Metal Keyboards

Metal resists the corrosion, chemicals and impact that degrade or crack a plastic keyboard, and its non-porous surface cleans without absorbing fluids or harbouring bacteria. Featured metal-panel models such as the RKB-8630, PM-65-TB-SS and DT-102-SS are built for the marine, chemical and public environments where a sealed polymer case would eventually corrode, stain or fail under abuse. The material itself does the work, which is why metal is specified wherever corrosion, hygiene or vandalism are daily risks.

Yes. Stainless steel does not rust and resists salt spray, humidity and cleaning chemicals, which is the main reason metal keyboards are chosen for marine and coastal use. The RKB-8630 and RKB-D-8630T-B use corrosion-resistant stainless steel front panels, and the PM-65-TB-SS, DT-102-SS and DT-5K-FSR use stainless steel cases and housings, all rated 100 percent humidity resistant, suiting bridge consoles, engine rooms, offshore platforms and dockside cabinets. For heavily salt-laden or continuously wet locations, the exact sealing and material specification are worth confirming with our team.

Both are metals chosen for durability, and several models combine the two. Stainless steel is prized for corrosion resistance and a non-porous, hygienic surface, which is why it forms the front panel or housing on the PM-65-TB-SS, DT-102-SS, DT-5K-FSR, DT-5K-MEM-TP, PM-2000-FSR and DT-2000-TB. Aluminium alloy is lighter and rigid, so it is used for the base plates on the RKB-8630 and RKB-D-8630T-B beneath a stainless steel front panel. For washdown and marine use, prioritise a stainless steel surface; for weight-sensitive or compact builds, an aluminium-based unit works well, and we can confirm the right construction for the application.

You wipe or wash the sealed surface, since metal is non-porous and does not absorb fluids. The DT-5K-MEM-TP pairs a stainless steel housing with a fully sealed membrane for straightforward sanitisation, while the sealed silicone overlays on the DT-5K-FSR and PM-2000-FSR wipe clean over their stainless steel panels, and the metal front panels of the RKB-8630, DT-102-SS and RKB-D-8630T-B clean in a single wipe. Because cleaning agents differ between sites, compatibility with your specific chemicals and regime is best confirmed before deployment.

The featured models are sealed against dust and water across a range of ingress ratings. The PM-65-TB-SS, RKB-D-8630T-B, DT-5K-FSR, DT-2000-TB and RKB-8630 are rated IP65, the DT-102-SS and PM-2000-FSR are IP66, and the DT-5K-MEM-TP carries the highest IP67 seal, with NEMA 4X across the iKey sealed models. A higher rating means the keyboard tolerates more aggressive washdown and accidental spills, so the rating is best matched to the area, and our specialists can confirm the exact specification and cleaning suitability.

It depends on how the keyboard is installed. For a kiosk, control cabinet or machine enclosure, the flush panel-mount PM-65-TB-SS and PM-2000-FSR fit into a cutout with fewer exposed edges to tamper with or clean around. For a control room or laboratory bench, the desktop DT-102-SS, DT-5K-FSR, DT-5K-MEM-TP and DT-2000-TB sit on the surface, and the compact RKB-D-8630T-B and RKB-8630 suit space-limited stations. The installation itself usually points to the right format.

You can choose a trackball, a force sensing resistor or a touchpad. The PM-65-TB-SS has a sealed 38mm trackball, the DT-2000-TB a fully sealed 38mm laser trackball and the RKB-8630 a fully sealed stainless steel trackball, while the DT-5K-FSR and PM-2000-FSR use a Force Sensing Resistor with no moving parts, and the RKB-D-8630T-B, DT-102-SS and DT-5K-MEM-TP integrate a sealed touchpad. The right choice depends on the task, the panel space and how much cleaning the surface must tolerate.

Yes. Metal absorbs the knocks, abrasion and deliberate abuse that would crack a plastic housing, which is why it is chosen for public and heavy industrial use. The flush panel-mount PM-65-TB-SS and PM-2000-FSR reduce exposed edges and tampering points, while the DT-102-SS is MIL-STD-810G tested and the PM-2000-FSR is MIL-STD-810H tested for shock and vibration. This keeps the range dependable in self-service kiosks, transport terminals and unattended stations, and for particularly exposed sites we can advise on the most robust option.

It depends on the environment. For marine and offshore use, the corrosion-resistant RKB-8630 with its sealed stainless steel trackball or the stainless steel PM-65-TB-SS panel-mount unit are strong fits. For food and pharmaceutical areas where sanitisation matters, the IP67-sealed DT-5K-MEM-TP with its wipe-clean membrane surface or the brushed stainless steel DT-102-SS suit washdown cleaning. For public kiosks, the flush panel-mount PM-65-TB-SS or PM-2000-FSR resist abuse and tampering, so the setting largely determines the model.

They connect as standard plug-and-play devices over USB or PS/2, with no special drivers required. The PM-65-TB-SS connects over USB, the DT-102-SS, DT-5K-MEM-TP, PM-2000-FSR and DT-2000-TB offer USB or PS/2, the DT-5K-FSR connects over USB, and the RKB-8630 and RKB-D-8630T-B support USB or PS/2 across Windows, Linux and Mac. All support custom layouts, languages and cable options for OEM and system integration, and sharing your system and mounting details lets us confirm compatibility.

It depends on the setting. Stainless steel resists corrosion from salt, chemicals and constant washdown, so it suits marine, food and coastal terminals. Aluminium is lighter and cheaper and copes well indoors or in vehicles where weight matters more than salt exposure. For unattended outdoor or hygiene-critical sites, stainless usually earns its higher cost.

A vandal-resistant keyboard gives nothing to grab or lever off. The keys sit flush in a single metal panel, so there are no caps to prise, no gaps to force and no loose parts to snap. A solid stainless or aluminium face absorbs kicks and knocks, and the whole unit bolts down hard behind the kiosk fascia, leaving little for casual abuse to attack.

For an exposed outdoor terminal, look for at least IP65, which seals against dust and low-pressure water jets from any direction. That copes with rain, hosing and blown grit. Where the keyboard sits in a recessed housing under a canopy, IP65 is usually enough; fully open sites or regular washdown point towards IP66 or IP67 for deeper immersion protection.