Custom Magnesium Hot Stamping Dies

How Does a Century-Old Printer Still Create Multi-Color Wood Imprints?

Vintage Editions, a specialty wood manufacturing company in North Carolina's foothills, operates a 1923 Hooper Slat printer that continues producing multi-color images on wood containers today. This remarkable machine demonstrates how traditional printing methods remain relevant in modern manufacturing when paired with the right tooling.

Perry Austin, owner of Vintage Editions, explains their unique process: "We print on wood boxes the same way it was done 100 years ago. The magnesium dies come to us flat and we curve them using our curving machine. We then put the dies on metal rollers with up to four ink rollers to add color. We can print three colors per second, and as long as we have consistent wood thickness, this remains the fastest way to imprint wood with multiple colors."

The company maintains this vintage equipment through partnerships with local machine shops that custom-build replacement parts, ensuring the century-old technology continues meeting modern production demands.

What Makes Magnesium Dies Ideal for Wood Printing and Embossing?

Magnesium dies excel at wood printing due to their versatility and cost-effectiveness for shorter production runs. These dies can be deep etched or routered when extra character relief is needed for printing on softer surfaces. The material's properties allow for the reproduction of logos, insignias, and detailed artwork while maintaining durability throughout the production process.

Vintage Editions specializes in customizing promotional and personal items using sublimated artwork and embossed printing. Their product range spans from boxes and beer cases to fishing rod racks and wooden bars, all benefiting from the precision that magnesium dies provide.

Why Do Wood Manufacturers Choose Magnesium Over Brass Dies?

The transition from brass to magnesium dies represents both practical and economic advantages. Perry Austin notes that while the original die plates from Banner Marking Devices were made from half-inch thick brass, the new magnesium dies from Durable Technologies "work just as well" while offering greater flexibility and faster turnaround times.

Magnesium dies provide a couple of advantages for wood manufacturers: they're lighter than brass, making them easier to handle and mount on equipment. They also offer suitable detail reproduction for licensed products featuring Winchester and Remington logos, which are particularly popular among Vintage Editions' customers.

How Are Custom Magnesium Dies Curved for Specialty Wood Products?

The curving process for magnesium dies allows manufacturers to print on rounded or irregular wood surfaces. Vintage Editions requests flat magnesium dies from Durable Technologies and uses their curving machine to shape them according to specific product requirements. This adaptability proves essential when working with varied wood container shapes, from trunks and cupboards to wine racks and decorative boxes.

Cathy Childers, Office Manager at Vintage Editions, emphasizes the importance of this customization: "We had particular requirements, things like curved dies, for our process and Durable Technologies worked with us to overcome each hurdle and make sure we got the dies exactly as we wanted them."

What Types of Wood Products Can Be Customized with Hot Stamping Dies?

Magnesium dies enable customization across an extensive range of wood products. Vintage Editions produces boxes, beer cases, trunks, cupboards, picture frames, fishing rod racks, chalkboards, benches, wine racks, tables, chairs, desks, and wooden bars. Each product category benefits from the marking that magnesium dies provide, whether creating military themes, fishing motifs, or other outdoor designs that resonate with customers.

The versatility extends beyond wood to include foil imprinting on plastics, leather, and paper, making magnesium dies a multi-purpose solution for manufacturers working with various materials.

Which Industries Benefit Most from Magnesium Die Imprinting?

Industries requiring cost-effective customization on wood and similar materials find magnesium die imprinting particularly valuable. Vintage Editions serves markets including outdoor recreation (with fishing-themed products), military memorabilia, and licensed brand merchandise. The technology supports both promotional products for businesses and personalized items for individual customers.

Manufacturing operations that need economical solutions for shorter production runs or are frequently changing designs benefit significantly from magnesium dies' quick production times and reasonable costs compared to more permanent tooling options.

About Durable Technologies Custom Magnesium Dies

Durable Technologies' magnesium imprinting dies work in virtually any imprinting machine for labeling and coding applications. With full art and typesetting capabilities, Durable Technologies can work from customer-supplied camera-ready black and white copy or film negative, or create custom designs from scratch. The company's commitment to on-time delivery, excellent quality, and responsive customer service has established long-term partnerships with manufacturers like Vintage Editions, who have relied on their expertise since 2015.

Contact us today to discuss your hot stamping die requirements.