A pushbutton with an integrated display is a real innovation. What applications did you design it for?
TORSTEN SINGER: One of the main applications is for equipment that is exported to countries with different languages. Another is when the control element needs to display its status. Pushbuttons that look the same can be assigned different functions according to customer requirements and can be changed quickly.
Why rely on mechanical switches when touchscreens are so common?
TORSTEN SINGER: Touchscreen users often complain about the lack of haptic feedback and the complicated selection process when too many functions are displayed. Operators are often required to control a machine "blindly", relying exclusively on tactile input. In many time-critical applications, the ability to press a button quickly and reliably is advantageous. A well-known example of this is in military systems, where touch displays have been replaced by electromechanical buttons to enable more precise and faster operation.
The Flexitast also includes a configuration gateway for the buttons. Which was the more challenging product to develop?
TORSTEN SINGER: The most significant development effort went into the Flexitast itself; the gateway was less challenging because it leverages existing technology from our modular bus system (MBS). The gateway is responsible for the overall management and activation of the buttons, while the Flexitast handles the specific button functions.
So the buttons and the control system are two separate systems?
TORSTEN SINGER: That's right. This approach gives our customers the freedom to design their own control systems. If we were to do it, it would be a custom product requiring a new development project for each customer. We opted for this approach to ensure maximum flexibility. With Flexitast, customers are free to implement a control solution tailored precisely to their needs.
How important to you is proximity between development, design and production?
TORSTEN SINGER: Design has always been important to us. We consider design from the very beginning of the development process. This means we consider appearance and material quality from the outset, and not as an afterthought. Modern machinery and advanced manufacturing processes guarantee the quality of our production. So, yes; proximity between these three areas within the company is very important.