Custom Keypads has recently produced a new membrane panel for Weltech’s new 8010 series automatic bird weighing machine controllers. Based in St Ives, Cambridgeshire, Weltech is a leading manufacturer of weighing, feed and climate control systems for the poultry industry worldwide. The company’s SP-1 and DP-2 bird weighing platforms are widely used in broiler, breeder, laying and rearing operations throughout the world and combine with the Weltech system 8000 controller to provide automatic bird weighing systems.

The system 8000 controller features a drilled metal box with an overlay panel above a PCB within to provide the numerical switch panel.

With considerable use by heavy-handed production workers in the inhospitable environments of the poultry industry, Weltech found that the overlay was eventually splitting.

This resulted in water ingress to the control panel itself ultimately causing them to fail also.

Andy Price of Weltech commented, “These controllers are being used on a daily basis and we eventually began to see the overlays becoming torn around the metalwork.

As this became apparent, we decided that the next generation controllers would need to be more robust”.In designing the new generation 8010 series controllers, Weltech carefully considered its options for the front panel.

The company eventually decided that a membrane keypad would not only avoid the problem of splitting overlays but would also remove the need for a drilled metal box and dispense with the PCB and switches.

In addition, the membrane keypad would be totally water resistant.

The new front panel was designed with extra large buttons (20mm diameter) so that production workers wearing gloves would be able to operate them easily.

The company approached Custom Keypads with its designs who produced a membrane keypad with a pillow embossed key area.

Metal dome construction was chosen to provide a positive feel and feedback and the controller window features a gloss hardcoat for additional protection.

Weltech’s new 8010 series controllers are being launched in Atlanta in January 2003 and will provide both a cost-effective and inexpensive helping hand to the world’s poultry industry, providing a wealth of information at the touch of a button.

With Custom Keypads robust membrane panels they will continue to deliver reliable service for many years to come.