Badger Tag & Label designed and printed the faceplates on both halves of the case for this testing kit. (Photo courtesy Badger Tag & Label)
July 26, 2022
RANDOM LAKE, Wis.—When a rapid, functional prototype is needed to look exactly as the proposed final product, many companies count on printers to create custom faceplates and control panels, according to a release from Badger Tag & Label.
Badger Tag & Label has seen exponential growth in requests for short-run pieces used on prototypes. The company has offered digital printing and plotter die cutting for more than 10 years. Its wide format digital printing is said to allow for “full color plus white to encompass every color imaginable on substrates up to 1.75-inch thick.”
For even greater durability, the photo quality reproduction and crisp resolution can be combined with lamination, the company said in the release.
According to Badger , when the printing is combined with Badger’s Zünd plotter cutter, virtually any intricate cut and quantity are possible. Because no die costs are involved, this is said to be a cost-effective method for a quantity as minimal as one finished piece. Both die and kiss cutting can be completed on the same piece, the company said.
“When companies use our services to design faceplates, control panels, and other graphics for their prototypes, the development process is quick and cost-effective,” said Ryan Will, vice president at Badger Tag & Label. “Those companies get feedback and identify any concerns during the development phase, instead of after the final product is launched. We’ve even been able to offer options not considered when we are involved early on.”
One example of the ideal piece for this process was a self-contained testing kit. Badger’s customer engineered the technology, assembled the components, and created the kit. Then they enlisted Badger to design and print the faceplates for both halves of the case, as well as the exterior label. The customer shared the prototype with a number of potential clients and was able to validate market interest. They were then able to proceed to full production in a record timeframe, Badger said in the release.
While these digital control panels and faceplates are an alternative to the traditional metal versions, one area of metal that is generating significant interest for Badger Tag & Label is Metalphoto.®
When permanent identification is critical, this process seals the image inside anodized aluminum, which makes it resistant to temperatures exceeding 700ºF, corrosion, sunlight, abrasion, and chemicals. Metalphoto stands up to the outdoor elements for more than 20 years and it meets military specifications, the company said.
Badger Tag & Label Corporation produces tags and labels for customers throughout the United States. The company prints flexographic and letterpress on paper and synthetic stocks, and delivers the finished pieces in singles, rolls, sheets, ganged, or fan-folded. Badger offers digital printing capabilities for production of short run and specialty projects. It also offers multiple finishing options, providing a custom piece from initial design and development through final delivery, the company said.
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