Editing Alps SKBL/SKBM series (section)

==History==
According to Forward Electronics, SKBL/SKBM series was introduced in 1991.<ref name="C-Fwd" /> However, the earliest discovered examples of keyboards using these switches are from 1995, in particular the [[Forward Electronics FDA-102D]]. Forward Electronics specifications SKBL-E01 and SKBM-E01 both appear to be from 1995, which fits in with the earliest sightings of the switches.

[[Alps Electric]] ended their 30-year joint venture with Forward Electronics in March 2000;<ref name="Alps-Forward-Split" /> from this point onwards, until the product series was discontinued in early 2012, there was no relationship with Alps.

Around the time that the [[Matias Tactile Pro 2.0]] was introduced, the "ALPS" branding disappeared from the switches; Edgar Matias has reported that Forward Electronics lost their licence to use the Alps branding, requiring switch retooling.{{citation needed}} What is known is that the switches were rebranded: the new-style Alps logo was removed from the top, and the old oval logo on the bottom was replaced by the letters "F D". The design drawings were amended to match.

[[Matias Corporation]] was responsible for continued production of SKBL/SKBM switches, by taking a gamble on the million-switch order required to keep the factory alive; this was required to maintain production of the switches used in the original [[Matias Tactile Pro|Tactile Pro]].{{citation needed}} However, production was finally terminated in early 2012. The final batches of the [[Matias Tactile Pro 3|Tactile Pro 3]] had to use their new [[Matias switch]], as stocks of SKBM switches ran out prematurely. The Matias switch is a clone of the SKBL/SKBM series.