An aerial work platform — a scissor lift, boom lift or mast lift — is controlled from stations that live outdoors. The platform control box sits in the basket, exposed to rain, dust, site debris and constant vibration; the ground control station takes the same weather at chassis level. Three problems follow from that environment:
A boom lift raised at an industrial site — KACON pushbutton control stations, emergency stops and limit switches provide the platform's control, stop and limit protection.
Ingress and impact. A control station that lets in water or loses a button to a knock becomes a breakdown on a hired-out machine, and a failed stop function is a safety incident, not a nuisance.
Unambiguous stop and mode functions. The emergency stop must be findable and operable with gloves, protected against accidental actuation, and the platform/ground changeover must be positive and clear.
Reliable position limits. Boom elevation, slew and travel limits depend on switches that work outdoors for years, in wash-down and dust, without drift or waterlogged cables.
The answer is to build both stations from sealed, standardised components: an IP65 pushbutton box fitted with Ø22mm devices, and sealed limit switches for every travel and boom limit position.
The KACON KEX Series pushbutton box was developed as a sealed control station for inspection and emergency control, and the same construction suits aerial platform stations: an IP65 enclosure with a 10A thermal current rating, standard Ø22.3mm mounting holes and a device set that covers pushbuttons, emergency stops, selectors and key switches in one box. Two families cover the two station types:
KACON KEX Series pushbutton boxes
| Item | KEX-A (flat lid) | KEX-B (ribbed guard) |
|---|---|---|
| Mounting holes | 1–5 (Ø22.3mm) | 2–5 (Ø22.3mm) |
| Enclosure protection | IP65 | IP65 |
| Thermal current (Ith) | 10A | 10A |
| Rated insulation voltage | 500V AC/DC | 500V AC/DC |
| Ambient temperature | −25°C to +80°C | −25°C to +80°C |
| Extra features | Optional E-stop guard (G versions); knock-out, PG13.5 or M16 cable entry | Protective ribs around devices, hanging eye, optional KEX-BZ01 mounting guard; 40T/50T versions add a rotary cam switch for mode changeover |
For a basket station, the KEX-B's protective ribs shield the devices from knocks, and the 40T/50T rotary cam switch gives a positive platform/ground or drive/lift mode changeover. For a compact ground station, the KEX-A's five sizes (1–5 holes) keep the box no larger than the function set requires. The full box switch range covers further enclosure formats.
Every hole in the box takes a standard Ø22mm device from the KACON control switch range, so the station is configured, not improvised:
Pushbuttons — flush, illuminated and non-illuminated, including marked up/down and double-arrow buttons for travel and lift functions (1NO).
Emergency stops — small and large mushroom heads, illuminated and non-illuminated (1NC), with transparent and pronged guards available to prevent accidental actuation while keeping the stop instantly accessible. See the emergency switch range for standalone E-stop stations.
Selector and key switches — selectors (1NO+1NC) and key switches (2NO) for platform/ground changeover and function lockout.
Indicator lights — for power, mode and fault status at the station.
Limit positions on a platform work outdoors and often low on the chassis, where wash-down and road spray are routine. Three KACON limit switch series cover the roles:
KACON KXL Series limit switch
| Series | Construction | Rating / protection | Typical platform role |
|---|---|---|---|
| KXF | Sealed, pre-wired (cable moulded in, no field wiring at the switch) | AC-15 5A at 250V; IP67 | Boom elevation and travel limits exposed to wash-down and spray |
| KXN | Plastic safety type, positive-opening NC contact | AC-15 3A at 250VAC; IP65 | Safety-related limit and interlock positions |
| KXL | Die-cast basic type, 17 actuator heads | 12A at 250VAC; IP67 | General travel, slew and levelling limits |
KACON KXF-301 sealed waterproof limit switch
The KXF sealed waterproof limit switch removes the most common outdoor failure point — water entering through a field-fitted cable gland — because its cable is sealed into the body at the factory. The KXN safety limit switch adds a positive-opening NC contact for positions that form part of the machine's safety function.
Building both platform stations and every limit position from one component family gives the platform manufacturer three practical gains. First, weatherproofing by design: IP65 stations and IP67 sealed switches are specified for the environment the machine actually works in, cutting water-related control failures. Second, configuration speed: stations are assembled from stocked boxes and Ø22mm devices by hole count and device list, so a new model variant does not need a new custom panel. Third, simpler service: standard devices and switches are individually replaceable in the field, and one supplier covers the station, the stop functions and the limit sensing. KACON, founded in Korea in 1955 and holding CE, UL, CSA, TUV, VDE, CCC and CQC certifications with 160+ patents, supplies these components as standard products and in OEM configurations.
Tell us the function list for your platform and ground stations — travel, lift, steer, mode changeover, stop — and the limit positions on your machine. We will propose a KEX box configuration and a limit-switch set to match. Contact the KACON team for drawings, samples and pricing, and browse the full Solution Proposal section for more application solutions.
