Stainless Steel Keyboards

Stainless steel 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, RKB-D-8601B and PM-65-TB-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 stainless steel 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 it is chosen for marine and coastal use. The RKB-8630 and RKB-D-8601B use corrosion-resistant stainless steel front panels, and the PM-65-TB-SS and DT-5K-FSR use stainless steel cases, 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.

You wipe or wash the sealed surface, since stainless steel 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 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-8630, RKB-D-8630T-B and RKB-D-8601B are rated IP65, the DBL-810-TB 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, PM-2000-FSR and RKB-D-8601B fit into a cutout with fewer exposed edges to tamper with or clean around. For a control room or laboratory bench, the desktop DT-5K-FSR and DT-5K-MEM-TP 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, a touchpad or no pointer at all. The PM-65-TB-SS has a sealed 38mm trackball, the DBL-810-TB a stainless steel 25mm 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 and DT-5K-MEM-TP integrate a sealed touchpad. Where a clear typing surface is preferred, the RKB-D-8601B omits the pointer, so the choice comes down to the task the keyboard supports.

Yes. Stainless steel 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, PM-2000-FSR and RKB-D-8601B reduce exposed edges and tampering points, while the DBL-810-TB 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 suits washdown cleaning. For public kiosks, the flush panel-mount RKB-D-8601B 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 and PM-2000-FSR connect over USB, the DBL-810-TB, DT-5K-FSR and DT-5K-MEM-TP offer USB or PS/2, and the RKB-8630, RKB-D-8630T-B and RKB-D-8601B 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.

Start with three decisions: the ingress rating your cleaning and exposure demand, the mounting format, and the pointing device. For heavy washdown, choose a higher seal such as the IP67 DT-5K-MEM-TP or the IP66 PM-2000-FSR; for panel installation, choose the PM-65-TB-SS or RKB-D-8601B; and select a trackball, FSR or touchpad to match the task, or none on the RKB-D-8601B. For hazardous areas, the DT-5K-FSR offers an ATEX intrinsically safe option. With those requirements defined, our specialists can specify the exact configuration.

Both grades resist corrosion, but 316 stainless steel adds molybdenum, which gives it noticeably better resistance to chlorides, salt and harsh chemicals. For general food, industrial and clean environments, 304 is usually sufficient and more economical. For marine, coastal, chemical or heavy washdown areas where salt and aggressive cleaning are constant, 316 is the safer long-term choice. Match the grade to the specific chemicals and salinity your keyboard will face.

For a full washdown with high-pressure, high-temperature jets, look for IP69K, which is specifically tested against close-range hot pressure washing. IP65 resists low-pressure water jets and suits splashes and wipe-downs, but it is not designed for intense washdown cleaning. If your cleaning regime uses hot pressure washers, specify IP69K, or at least IP66 to IP67, and confirm the rating covers the whole enclosure, not just the key surface.

A well-specified stainless steel keyboard supports a hygiene audit because its non-porous surface stains nothing, harbours no bacteria and withstands repeated sanitising. Auditors look for sealed, cleanable equipment with no crevices, so choose a flush design sealed to a suitable IP rating and, for salty or chemical areas, 316 grade steel. The keyboard alone does not pass the audit, but it removes a common contamination point. Keep cleaning records to support compliance.