Plastic badges

I f a plastic badge does not detract from your overall corporate image there is a bewildering choice of any size or shape. A remarkable range of standard plastic colours is available from stock for any custom made plastic badge...and precise Pantone matches are available at an extra cost. However, you should bear in mind that pre-production samples add about 21 days to special colours.

A major benefit from some plastic badge manufacturers is that all origination and tooling costs are included in the initial price of the badge...also modular tooling means that custom badges in any shape can be made at quite a low cost; an attractive proposition for companies wanting to include an outline of their products as part of an identity badge.

Window badges

There is an amazing variety of shapes and possibilities which include window badges, shaped badges, label badges and even plastic badges with a custom relief moulded logo or star motif...useful for indicating levels of expertise or years of service. Label badges work extremely well and are often used in conjunction with a Dymo, Brother or Casio type labelling system. They are attractive when using a clear adhesive name label which means the label background material is virtually invisible; and when the name label is fixed carefully the appearance is almost that of an integral badge name.

Personalisation badge names

A significant drawback is that it is not usually possible to have all the personal details as part of the initial badge run although plastic badges can be personalised in a number of ways post-production. These methods include screen printing, foil blocking, pad (tampo) printing and engraving of employee names and other details for identity badges. It is also worth remembering that none of these processes allow full colour printing and, furthermore, foil printing does not allow Pantone colour matches.

Nevertheless, there is an amazing variety of shapes and options which include window badges, shaped badges, label badges and even badges with a custom relief moulded logo or star motif...useful for indicating levels of expertise or years of service.

You should also consider the weight of a plastic badge which sometimes causes the badge to "hang" on the wearer rather than sit nicely on the lapel. It's horses for courses...in certain circumstances plastic badges are well worth considering especially if you are promoting a specific product which can easily be reproduced in the shape of a badge.

However, always take into consideration the additional costs whatever the material, of extra colours and extra screens associated with plastic badges and these sometimes make a "cheap" plastic badge into an expensive identity badge.

Magnetic badges

The usual array of badge fixings is available are available. Amongst others, these include clip/pin combo, brooch pan, safety pin, crocodile clip, ball chain, a printed lanyard and the increasingly popular magnet, rapidly becoming a "must" for the discerning badge wearer…and who can blame them?