Sateco develops and produces silicone switch mats, snap domes and HMI solutions for demanding control applications.
Sateco Group
Schwerzenbach (Sales Office Europe, R&D) · Beihai, Guangxi (Production) · Guangzhou (R&D) · Mabalacat Pampanga (Production & R&D) · Kunshan · Hong Kong · Bengaluru · Tokyo-Fuchū · Northville, MINew on Amplifa
Sateco: Specialist for Silicone Switch Mats and HMI Solutions
The Sateco Group is a manufacturer of silicone switch mats, snap domes (Snap Domes), silicone assemblies and silicone surfaces. The company was founded in 1999 in Nänikon, Switzerland, and produces more than 250 million switch mats per year with a quality rate of under 0.2 ppm. The switch mats are made from application-optimized, specially developed silicone compounds (STC-SA, STC-MLLM, STC-SLL) in a vulcanization and compression molding process; the silicone pre-material is rolled in the company's own calendering process. The components serve as functional core elements in controls and switches, including steering wheel switches, cruise control controls and coffee machines, and provide a haptic, acoustic and visual signature. The Engineering Center with more than 60 specialists develops tools 100 % in-house and integrates new functions such as metal insertion, silicone coating of textiles or backlit windows (STC-TR). Production takes place at two sites in Beihai (China) and Mabalacat Pampanga (Philippines) according to a dual sourcing strategy; sales offices exist in Europe, Asia and the USA. Customers come from the automotive industry, the two-wheeler and heavy-duty transport sector, industry, building automation and consumer goods.
- Site
- Schwerzenbach
- Processes
- Manufacturing of silicone switch mats (vulcanization/compression molding process), Manufacturing of silicone assemblies, Manufacturing of silicone surfaces (protection/decoration), Manufacturing of snap domes, Rolling of silicone pre-material (calendering process), Insertion of contact pills (assembly with special-purpose fixtures), Toolmaking for silicone switch mats (100 % designed and developed in-house), Insertion of metals into silicone (electrical contact making)
- Materials
- Silicone, Silicone compound STC-SA (Standard Automotive), Silicone compound STC-MLLM (Medium Long Life), Silicone compound STC-SLL (Super Long Life), Specialty hardened steel (toolmaking), Vulcanization/Compression Molding Process, Rolling of Silicone Pre-Material, Toolmaking from Specialty Hardened Steel
- Certificates
- IATF 16949, ISO 14001, ISO 9001
- Founded
- 1999
- Industries
- Automotive, Two-wheeler/Motorcycle, Industry, Heavy-duty transport, Building automation, Consumer goods
- 01
Co-creation and concept development
- 02
Material development (proprietary silicone compounds)
- 03
Toolmaking (100 % in-house)
- 04
Rolling of the silicone pre-material
- 05
Vulcanization/compression molding of the switch mats
- 06
Insertion of contact pills
- 07
Assembly into assemblies
- 08
Testing (100 % inspection rate)
- 09
Warehouse logistics and worldwide delivery
Materials and Processes
Silicone
Base material for switch mats, snap domes, assemblies and surfaces with high resistance to aging, weathering, temperature and chemicals.
Silicone compound STC-SA (Standard Automotive)
Standard Automotive compound for forces of 1.0–2.5 N per dome, travels of 1.2–1.5 mm and lifetimes of 30'000–100'000 cycles.
Silicone compound STC-MLLM (Medium Long Life)
Compound for forces of 2.5–4.0 N per dome, travels of 1.0–1.8 mm and lifetimes of 50'000–100'000 cycles.
Silicone compound STC-SLL (Super Long Life)
Compound for forces above 4.0 N per dome, travels below 1.0 or above 1.8 mm and lifetimes above 100'000 cycles.
Vulcanization/Compression Molding Process
Process for manufacturing the silicone switch mats with complete curing of every part.
Rolling of Silicone Pre-Material
Precision rolling processes ensure stable material thicknesses and uniform material flow.
Toolmaking from Specialty Hardened Steel
Tools with overflow channels and precision chrome-plated surface for stable actuation forces and high repeatability.
Insertion of Metal into Silicone
Electrical contact making through the insertion of metals into silicone.
Silicone Coating of Textiles
Washable coating of textiles with silicone for new fields of application.
Sites Worldwide
Schwerzenbach
CHSales Office Europe and R&D
- Materials
- Silicone
- Test laboratory
- Measurement laboratory
Beihai, Guangxi
CNProduction Center
- Lot size
- Series production
- Materials
- Silicone (STC-SA, STC-MLLM, STC-SLL)
- Test laboratory
- Production equipment for silicone switch mats
Guangzhou
CNR&D (Sateco Engineering)
- Materials
- Silicone
- Test laboratory
- Measurement laboratory
Mabalacat Pampanga
PHProduction and R&D
- Lot size
- Series production
- Materials
- Silicone (STC-SA, STC-MLLM, STC-SLL)
- Test laboratory
- Production equipment for silicone switch mats
Kunshan
CNSales Office China
- Test laboratory
Hong Kong
HKSales Office South East Asia
Bengaluru
INSales Office India
- Test laboratory
Fuchu City, Tokyo
JPSales Office Japan
- Test laboratory
Northville, MI
USSales Office Americas
- Test laboratory
Components
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing of silicone switch mats (vulcanization/compression molding process)Plastics | – | – | – | over 250 million switch mats per year | Silicone (application-optimized silicone compounds) |
| Manufacturing of silicone assembliesAssembly | – | – | – | – | Silicone |
| Manufacturing of silicone surfaces (protection/decoration)Surface | – | – | – | – | Silicone |
| Manufacturing of snap domesPlastics | – | – | – | – | Silicone |
| Rolling of silicone pre-material (calendering process)Plastics | stable material thicknesses | – | – | – | Silicone |
| Insertion of contact pills (assembly with special-purpose fixtures)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Silicone, Metal (contact pills) |
| Toolmaking for silicone switch mats (100 % designed and developed in-house)Engineering | – | – | – | – | specialty hardened steel |
| Insertion of metals into silicone (electrical contact making)Joining | – | – | – | – | Silicone, Metal |
| Silicone coating of textilesPlastics | – | – | – | – | Silicone, Textile |
| Backlit window STC-TR (light transmission/light isolation)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Silicone |
| Testing and quality control (test laboratories, 100 % inspection rate, < 0.2 ppm)Testing | – | – | – | – | Silicone |
| Development of HMI solutions / co-creation (electronics, hardware & software)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Silicone |
2 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test laboratory | – | – | – | – | all branch offices (including Schwerzenbach, Beihai, Mabalacat) |
| Measurement laboratory | – | – | – | – | Sateco Engineering Center |
Additional services
Quality and Certifications
Sateco operates fully equipped test laboratories in all branch offices with a 100 % inspection rate and achieves a quality rate of under 0.2 ppm on more than 250 million parts per year. The production center is certified to IATF 16949 and ISO 14001.
| Evidence | Beihai, Guangxi | Mabalacat Pampanga |
|---|---|---|
| IATF 16949 | ||
| ISO 14001 | ||
| ISO 9001 |
History
- 1999
Company founded in Nänikon, Switzerland