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This section provides an overview for foot switches as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 19 foot switch manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked foot switch companies as of December, 2024: 1.Gorlitz Sewer & Drain, Inc., 2.Suntsu Electronics, Inc., 3.Mitronix, Inc..
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1993~2019: Engaged in pharmaceutical research and development and analysis of various biological samples at the Pharmaceutical Research Institute of Japan Kayaku Co., Ltd. He is also in charge of facility management as a dangerous goods handler and radiation handling chief.
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A foot switch is a switch operated with the foot.
The foot action can be used to turn power or electrical signals on or off, or to switch electrical circuits. By operating switches with the feet, the work being done by hand can be continued without interruption, leading to improved work efficiency.
It may also be used to share the operation between the hands and feet. It is also useful in places where switches cannot be handled by hand for hygienic reasons (operating rooms in hospitals, and food processing plants).
Foot switches are used in a variety of fields, including measuring instruments, medical equipment, amusement equipment including music players, nursing care and welfare equipment, industrial machineries such as machine tools and presses, and digital equipment input.
Typical functions are switches that are turned on and off by foot movement, but there are many different types of switches in terms of shape and function depending on the industry in which they are used and the specifications required. For example, in applications where signals are input as external input devices for digital equipment, specific keys on a keyboard may be assigned to footswitches using dedicated software.
The purpose of this is to improve the efficiency of input operations by sharing the input operations using the hands by performing certain key operations that are pressed frequently with footsteps.
The typical construction of a foot switch is a microswitch built into an enclosure that supports a foot pedal. The microswitch is pressed by stepping on the pedal.
The pedal and housing are made of aluminum alloy or ABS resin. Since the pedal is stepped on with the foot, it must be strong.
There are also foot switches that do not use a pedal, but have a structure in which a foot presses a pushbutton switch large enough that the foot can be stepped on without error.
The momentary type and the alternate type are classified according to the difference in the change of the electrical connection state due to the stepping motion.
Momentary Type
As the name implies, it means "momentary. It operates by turning on only while the switch is stepped on.
Alternate Type
As the name implies, it means "alternating. When you step on the switch, it switches on and remains on even when you take your foot off.
Then, when you step on the switch again, it switches off and remains off when you take your foot off. Each time you step on the switch, it alternates between on and off.
There are type and unlatch-type footswitches with different mechanical actions.
Latch Type
When the switch is turned on by stepping on it, it is held in the depressed position. Then, when you step on it again, the switch returns to its original position and turns off.
Unlatch Type
The switch returns to its original position once you step on it, whether it is turned on or off.
First, as an electrical component, it is necessary to confirm that the voltage (AC or DC) and current ratings to be operated conform to the conditions of use.
Also, select a type that matches the operating environment, such as a type with a dust-proof cover or a rain-proof type.
The pedal type is the most common, but there are also round types that can be stepped on from either side in 360°, which should be selected according to the application.
Select the type of operation (momentary/alternating, latching/unlatching) that best suits the intended use. However, there are some applications where virtually only one way of operation exists.
For example, a pedal switch for music performance that controls the extension of the sound while playing an electronic piano. It is advisable to check that the pedal force required for the operation is not too large or too small and that the latch has an appropriate feel.
Electric switches that switch the signal current have polarity (which side of the signal wire plug is + and which side is -), and it is necessary to check that the polarity is in the intended direction.
For example, footswitches for musical performance may have different polarity depending on the manufacturer of the instrument. If a footswitch with opposite polarity is used, the operation of the switch will be reversed.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Suntsu Electronics, Inc., established in 2002 and based in Irvine, California, is an American manufacturer and supplier, specializing in electronic components, primarily within the mid-market segment. The company's portfolio comprises antennas, cables, and connectors. It further offers power inductors, radio frequency (RF) filters, and tantalum capacitors. The company also supplies products from its franchised manufacturer partners, including circuit protection devices, discrete and integrated circuits (ICs), as well as power circuits and modules. Moreover, the company delivers services such as engineering and manufacturing solutions tailored to specific needs, sourcing for end-of-life (EOL) and hard-to-find products, and inventory management to support vendor-managed inventory systems.
Gorlitz Sewer & Drain, Inc, founded in 1980, is a California-based manufacturer of sewer and drain cleaning equipment. The company’s products consist of sewer and drain cleaning machines, hoses, inspection cameras, pipe location equipment, and plumbing tools. The products range from lightweight to heavy-duty and are made from corrosion-proof steel. As such, its main consumer base is service technicians in the construction and plumbing industries for use in sewer and pipe construction and repair.
DCC Corporation, established in Pennsauken, NJ, is a distributor of hotspot thermocouple welders used by researchers, manufacturers, and labs. Their product portfolio includes The HotSpot PLUS, Hotspost I, and Hotspot II used for thermocouple fabrication and temperature sensing applications in various industries, including aerospace, automotive, power generation, oil and gas, and chemical processing. The company also provides services including national distribution, product selection, installation, preventative maintenance, troubleshooting, repair and customer service.
Royal Distributors, Inc., founded in 2003 and headquartered in Varsity Dr, Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a supplier and distributor of Herga switches. The company has established business partners in the medical, dental, and industrial marketplaces. Its ability provides customization, engineering, and support. The company offers footswitches, hand controls, push buttons, and sensors. Its products are used in robotics, electro-surgical, and aerobic pump applications. Its entire platform passed the UL-60601 medical product approval, ensuring every combination its customers chose is medically approved.
Dawson-Macdonald Co., Inc. was founded in 1928 and is headquartered in Wilmington, Massachusetts. Dawson-Macdonald is a developer and producer of production manufacturing equipment, systems, and supplies for surface preparation.Dawson-Macdonald’s product offerings include air filtration equipment, abrasives, air blast equipment, shot blast equipment, wet blast equipment, wheel blast equipment, and vacuum systems. Dawson-Macdonald also offers rental options as well as preventative maintenance, service, and repair both in house or in the field.
Dietz Electric was founded in 1974 and is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Dietz Electric is a broad-line stocking distributor offering electric motors, drives, and power transmission products. Dietz Electric also offers customization options to test, manufacture, modify, and repair all product offerings. Product offerings include electric motors, hazardous locations motors, custom electric motors, variable frequency drives, motor controls, power transmission solutions, and specialty items such as purge systems, Uras vibrators, disc brakes, transformers, and AC line reactors.
Mitronix, Inc. established in Old Tappan, New Jersey in 1985 is a supplier of standard and custom lamp holders, reflectors, and related lighting components. Their product portfolio includes Energy Star & Fluorescent Lampholders, Halogen Lampholders, Metal Halide Lampholders, Stage and Theater Lampholders, and lightning accessories. The company serves industries, including residential, commercial, hospitality, retail, and interior design.ranty against faulty materials.The company has a national distribution network and a customer support center.
Taylor Material Handling & Conveyor has a 50 year history and operated out of Toledo, Ohio, serving regionally as well as nationwide customers as a distributor for machines and components used in the industrial, material handling, chemical, appliance, automotive, construction, forging, and founding industries. Taylor offers a full line of conveyors ranging from automation conveyors to wire mesh belt conveyors. Taylor also offers below the hook attachments, ergonomic lifting solutions, forklift service lifts, hoists, trolleys, electrifications, product packaging equipment, overhead lifting solutions, packaging automation, warehouse equipment as well as custom equipment.
Nihon Pisco Co. Ltd., founded in 1976 and based in Nagano, Japan, is a manufacturer and distributor of pneumatic equipment and is ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified. The company stocks various products like valves, actuators, and vacuum accessories used in several industries, including semiconductor, medicine, and rechargeable battery. The company started selling push-in fitting for pneumatic piping in 1977 and launched the industry’s first push-in fitting built-in type speed controller in 1981. In 1993, it launched a few products, including a quick exhaust valve, a digital pressure sensor, and a vacuum generator with a digital pressure sensor.
Sakae Tsushin Kogyo Co. Ltd, established in 1950 at Kawasaki City, Japan is a manufacturer of precision potentiometers for control appliances. Serving globally, the company manufactures potentiometers to use in control appliances for precise accuracy as well as better reliability. These elements made with conductive plastics measure and check the electricity flow. Some products are single turn potentiometers, multiple turn potentiometers, linear motion pot, turns counting dial and seesaw motion pots. These find applications in consumer electronics, medical equipment, test and diagnosis equipment and multiple audio mixing consoles. Joystick or foot controllers, servo components are also available.
SUNS International LLC was established in 1995 and is located in Massachusetts, U.S.A., and is a manufacturer of industrial control components. The company's product folio includes foot switches, push buttons, and control stations with a wide range of applications in textile machinery, elevators, construction, packaging machinery, and, material handling sectors. The company manufactures products according to ISO9001:2015, ISO13485, and AS9100 certifications and complies with UL, CSA, CE, and CCC standards. The company also offers load cells, hour meters, LED indicator lights, terminal blocks, and, heavy-duty limit switches needed in the solar and wind power production stations.
CNTD Electric Technology Co., Ltd., founded in 2000 and headquartered in Yueqing Zhejiang, is a manufacturer and supplier of industrial automation used switches. The company specializes in producing vertical and horizontal limit switches, foot switches, and other products. Its products find applications in heavy equipment and machinery, industrial production, detection and measurement, and agricultural equipment. The company holds TUV, UL, CQC product safety, and environmental certifications, ensuring clean and quality products and services.
Dailywell Electronics Co. Ltd., founded in 1997 and based in Taipei, Taiwan, is a switch manufacturer and supplier with an annual capacity of 800 million pieces. Its products include toggle, slide, rocker, pushbutton, and anti-vandal switches used in several devices, including audiovisual equipment, aircraft model drones, industrial control equipment, computer peripherals, and medical equipment. The company has its own mold research and development center to design and develop the precise molds used to fulfill the various specifications of the production process. It is ISO 9001, ISO 9002, ISO 14001, and 3C certified.
Schlegel is the manufacturer and distributor of switches, push buttons, terminal blocks, and pilot lights with their headquarters in Germany since 1974. Besides switches and simple push buttons, the company also produces membrane and short-stroke pushbuttons, functional modules, control panels, enclosures, and limit switches which can be customized according to the consumer's demands. The products are widely used in departmental stores and administrative buildings. They are also used within the instrument panels of ships, lifts, and other vehicles including machine tools or as components of production equipment.
BERNSTEIN AG is a manufacturer and distributor of electromechanical components that was established in 1947 in Germany. The company manufactures switches and sensors that range from insulated and metal enclosed to foot switches and safety switchgear. They also provide enclosure technology that deals with the implementation of support systems for various applications such as using housing to accommodate electrical, electronic, or pneumatic components and load-bearing systems made of aluminum and stainless steel. They also offer safety solutions related to the operation of lifts and escalators that are placed in malls and airports
Linemaster Switch Corp. is a US-based company that specializes in designing and manufacturing foot switches and other electronic controls for use in various industries, including healthcare, industrial automation, and automotive. Established in 1952 and has since gained a renown for producing premium, durable, and dependable products. The company received several awards for its products, including the American Business Awards (Stevie Awards) for "Best New Product in Health and Pharmaceuticals", as well as recognition for its environmentally friendly manufacturing practices.
AutomationDirect.com was founded in 1994 to provide solutions for the industrial automation market and has been growing its list of offerings ever since. AutomationDirects’ extensive catalog includes individual components such as cables, various controls, I/O devices, relays, gauges, fittings, and sensors to complete systems. Many parts and devices, especially PLC units are customizable. AutomationDirect.com also provides support via video instructions, online manuals, a learning library, an active community forum to further assist customers.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gorlitz Sewer & Drain, Inc. |
11.2%
|
| 2 | Suntsu Electronics, Inc. |
7.5%
|
| 3 | Mitronix, Inc. |
7.5%
|
| 4 | Pizzato USA |
7.5%
|
| 5 | SUNS International |
6.5%
|
| 6 | Royal Distributors, Inc. |
6.5%
|
| 7 | Dawson-Macdonald Co., Inc. |
6.5%
|
| 8 | DCC Corporation |
6.5%
|
| 9 | Dietz Electric Co., Inc. |
6.5%
|
| 10 | CNTD Electric Technology Co., Ltd. |
5.6%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the foot switch page as of December 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
United States of America
|
8 | 61.5% |
|
Japan
|
3 | 23.1% |
|
Taiwan
|
1 | 7.7% |
|
Germany
|
1 | 7.7% |
Hotron Co., Ltd.
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■Angle machine 75 - A single machine can perform angle bending, V-notch processing, and corner cutting. ・The standard set can process stainless st...
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