Award Engraving
I've seen a lot of changes in the awards business over the last 31 plus years. When I started, we used pantograph engraving machines, set up type and manually engrave one line at a time. Then we would tear down, set up a new line of type, move the plaque up a notch and engraving the next line. It took hours to engrave a plaque. Our fear was finding a mistake after spending all that time engraving. I always did plaques after closing, so I was not interrupted and loose my concentration while engraving.
Then came the computer engraver. I was at the Chicago Awards Show and saw Will Dehlgren demonstrate his marvelous machine. All of us engravers thought we could not be replaced by a machine. The set-up took forever. We could have the plaque done before he even started the machine.
But then he would have another job set up while the computer engraver engraved. We all looked at each other as the machine kept producing one after another. No coffee breaks, no lunch breaks, it just kept engraving!
My thought, now I can go home at night and be with my family. I can enjoy watching and being involved with my children. This was truly a revolution in engraving awards. We could proof the plaque on the computer screen before engraving. This new feature called , spell check, would catch the mistakes we missed.
Plaque Engraving
Today, we have different styles of engraving plaques, Diamond drag engraving and Laser Engraving. We use the diamond drag engraving when the plaques have a brass engraving plate. With the diamond, we plow the metal to each side using a descendent of Will's first computer engraving machines. About 10 years later, lasers were brought into the
awards industry. Here, we have coated metals that we burn off the the coating exposing the metal underneath, usually brass. Now we could do fancy graphics and many more fonts to choose from. With more powerful lasers, we now laser directly into the plaque board with great results.
Acrylic Award Engraving
With the laser engraving, we started experimenting with other materials to laser engrave. Several a fire was started in our production area testing different materials. Today's acrylic awards are phenomenal They give you the look of crystal for a fraction of the price. And all the shapes available is much greater than crystal.
Click here to shop Acrylic Awards
Crystal Awards Etching
Etching crystal is the grand daddy of high end quality awards. Just the weight of the crystal awards says quality. From Jade Crystal to optical crystal, if you are looking for the ultimate "WOW" award - crystal is it. Classic shapes are circles, spears and now free form crystal awards. I'm amazed at the number crystal vases we etch for awards.
Click here to shop Crystal Awards
You already have an award you want engraved?
Bring or Ship your Award to Us for Engraving
If you live in Southeast Michigan, we are worth the trip. Please check out to the left directions from different communities near Plymouth, Michigan.
Here is a Plymouth map to find our store.
Exit I-275 at Ann Arbor Road. Go West on Ann Arbor Road three traffic lights and turn right on Main Street. The store is on the right side just a short distance. Look for the green awning and turn in the drive just before the store.
Shipping
If you are not in Southeastern Michigan, it is OK to ship your engraving job to us. Make sure you include: what you want engraved, your name, address, phone number and email address. We will contact you with a quote and suggestions for engraving. Once you approve the order we will ask you for a credit card.
Shipping Note: Make sure your engraving job is well padded! We don't want any damage to your precious merchandise.
Amazing Guarantee
We will take tender loving care of your engraving job and turn around in a timely manner.
If you decide not to have us do your engraving job, after shipping to us, we will return it to you at our expense. No hard feelings. You are in charge.
The address to ship your order to us is:
Engraving Connection
1205 S. Main St.
Plymouth, MI 48170
If you want to ship your engraving order to us, please fill out the form below. This way we will know your order is coming and your information will already be entered into our production system.
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