Hermetically sealed electromechanical relay

An electromechanical relay comprising:

• an armature;
• an inner core at least partially surrounding at least a portion of the armature, the armature being slidably movable relative to the inner core;
• a coil at least partially surrounding at least a portion of the inner core;
• a stationary contact held in a ceramic header, the ceramic header comprising a chamber side and an opposite rim side;
• a movable contact connected to the armature via a shaft, the movable contact being movable between an open position wherein the movable contact does not engage the stationary contact and a closed position wherein the movable contact engages the stationary contact;
• a housing having an open end and a chamber, the housing comprising a rim at the open end of the housing, the chamber containing the armature, the inner core, the coil, the movable contact, and at least a portion of the stationary contact, the chamber side of the ceramic header facing into the chamber of the housing, the rim side of the ceramic header facing out of the chamber, wherein the ceramic header is circumferentially welded to the housing adjacent the open end such that the chamber of the housing is hermetically sealed;
• and a metal seal, the ceramic header being circumferentially welded to the housing the metal seal, wherein the metal seal comprises a base and a lip extending from the base, the base of the metal seal being received within the open end of the housing, wherein the metal seal extends outwardly from the rim side of the ceramic header such that the lip extends radially outward over the rim of the housing.