Creating Trophies from Start to Finish
A trophy is meant to symbolise a great accomplishment, whether this is something achieved by one person or many, and so a lot of time and effort goes into creating these masterpieces. While most people will recognise a trophy when they see it, not many people are aware of how much goes into creating these items, and this often includes how much detail goes into the finer points of the item.
The Design
When a trophy is designed, the overall item is broken up into a few different pieces, and these are created individually. Although a trophy might look like it is created in one go, this is most certainly not the case, and it often takes bringing together three or more pieces to create the finished product. It is quite common for designers to construct various components of a trophy, before having an assembler come along, pick those pieces that they feel will be best suited to one another, and bring them all together to create a great looking trophy.
The Various Components of a Trophy
A trophy is made up of a few different components, and it all starts with the base on which the item will rest. While some trophies are stand alone, others rest on what looks like wood or metal, although it might be constructed entirely of plastic. The base itself could be sculpted, tiered or designed to be quite unique, depending on the needs of the client.
Once the base has been constructed, the column will then need to be created. The column is the tier on which the actual figurine will stand, and once again, this could be constructed of materials such as metal, plastic or wood. The rise is a decorative piece that separates the column and the base, and it might be on this facet of the trophy where the position of the recipient will be displayed. Lastly, the figurine is displayed at the very top of the trophy.
The Client’s Input
Before creating trophies, manufacturers will need to speak to their clients in order to get a good idea about what they are looking for. This is often called the brainstorming process, and it helps the manufacturer get a good idea about the design and cost that suits their clientele. Once this process has been completed and the client and the manufacturer have a good idea about what to expect from the process, the actual manufacturing can begin.
Manufacturing the Trophy
It is important to remember that not all trophies are manufactured in the same way, and this also applies to the various components of the trophies themselves. The different parts of the trophy might be moulded utilizing steel dies, or they could be injection moulded. When it comes to moulding the plastic parts of the trophy, a feeder is utilized that makes use of a constant source of small, plastic pellets.
While a machine is used in the manufacturing of trophies, it is quite common for someone to oversee this process, and to ensure that each part of the trophy is manufactured to the highest standard. In larger factories, it is quite common to have multiple machines running constantly throughout the day and night.
Once the parts have been moulded, the base is then filled in order to ensure it is of the appropriate weight. The bases tend to be rather small, while the trophy can be quite heavy, and so it is important that the base be of an adequate weight to support the actual trophy. The bases tend to be filled with an ingredient called gypsum, which is quite a heavy material.
Quality Control
Once the trophies have undergone inspection, any parts that do not meet with quality control standards are set aside. These parts are not usually discarded, however, since they can be utilized later on in the construction of another trophy.
Manufacturing trophies requires that individuals bring together both practical and creative skills, and this is a part of what makes the process so exciting. Individuals not only have the chance to purchase a symbol marking a great success, but they get to personalize their trophies to ensure that they are well and truly unique.