FACTORY-DIRECT OEM / ODM MANUFACTURING
Custom Medals Made for Events, Sports and Award Programs
Gairun is an OEM/ODM manufacturer of custom medals for event organizers, sports bodies, associations and award distributors. We produce conventional sports medals, marathon medals, sculpted 3D relief designs, and spinning or combined medal structures.
You can configure the medal body, metal, forming method, relief, color, plating, ribbon and packaging around your artwork and program needs. Our 2D and 3D engineering team can work from vector artwork, a PDF or a hand-drawn concept and provide a free artwork proof within 24 hours.
To receive a project-specific quotation, send your artwork, quantity, dimensions, finish direction, ribbon needs, destination and required schedule. Buyers still comparing medal formats can review the options below before they request a custom medal quote.
Choose a Medal Format for the Award Experience
The right format depends on what the medal must communicate and how recipients will handle or display it. A fixed one-piece medal gives the design a single, stable body. A sculpted relief medal uses shaped metal levels to create depth. A spinning or combined medal adds separate components and requires more assembly planning.
| Medal format | Best suited to | Main decisions |
|---|---|---|
| One-piece sports medal | Competitions, participation awards and recognition programs that need a fixed structure | Shape, front and back design, metal appearance, color and ribbon |
| Marathon medal | Race finisher awards and running-event programs | Event identity, race wording, ribbon direction, quantity and packing plan |
| 3D relief medal | Artwork that depends on sculpted depth, modeled forms or raised visual layers | Relief areas, viewing angle, detail hierarchy and surface finish |
| Spinning or combined medal | Commemorative designs with a rotating center or connected components | Component map, movement, front and back artwork, connection points and assembly |
Race organizers can review custom marathon medals for event-specific quantity, ribbon and distribution planning. Projects built around sculpted depth should continue to 3D relief medals. Designs with rotating or assembled parts require the more focused checks described for spinning and combination medals.
Compare Fixed, Sculpted and Moving Medal Structures
Medal structure affects the information needed before tooling. A fixed one-piece body is developed as one main metal form. The artwork still needs clear front and back views, dimensions, relief direction, openings and attachment details.
A 3D relief medal adds sculpted levels rather than relying only on flat color areas or raised lines. The design needs a clear hierarchy so the engineering team can identify which forms sit forward, which remain recessed and which details carry the main visual focus. Reference images or sketches can help communicate the intended shape, but the production artwork must still be reviewed before mold development.
A spinning or multi-component medal introduces relationships between parts. The project brief must show which component moves, how the artwork aligns in different positions and how the pieces relate when assembled. These designs require an engineering review before tooling because movement, connection security and visible clearances must be considered as one system.
No single structure is suitable for every design. A detailed illustration may need sculpted relief, color or printing, while an event logo may work well on a fixed medal body. We review the complete design before confirming the production route.
Match the Metal and Forming Method to the Artwork
Gairun processes zinc alloy, brass, iron, stainless steel and aluminum for custom metal products. Available forming methods include die-casting, stamping or die-struck forming, photo etching and hydraulic high-relief forming.
Material and process decisions are connected. The medal shape, relief style, edge geometry, surface decoration and component structure all affect the production review. For example, a dimensional form and a line-based die-struck design present different tooling and finishing needs. A project should not select a base metal from appearance alone.
These are manufacturing options, not universal material recommendations. Our team reviews the artwork and specifications before confirming which combination can produce the intended form and decoration. Buyers comparing medal options with other custom metal formats can return to the custom metal products overview.
Zinc alloy
Available for project-specific review with die-cast and dimensional medal structures.
Brass and iron
Available for medal concepts being assessed for stamping or die-struck forming.
Stainless steel and aluminum
Available when the product structure, artwork and intended finish are suitable after review.
Hydraulic high-relief forming
Available for projects that require a pronounced relief treatment.
Photo etching
Available as a forming route where the artwork and medal construction support it.
Select Color, Plating and Surface Contrast
Decoration controls how the artwork separates from the metal body. Color can define logos, event marks and award information, while plating and surface treatments control the overall metal tone and texture.
Available color processes include soft enamel, imitation hard enamel, screen printing and UV printing. Soft enamel creates recessed color areas between metal borders. Imitation hard enamel provides a smoother color presentation. Screen or UV printing can be reviewed for graphic details that are not planned as separate enamel areas. A clear epoxy coating is also available as a protective surface option.
Verified metal finishes include gold, silver, nickel, black nickel, antique bronze and antique silver. Dual plating can place two metal tones within one design when the artwork and plating boundaries are suitable. Sandblasting and matte finishes provide additional ways to manage texture and contrast.
Choose the decoration based on the design hierarchy rather than treating every available effect as necessary. Bright plating can form the main metal field, while color directs attention to selected artwork. Antique effects can make recessed and raised areas read differently. Dual plating needs clear visual boundaries. The final choice remains subject to artwork and production review.
Specify the Medal Body, Ribbon and Attachment Together
A medal and its ribbon work as one award system. The medal artwork may be correct, but the finished piece can still fall short if the ribbon direction, attachment or connection point is not defined early.
Your request should state the ribbon colors, branding direction, required attachment and presentation needs. If the ribbon must carry an event name, sponsor identity or other artwork, include that information with the medal files. Gairun will review the requested configuration without assuming a ribbon material, size or printing method that has not been specified.
The connection between the medal body and ribbon also affects the body design. Openings and attachment areas must be included in the artwork and engineering review. During final inspection, we visually inspect finished products and check ribbon connections.
Individual packing should be considered at the same time, especially when medals will be sorted, transported or handed out at an event. Available packing can be quoted after the medal, ribbon and presentation requirements are defined.
Prepare the Details Needed for Medal Artwork and Pricing
An accurate quotation depends on a clear product brief. Send the following details so our team can assess the design, prepare production artwork and price the correct configuration:
Vector files are useful when available, but we can also begin with a PDF or hand-drawn concept. Our 2D and 3D team uses the submitted information to prepare a free artwork proof within 24 hours. The proof gives both sides a defined visual reference before tooling and sampling.
01
Medal format, such as fixed one-piece, 3D relief, spinning or combined
02
Order quantity and any design or award-level variants
03
Overall dimensions and required thickness
04
Front and back artwork
05
Raised, recessed or sculpted relief direction
06
Preferred metal or forming method, if already selected
07
Plating, color and surface-finish requirements
08
Ribbon artwork, color direction and attachment needs
09
Individual or presentation packaging requirements
10
Delivery destination and required schedule
Review MOQ, Sampling Time and Medal Inspection
The standard minimum order quantity is 100 pieces per design. A 50-piece trial order may be supported for selected products after the design, process requirements and project scope have been reviewed.
Existing stock samples are free and can help buyers inspect general workmanship and available effects. They are not samples of your custom design. Courier or delivery cost for a stock sample is confirmed separately.
Custom sampling normally takes 7–10 working days. Standard bulk production normally takes 15–20 working days, and expedited production support is available subject to project review. These periods refer to the stated production stages and should be considered together with artwork approval, sample decisions, packaging and shipping requirements.
Medal quality checks take place at several points:
01
First-article inspection
After mold engraving and trial forming, the first article is compared with the drawing for dimensions, thickness and relief details.
02
In-process inspection
Checks cover burrs after forming, flatness after polishing, plating color and adhesion, and overflow or missing areas after color application.
03
Final inspection
Finished medals receive visual inspection for surface scratches, followed by checks of relevant accessories and ribbon connections.