Selecting a fitting design material for a plaque award is an important step in the manufacturing process. Having a material with the proper design characteristics for the task involved will ensure a sound, sturdy and quality end product. While there are many different materials that can be used for the manufacturing procedure of awards and plaques, there are a few more common substances that stand out from the rest.

Metal
One of the more familiar materials, metal has been successfully crafted and forged for thousands of years. It was not until recent decades that high precision design and manufacturing using metals reached to the level of excellence and ultra fine detail. There are a large variety of different types of metal available in our world today, much of which is put into widespread use in nearly every area of life. Metal can be forged and sculpted into the desired shape and size relatively easy. There are various methods and heating temperatures for molding different metals into a finished product.

Variety
Some of the more popular metals for use in recognition plaques are gold, silver, nickel, zinc alloy, aluminum, pewter and copper. There are other alloys and combination metals available which are not required or utilized nearly as often as the base material. Zinc alloy stands out as a metal material known for being easy to work with due to being quite flexible. Zinc alloy is also popular for being the metal of choice for large quantity manufacturing because of the low cost involved with production. Copper is another of the more common materials used mainly because of its advantages for electroplating. This process offers a more magnificent appearance while providing years of protection against rust, wear and corrosion. Pewter is considered a soft metal most prominent for awards requiring more of a distinct detailed design. A mold or cast is usually required for completing the manufacturing process with metal. Long runs of production find an advantage using metals like these due to lower cost to the customer. Certain metals can also be specially merged or combined with crystal and other materials to provide a unique outcome and style for the consumer. The only drawback to using metal is the cost involved with certain elements such as those containing gold, silver or bronze.

Acrylic
Acrylic, also known as Lucite, is a unique material that exhibits the properties of plastic and glass together. Weighing more than plastic alone, when manufactured with quality standards, it does share the same clarity of glass. Being partially comprised of oil, the expense of manufacturing awards and plaques with acrylic is highly dependent on current market prices. Unfortunately, an elevated market can noticeably increase the price of production, especially with orders of large quantity.

The art of crafting beautiful recognition awards, exhibiting the charm and allure intended, requires the experience, skill and excellence of a professional company.