AUTOTYPE TAKES THE GLOSS OFF TOUCH SCREENS
21 February 2003 - Autotype International

Better quality components generally lead to improved end products and greater customer satisfaction. This principle has helped De Naamplaat, a Dutch manufacturer of touch screens, membrane switch panels, overlays, EL-foils and road signs, to meet customer demand for anti-glare touch screens for use in factory and process environments.

Jan Luisman, Purchase Manager at De Naamplaat, explains that by specifying Autotype’s Autoflex screen printable polyester film and Fototex texturing lacquer, the company has achieved a better standard of windowing on its range of bespoke touch screen and membrane switch products.

De Naamplaat’s high-quality touch screens, for example, are produced by printing electronic circuits onto screen-printable films and integrating the printed film with a series of synthetic layers to create a tactile interface. De Naamplaat is proud of this manufacturing process, which they claim can incorporate almost any customer requirements.

In order to provide this level of flexibility, De Naamplaat ensures that its touch screens are effective in almost all operating conditions. However, when using conventional printed media, in certain applications Jan discovered that the company’s touch screens, reflected excessive amounts of light, to the extent that the touch screens’ surfaces would become unreadable. To compensate for this, De Naamplaat applied an additional varnish to achieve an anti-glare finish.

By using Autotype’s hard-coated polyester film, which already features a consistent anti-glare surface, De Naamplaat is able to produce custom-made touch screens without requiring additional materials. In addition, Autoflex’s polyester base and chemically bonded, UV-cured coating make it ideal for applications that require high levels of abrasion and chemical resistance.

'De Naamplaat demands high-quality components because we make high-quality products. This means the film has to be scratch free and screen printable. To achieve this level of quality in our windows for touch screens, we use Autoflex.'

De Naamplaat has been using 180-micron gauge Autoflex films on its touch screens for nearly two years. During this time, the company has also used Autotype’s Fototex screen-printable, UV-cured texturing lacquer to provide a tactile, cost-effective and high-quality finish.

'Our customers specify anti-glare screens that also have a tactile feel, so we use Fototex in conjunction with Autoflex to get the desired effect. The responses we receive from our customers suggest this is a good solution.'

De Naamplaat has cultivated a reputation for producing outstanding touch screens that are used in manufacturing and process environments throughout Europe. With Autotype’s Autoflex films and Fototex lacquer, the Hardenberg-based firm has further developed its renown by manufacturing even higher quality touch screens.

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