Engineers at EAO Switch Corp., Milford, Conn., worked with Toyota to design a control panel for the electric BT Vector forklift. The resulting dashboard, based on the EAO Series 70 membrane panel, combines a full-color touchscreen, keypad, and a variety of multicolored switches of various shapes and sizes. The switches mount directly to a printed-circuit board inside the panel, keeping the panel thin. The switches are small enough to let the panel easily meet Toyota’s space constraints. The panel is also rugged enough to withstand operating temperatures ranging from –30 to 30°C.
