EDCO Pushes Envelope in U.S. Manufacturing of Acrylic Awards

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, May 09, 2013 (Press-News.org) For nearly a decade, one Florida manufacturer of acrylic awards and trophies has been working tirelessly to turn around the perception that everything in its industry is cheap, plastic stuff from China.

EDCO Awards & Specialties, of Fort Lauderdale, is one of just a few U.S. trophy and awards suppliers that produces all of its acrylic recognition awards here in the United States, and it aims to be the biggest.

The company, founded in 1969, got into acrylic casting almost a decade ago, when it acquired a local supplier of theirs. Since then, the company has invested in the operation, adding technology that it says now separates them from the rest of the pack - both here in the U.S. and overseas.

"We're pioneers of a unique process of high-quality, high-volume laser cutting and UV printing that enables us to create unique acrylic awards that incorporate interesting shapes, perfect edges, high clarity and high-quality color graphics," said EDCO Vice President Mike Szczesny.

The company was one of the first in the awards industry to bring a UV printed trophy to market, after investing in a large format flatbed UV printer in 2009. Two years later, the company expanded its laser cutting capabilities with 48"x96" high power laser cutter, one of the first installed in the U.S.

"We've got tremendous capacity and flexibility to create any quantity and kind of design as a result of these investments," Szczesny said. "We're able to cut acrylic in different thicknesses, make precise, intricate cuts and eliminate the time-consuming finishing process since the laser cutter gives each piece a clean, clear edge."

The added capacity enables high-volume production and already this year, the company has produced more than 100,000 acrylic awards.

But, those aren't of the "cheap plastic" variety.

Among more traditional, higher quality acrylic award designs, the company has been expanding its production of custom acrylic awards.

"We have a lot of customers who want to design their own awards or have input in the design," Szczesny said. "They bring us their design or logo and our skilled designers create a virtual sample. Sometimes we produce a real sample after that before going to production with the actual award."

And, with full in-house capabilities, from award design to laser cutting, edging, beveling, engraving and color printing, EDCO can turn around orders in short order, often in as little as three days.

"Delivering high-quality, memorable custom awards is where we really excel," Szczesny said.
Among its lineup of new custom acrylic awards is its master trophy - the Perpetual Recognition Trophy.

This 18-inch-tall custom corporate award features up to 24 individual laser-engraved, brushed silver plates, enabling companies to recognize the achievements of top employees for up to 24 years.

The Grand Custom Acrylic Cut Trophy combines a company's logo or award design with an ebony base.

The new Mina Line Custom Acrylic Award, built with the customer's design and assembled with a piano-finish base in rosewood or black, can be decorated with full color printing or laser etching.

In addition to acrylic awards, EDCO offers a variety of other corporate awards, including crystal awards, glass awards and plaques.

Founded in 1969, EDCO is one of the largest awards and trophy manufacturers in Florida, with four retail locations in southern Florida and a total of 40,000 square feet of retail, manufacturing and warehousing space.

The company's standard acrylic awards are available for ordering online and can be shipped anywhere in the U.S. Other awards, including custom awards, can be ordered by calling 800-377-8646.

Website: www.edco.com