We understand that before placing an order, you’ll want to know a bit more about Medals UK.
Based in the West Midlands, Medals UK has years of experience in designing and producing a wide range of commemorative coins and medals. We also offer a unique selection of bespoke gifts that will enhance any special occasion – from personal and family celebrations, through sporting or club events, to business conventions, award ceremonies and other corporate events.
At Medals UK, our watchword is quality. When you choose one of our exclusive custom-made medals, coins or trophies, you are assured of a professional, high-quality design and an exceptional and distinctive final product.
For bespoke orders we aim to produce tooling and the finished coins within approximately four weeks of receiving your order and artwork confirmation. Our fulfilment times are dependent upon current production demands, and we welcome enquiries to discuss how we might best meet your requirements.
To learn more about us, our comprehensive range of custom-made coins and medals, or to discuss an order, call us today on +44 (0)1785 665050. You can also email us, or use our online enquiry form, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
Guideline Lead Times
For bespoke orders we are able to produce tooling and coins/medals within approximately 4 weeks on receipt of order, confirmation of artwork and dependent upon current production demands at the time of ordering.
THE DESIGN PROCESS
Design
Based on initial discussions Medals UK will prepare a digital ‘Design Control’ document for appraisal. The document provides two views; the first is a proportional magnified version of the design and a second of the actual size. This allows the client to assess and visualise the format of the design with the option to make alterations. Once the design is agreed the client will be required to ‘sign-off’ the design control document.
Tooling
Medals UK integrates traditional craftsmanship with modern techniques to manufacturer bespoke tools to mint a coin or medal. Depending upon the specification of the order the tooling can be manufactured by firstly sculpting a plaster 5 times larger than the actual size, the plaster is then transferred into a resin mould and from there it is placed onto a reducing machine called a pantograph. It is this machine that produces the ‘Master tool’ from which working dies are formed to strike the end product. Alternatively, a digital model is produced and converted into a machine code programme allowing a CNC machine to cut the ‘master tool’.
Blank Production
For the production of non-precious metals, the foundry will cast coils of copper based alloys based on the material composites required. The coils of metal strip are then cleaned and rolled to the gauge specified. From here the coils of metal strip are fed through a blanking machine which punches out the required diameter and shape of the blank. The blanks will be heat treated to soften the material and cleaned ready for striking.
Striking
It is this operation that brings together all of the preparation of the blanks and tools. The tools required to produce the order are setup on a striking press. The machines are calibrated to apply between 120 to 360m/t of pressure during the striking of the medal or coin depending upon the detail and depth of design. Once the engineer has completed the setup striking can commence. The blanks are fed into the collar of the striking press in synchronisation with the two tools coming together under load to form the design on the blank.
Delivery
The struck coins or medals are then packed either into a presentation case or to attach a ribbon/lanyard to the medal. A final quality inspection review examines the finished product to ensure that it meets the specifications of the clients order.