More rugged tactile switches on the drawing board

Companies offer tactile switches with up to IP68 rating, and are developing models with a life span of more than 1 million cycles.

Wide use in home appliances, and A/V, communication, security, medical and industrial products ensures stable growth of the mature tactile switches line in China. Manufacturers have been increasing output by 5 to 10 percent in recent years and anticipate the trend will persist in the next one or two years. To sharpen competitive edge, they keep up efforts to broaden selections and enhance capability for customization. Companies can fill requirement for up to IP68-rated units, and are working to realize a longer life span, which should surpass 1 million cycles.

Makers are eyeing the steadily growing medical equipment industry, in particular. Globally, this application will have 4 percent CAGR between 2016 and 2020, with sales projected to hit $477.5 billion by the end of the period, according to EvaluateMedTech. In the local sector, the prospects are greater based on the forecast surge that can reach 20 percent annually from 2015 or $76.9 billion by 2020, according to Qianzhan Industry Research Center.

Mainland China is the largest production base for tactile switches. Its supplier pool has remained stable, with the number still at 500 in the past two years. Intense competition, however, might force small operations to leave the line. More than 80 percent of the companies are locally owned and the rest with investment mainly from Taiwan and Hong Kong. Most offer other types of switches and connectors. Over 70 percent of the makers are in the coastal provinces of Guangdong, Zhejiang and Jiangsu.

Homegrown suppliers export products mainly to the US, Europe and Asia.

See a comparison table of tactile switches suppliers on GlobalSources.com