How Custom Pin Badges are made
AS THE UK’S LEADING SUPPLIER OF CUSTOM MADE BADGES - We thought we'd describe the typical pin badge manufacturing process works from start to finish...
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Design Work
Even if you don’t have a final design ready just send us an explanation or simple sketch and we will do the rest for you and bring your idea to life, your design will be converted into a final Artwork for you to check and confirm prior to production
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Create the mould
Once the design has been finalised and approved we will then produce a mould using a range of dies and punches to create the shape, size and design of the pin
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Stamped and Engraved
Using the mold the design is then stamped out on to raw material such as iron, brass or zinc alloy. The design is then engraved into the metal using a series of recessed and raised metal lines providing the base and structure of the pin badge
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Cut and Punch out
Now the base of the pin has been created we then cut and punch out intricate details of the design, providing the final finished template ready for colouring
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Fitting added
We then add your fitting of choice to the design along with any other accessories required, we offer a range of fittings to suit your needs including a butterfly clutch, brooch pin and magnet. This is now welded into place on the back of the design
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Depending on your chosen format
The next stage of the manufacturing process differs, If your design is hard enamel we will now add the enamel colour from the colours selected from the pantone chart, the colours are distributed evenly into each section in order to create the final design. Then the badges are electroplated which is used to create an outer layer of metal to your design, typically gold or silver. If your design is soft enamel the procedure is the opposite with the electroplating being done first and the enamel is applied afterwards
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Oven Baked
Now just like a cake the finished masterpiece is placed into a oven to allow the enamel to harden and set. If your design is soft enamel the process is now basically complete subject to the final quality inspection
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Hard enamel badges polished
Hard enamel badges however are now polished using a machine in order to even out the surface and to provide a smooth, flat and shiny surface with no raised areas
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Non-enamel details added
If your design has any intricacies or small detail that cannot be produced using enamel, this is now added to the design at this stage using pad printing which is printed on top of the polished enamel finish
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quality Checked & Shipped
Your design is now close to completion, after a rigorous quality inspection process the badges are packed onto bags and/or backing cards ready for shipping, in addition the mould of your design is then placed into storage where it will be kept for future repeat orders for a period of 2 years
