Industrial push buttons: 4 alternatives to the big-name brands
Do your BOMs include industrial push buttons, and are you used to specifying Schurter, Otto, Knitter, EAO, Schneider, Apem and Pizzato? EI.italia has identified Taiway, Onpow, Suns Electric and Honyone for you: 4 alternative manufacturers that, at the same quality level, offer more flexible cross-references with real advantages in both cost and supply.
The big-name brands aren't your only option
The big-name brands offer reliable, well-documented components, but precisely because they are the most widely adopted, they tend to offer less flexibility on price and supply terms.
For this reason, for over ten years EI.italia has been combing the market for lesser-known but more advantageous cross-references:
- to guarantee customers the agreed target price and continuity of supply whenever a standard component becomes unavailable or too expensive;
- to act as a single point of contact for the entire BOM, thanks to a network of over 100 selected manufacturers covering virtually every component category (discover the Next Gen Distribution service).
When it comes to control and emergency switches, anti-vandal push buttons and joysticks, this scouting work has led to official distribution in Italy for four manufacturers: Taiway, Onpow, Suns Electric and Honyone.
Taiway Electronics (Taipei, Taiwan, founded 1976)
Taiway has been active in the switch industry for over 45 years and is one of the world's leading manufacturers, with a strong focus on the R&D of eco-friendly modules and custom products. Its range covers toggle switches, push buttons, rocker switches, slide switches and anti-vandal switches, with applications in the marine, aerospace, renewable energy and industrial machinery sectors.
Onpow (Yueqing, China, founded 1988)
With over 30 years of experience, Onpow produces around 40 series of push-button switches, with more than 1,500 molds and 70 registered patents. Its range includes metal and industrial-plastic push buttons, emergency stop buttons, key switches and selector switches. Certifications: ISO9001, ISO14001, ISO45001, UL, VDE, CCC, CE.
Learn more about Onpow
Suns Electric (Zhangzhou, China, founded 1993)
For over 30 years, SUNS has been a leading manufacturer of high-quality industrial control components, offering a complete range that includes push buttons, control stations, limit switches and microswitches. Its facilities are certified to ISO9001:2015, ISO13485 (medical devices) and AS9100 (aerospace industry). Its products are certified UL, CSA, CE and CCC.
Honyone (Dongguan, Guangdong, China, founded 1998)
Honyone has been manufacturing electronic switches and fuse holders for over 25 years, with a range spanning thousands of different specifications: LED tactile push buttons, metal push buttons, lever switches and fuse holders. Monthly output exceeds 7 million units. Certifications: ISO9001:2015, UL, CQC, CE, ENEC, CCC, VDE, KTL.
Price, certifications and lead times compared
EI.italia's goal is not to offer a cheaper alternative at any cost: it is to guarantee production continuity through a qualified second source, one that can pass the qualification process and deliver a tangible advantage over the reference brands. In summary:
- Price ★★★★★ competitive pricing compared with the market's reference brands
- Certifications ★★★★★ products certified to your requirements
- MOQ ★★★★☆ low minimum order quantity, ideal for sampling, prototypes and small production runs
- Customization ★★★★☆ custom options available on request
- Lead times ★★★★☆ consistent shipments with average lead times of 4-8 weeks
One order for your entire BOM with Next Gen Distribution
If you found these alternative options for industrial push buttons of interest, we invite you to try the Next Gen Distribution service: a single point of contact and a single order for every component in your bill of materials. You send your BOM and EI.italia returns a quote optimized around your technical, regulatory, logistical and budget requirements.
For industrial push buttons and every component in your BOMs, contact us with the part number you're looking for and discover our qualified cross-references.
