Improved performance, smaller forms remain on microswitches agenda

Manufacturers of microswitches sustain efforts to turn out more compact as well as robust types with a longer mechanical life span and higher IP rating.

Mainland China's production of microswitches continues to highlight better performance and hard-wearing attributes while miniaturization persists. Companies aim to make more widely available models that have a maximum mechanical life span of 1 million cycles. For water-resistant units, they hope to bring into mainstream supply those with a rating of up to IP67 or IP68.

Manufacturers turn to other providers of materials to meet the development objectives. While the common practice is to tap the local supply of inputs, some are opting to source bronze from Japan, and plastic from Italy and France instead. With the use of such materials, Dongnan Electronics (Hong Kong) Co. Ltd has been able to introduce units with an IP67 rating.

Models similarly IP-rated are part of Ningbo Jialin Electronics Co. Ltd's selection as well. Xiamen Golden-Switch Electronics Co. Ltd offers microswitches, which in addition to being rated at IP67 have a mechanical life span of ≥1 million cycles.

For the midrange and high-end markets, however, suppliers already offer variants with much more rugged features. Dongguan Gaote Electronics Co. Ltd has models such as the DM09H060B800 boasting a mechanical life span of 20 million cycles. Besides this, there are types that are designed with capability to withstand high temperatures and explosion. Xiamen Golden-Switch's products operate in as low as -40 C to as high as 125 C.

Continued miniaturization efforts, meanwhile, have yielded units that measure less than 12.8mm in length and under 5.8mm in width. Pursuing this development trend has led Shenzhen Aureke to release its DS Series of microswitches, which are 8.2mm long and 2.7mm wide. The 6VDC, 0.3A units have a mechanical life span surpassing 100,000 cycles. More companies are anticipated to pick up this lead, spurred by rising demand for such ultracompact types.

Mainland companies also ensure their products bear multiple industry approval, mainly CB, CE, CSA, CQC, cUL, ENEC, RoHS, TÜV and UL.

Healthy demand for microswitches is projected to keep annual sales growing by 5 to 10 percent in the next two years. This comes mostly from home appliances, computer peripherals, medical equipment and automotive electronics.

The mainland is the major global production base for the line. It exports more than half of output, mostly to Europe, North America and Asia, while shipments to the Middle East, Russia and South America have been on the rise. In the next one or two years, deliveries to the latter emerging markets are anticipated to climb by more than 10 percent.

There are now an estimated 500-plus suppliers in the line in the mainland, nearly fivefold of the total in 2012. Intense competition, however, might result in the departure of small businesses.

Over 80 percent of the companies are locally owned, with most offering entry-level and midrange microswitches. The rest of the manufacturers have Taiwan and Hong Kong investment. The major domestic players include Huizhou TTC, Dongguan Kaihua, Yueqing Tengfei and Zhejiang Changfeng.

Many makers remain based in Yueqing in Zhejiang province, and Dongguan and Shenzhen in Guangdong. Foreign and domestic enterprises entering the category are expected to set up factories in these areas as well.

The electromechanical component represents between 30 and 80 percent of shipments. For manufacturers such as Dongnan, the share surpasses 90 percent.

Mainstream microswitches

Mainland China suppliers offer microswitches for computer peripherals, communications devices, home appliances, medical equipment, and automotive and military applications. They continue to emphasize capability to customize products for any requirement.

Based on the actuator used, the typical selection consists of button, lever and roller types. There are further choices in terms of enclosures that ensure dust or water resistance or protection against explosion.

Releases usually have a mechanical life span starting at 30,000 cycles and an electrical life span between 50,000 and 100,000 cycles.

Based on dimensions, the common options are 27.8x10.3x15.9mm, 19.8x6.4x10.2mm and 12.8x5.8x6.5mm.

Most makers source key materials such as brass, tin brass, stainless steel, nylon 66 and silicone rubber mainly from local providers.

The cost of manufacturing inputs rose in the past year, resulting in a 5 percent increase in product prices. In coming months, this is expected not to vary much and will keep quotes stable.

The products in this gallery have been handpicked by our mainland China-based market analyst for representing current trends in microswitches from mainland China and Hong Kong makers.

Microswitch supports 20 million cycles

Model DM09H060B800 microswitch from Dongguan Gaote Electronics Co. Ltd has 48VDC/125VAC rated voltage and 0.1A rated current. The maximum contact resistance is 100mohm, the minimum insulation resistance 50Mohm and the withstand voltage 250VAC/min.

The unit requires 55 to 65gf to operate. Its mechanical and electrical life spans are 20 million cycles. The negotiable order quantity is delivered within 7 days.

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IP67 microswitch with 125/250V, 5(2)A rating

Dongnan Electronics (Hong Kong) Co. Ltd's WS1 Series model is a water-resistant microswitch with 125/250V, 5(2)A rating. It has a maximum contact resistance of 50mohm and minimum insulation resistance of 100Mohm.

The IP67 40T85 unit requires a maximum operating force of 2N at 8.4±0.4mm position. Tested at 1,000/1,500VAC, it has an electrical life span of 50,000 cycles. The component carries CQC, ENEC, EK, UL and VDE approval.

Order quantity is negotiable. Delivery takes 7 days.

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IP67 microswitch in SPST configuration

This 40T120 SPST microswitch from Ningbo Jialin Electronics Co. Ltd, MT3 model, comes in variants with 125/250VAC, 10.1 or 12(8)A or 36VDC, 6A rating. Its contact resistance is ≤50ohm. An order of at least 5,000 units is required for this IP67-rated model. Delivery lead time is 3 days.

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IP67 microswitch lasts ≥1 million mechanical cycles

From Xiamen Golden-Switch Electronics Co. Ltd, model MS2 microswitch has mechanical life span of ≥1 million cycles based on a test done at switching frequency of 60 cycles/min and operating speed of 0.1mm to 0.1m/sec without a lever. The electrical life span of ≥50,000 cycles is from a test at 30 cycles/min.

The terminal type of the IP67-rated component has a ≤50mohm contact resistance and the wire version ≤100mohm. Both have a ≥100Mohm insulation resistance at 500VDC. The operating temperature is -40 to 125 C. Weight is about 1.6g.

The minimum order is 1,000 units. Delivery is within 7 days.

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