing out among the crowd is a necessity. Hallmark Nameplate stands out because of the wide variety of skills that our engineering team possess. Because of the great staff that dedicates their time to Hallmark Nameplate, we are able to provide an extremely diverse selection of products. Box builds, conformal coating, and inspection are three elements of our company that set us apart.

Box Builds

Hallmark Nameplate is not your average electronic manufacturing company. Thinking outside the box, inside the box, and building the actual box is just part of what we do. After building circuit boards, we are able to provide customers with a complete working assembly “box build” to encase electronic devices. The advantage of this is that our customers only have to work with one supplier for their entire electronic manufacturing needs.

A box build is the case that surrounds the circuit board and protects the technology. It is not common that both the circuit board and the box build are able to be manufactured in the same facility and at Hallmark Nameplate we are extremely proud that we are able to provide our customers with that convenience.

We have qualified suppliers that supply us with sheet metal fabricated parts, injection molded parts, cable assemblies, pcb’s and other parts that are required to produce a complete box build assembly. Our precise box build manufacturing is one of the primary reasons that our customers choose our products over our competitors.

 

Inspection

Every single piece of equipment that is made in our facility is inspected 100 percent. We work hard to guarantee that all of our products pass inspection for quality and testing. Hallmark Nameplate offers Auto Optical Inspection as well as X-Ray testing with state-of-the-art Yestech equipment to inspect each and every circuit board and ball-grid array, offering capabilities in placing and inspecting micro-BGA’s.

Customer satisfaction is the overall goal at Hallmark Nameplate and we strive to achieve that through excellent products that are not easily accessed through other companies. Making the products that we do and making them well is what sets us apart and continues to bring in loyal customers who appreciate Hallmark Nameplate.

The Meaning Behind SGIA Membership

If you are in need of high-quality graphic overlays using state of the art equipment and a talented engineering team, Hallmark Nameplate is the place to find them. Graphic overlays add aesthetic appeal to a device and provide protection from the elements. We use transparent windows, selective texturing, and overlays with embossed areas. The overlays with embossed areas actually serve as buttons and raise the entire key area above the surface of the overlay or the key area.

These graphic overlays are extremely important to our customers because they provide the visually pleasing design that are seen when anyone looks at it. Our devices work wonderfully but we want our customers to be proud of how they look as well. That is why we took the initiative many years ago to surround ourselves with other companies and innovators who share the same passion for graphic imaging and technology as we do.

At Hallmark Nameplate, we take graphic imaging and commitment to quality very seriously. We are extremely proud of the professionalism and lasting relationships that our clients consistently praise us for. That is why we became a valued member of the association that supports the leaders of the digital and screen printing community, Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA). The SGIA is a Graphic Community. It is an organization of other businesses and members of the industry who find it important to share the news, updates, and discoveries that happen within the graphics world.

This membership gives us access to the resources through the SGIA network, which include information on government regulations and award programs, detailed articles regarding product manufacturing, and webinars by industry experts. What that means to our customers is that Hallmark Nameplate is constantly being updated on the latest imaging technologies, graphic and sign methods, and management issues that the industry community has to offer.

The benefit of the membership for our clients is that it ensures our commitment to constantly bettering ourselves and staying up to date with the latest and greatest that is happening with the products and services that we provide. We pride ourselves in our work with graphic overlays and signage, and being a member of SGIA allows us to have access to galleries to share and view other industry leaders’ work, receive certification to perform all types of graphics installations, and network with the best of the best in graphic world. Doing business with Hallmark Nameplate means that you are going to receive a product that has been thoroughly researched and carefully designed to live up to the standards required by other members of the SGIA as well as the government.

SGIA has been an extremely vital part of the digital and screen printing community since 1948. The organization offers events, workshops, and expos throughout the year. They also keep members up to date on regulations that the government have put in place. Regulations regarding the environment, safety and health, and going green are all major updates for SGIA members and are steadily monitored by Hallmark Nameplate employees.

The SGIA also implements green efforts within their Sustainability Resource Center. According to SGIA, the backbone of their sustainability efforts is encouraging the incorporation of profitable, sustainable business practices through the use of innovative manufacturing methods, systems, and materials that help to reduce the environmental footprint. SGIA promotes integrating sustainability into business strategies in order to reduce the business’ environmental footprint.

Great efforts to keep up on the latest trends, techniques, and laws are put forth by members of the SGIA. They do a wonderful job of keeping all members up to speed on tricks of the trade and we are proud to be involved. If you are interested in learning more about the SGIA, how to get involved, or in becoming a member, visit their website. They have information on attending any expos or trade shows that may be coming to your area as well as subscription information for the SGIA Journal, which comes out bimonthly.

Brand Awareness

At Hallmark Nameplate, we are a business that helps businesses. Whether it be electronic manufactured items or graphic overlay, our products are manufactured for very specific purposes for customers who know what they want and need. Our unique and quality services are what brings business to us and what keeps it coming back. We know what our brand is and why it appeals to customers. As a result, we have been able to have experiences with a very wide variety of customers and witnessed how our products actually improve the branding of their business as well.

Our graphic imaging services give businesses the opportunity to build brand awareness and expand their client base through effective marketing. Visual branding is important because it is often how people recognize a product. Most American’s would be able to recognize the Coca-Cola logo without even reading what it says. Images are powerful and associating an image with a product is one of the best ways to know that branding is working.

Products such as the basic nameplate, labels, and overlays offer customers the opportunity to display their brand proudly and expand their business. People are attracted to visually pleasing items more than dull, bland looking ones and well designed graphics are the solution. We have in house engineers at Hallmark Nameplate who are ready to work with customers to achieve the graphic image that they are looking for. If customers have very little idea of what they want or if they have tons of detailed ideas, our engineers are able to help aid in design.

When it comes to items that customers will use to judge a business, looks matter. Things like flyers, box labels, and paper inserts are extremely important visuals that can generate customer interest, potential business, and provide material to help spread the word. Nameplates and overlays are not exactly marketing materials. However, displaying attractive visuals even on heavy duty machinery is important when it comes to staying true to the brand of the company. Consistent use of color, font, and imaging gives off the impression of being well put together, organized, and professional.

There is more that goes into our products than just aesthetically pleasing looks. We consider every variable beyond the way a product looks so that it fits the customer’s needs and functions the way it should. We consider whether it will be indoors or outdoors, the type of finish that is desired (gloss, velvet, matte), if it needs barcodes, and any display windows it may need for LED or LCD. If the product is a nameplate, the type of surface that it will be mounted to is definitely a big factor in the production. And we can make those nameplates in large or small quantities. Our facility gives us the ability to offer both screen and digital printing on materials from 3-.030 inches.

At Hallmark Nameplate, we want to do what we can to assist your business with the visual of your company’s brand and incorporating that branding throughout the various products we are able to create for you. Effective branding should be at the top of every company’s concern and we are certain that we have some great tools to assist you with it. Help customers recognize your brand and your company just by seeing some visually pleasing graphics, it will prove how important branding is and how it can generate even more business for you.

Click here to learn more about our nameplates and engineering support. As always, at Hallmark Nameplate we will work hard to deliver quality products that do the right job for your business, the first time. Request a fast, free quote for your project or give us a call to learn more about our products and how they can help your company’s branding.