How does Matthes & Henze process the front foils and membrane keyboards?

To contour the film products in the correct shape, we use individual punching tools, as well as knives or laser cutters, depending on the intended use:

Punching tools are the quickest way to contour film products. However, these have to be individually manufactured for this purpose. For large and medium quantities, the use of punching tools is extremely cost-effective, but not so for small series or individual items. Another limitation: punching tools are not suitable for changing product characteristics and when immediate delivery is required.

The laser cutter has the advantage that it cuts the material without actually touching it. The results are nevertheless very precise. Since no film residues or adhesives remain on the tool, the material does not have to be fixed – so there is no risk of crushing. In addition, there is no chipping with multi-layer films. On the other hand, the thermal process can lead to a "seal" being formed by the melting of the cut edge, which protects against contamination. Our laser cutter is used primarily when flexibility is required in production.

Compared to the tools already presented, knives are subject to a high level of wear. Unfortunately, this often means that consistent quality is not achieved. The costs of tool changes and the associated machine downtime are unavoidable.

We use the most suitable and cost-effective variant for each application, depending on the material, product specification and customer requirements.