Materials & Craftsmanship

See how artwork, logos, sketches, and ideas become finished acrylic awards through design, digital proofing, UV printing, laser cutting, engraving, embedment, and precision manufacturing. Learn how US Acrylic Awards guides custom projects from the first concept through final production.

For over half a million years, humans have found engraving not only to be the best way of documenting history, but also an art form that has been used to decorate walls, gemstones, bones, weapons, jewelry, swords, and modern day recognition awards presented for high performance.

Learn how UV printing transforms clear acrylic into vibrant custom awards using reverse printing, white ink, and precision fabrication. Discover why this process has become the preferred method for creating detailed logos, photographs, and full-color recognition pieces.

What does “Made in the USA” really mean when you’re purchasing acrylic awards? This article looks at FTC guidance, manufacturing and raw materials, and the questions buyers can ask when U.S. production is important to their purchasing decision. Learn how domestic processing, material sourcing, final assembly, and substantiation all factor into Made in the USA claims for awards and recognition products.

Polishing acrylic is a painstaking process which may include multiple steps to create the crystal clear appearance Lucite® is known for. Often included in the machining process – planing, saw cutting, laser cutting, edging, sanding, and polishing. The final results are truly defined by the diligent efforts put forth.

Today, as technology has improved, the resources available to decorate and engrave awards has changed from a labor-intensive process to a fine-tuned process mastered by talented graphic artists capable of producing unique Computer Aided Designs (CAD).

Lasers (Light Amplified by Stimulated Emission of Radiation—LASER) revolutionized the trophy and awards industry starting in the late 1980’s when the cost of small laser engravers came down to a level that made sense for many trophy shops around the world.

Body Overview: For more than 40 years, US Acrylic Awards has manufactured acrylic awards, Lucite® embedments, custom trophies, and recognition products from its Arizona facility. This article shares the story of Greg and Scott Smith, the early days of acrylic embedment manufacturing, and how decades of hands-on experience continue to shape the company’s commitment to American-made quality, craftsmanship, and innovation.