Reliable user interface control for industrial frying equipment
Date: 16/07/2026
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Industrial fryers operate in some of the harshest conditions found in food processing. Constant exposure to high temperatures, hot oil, steam, grease, and intensive daily use places exceptional demands on operator interfaces.
One of the world's leading manufacturers of industrial frying equipment, supplying major fast-food chains, was looking for a switching solution capable of maintaining reliable performance despite these challenging conditions. MEC 3F tactile switches provided the thermal resistance, durability, and long-term reliability required to ensure consistent operation throughout the equipment's service life.
Supporting the requirements of industrial frying equipment
Maintaining reliable operation in high-temperature environments
The customer's primary challenge was ensuring that the switches continued operating even when exposed to prolonged heat generated by industrial fryers. The solution also needed to tolerate situations where the graphic overlay became damaged, allowing cooking oil to reach the switch assembly.
Delivering long-term durability
The equipment is expected to operate continuously in busy restaurant kitchens. The selected switches needed to provide consistent tactile feedback throughout years of intensive use while resisting contamination from grease and humidity.
Supporting a robust, sealed interface design
To simplify cleaning and improve hygiene, the switches had to operate beneath a graphic overlay without compromising tactile feel or reliability.
💡Tip from Fabio – Product Manager
"Food-service equipment presents one of the harshest environments for operator interfaces. This project shows how choosing the right tactile switch can significantly improve long-term reliability, even when high temperatures and cooking oil challenge conventional solutions."
Why did the customer choose APEM?
Following technical evaluation, the customer selected the Multimec 3FSH9 PCB-mounted tactile switch for its ability to maintain reliable operation in one of the most demanding kitchen environments.
The high-temperature capability of the Multimec 3F series enables the switch to continue functioning even if the front graphic overlay becomes compromised and cooking oil reaches the components beneath the panel. This level of resilience offered a significant advantage for industrial fryer applications, where exposure to heat and grease is unavoidable.
Installed beneath the sealed graphic overlay, the switch delivers the tactile feedback operators expect while remaining protected during normal operation. Its compact design also integrates easily into modern control panels.
❓What is a PCB-mounted tactile switch?
A PCB-mounted tactile switch is a compact electromechanical switch soldered directly onto a printed circuit board. When positioned beneath a graphic overlay, it provides precise tactile feedback while remaining protected from external contaminants. This architecture is widely used in food processing equipment because it combines a sealed, hygienic front panel with the feel and reliability of a mechanical switch.
Facing similar interface challenges?
Whether you're designing cooking equipment, food processing machinery, or any application exposed to heat, grease, moisture, and intensive operation, selecting the right tactile switch is essential to long-term reliability.
MEC tactile switches combine strong tactile feedback, high-temperature resistance, and long service life to help manufacturers develop robust operator interfaces for demanding environments.
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