Printable View
After deciding that there would be no margin in selling sublimated rectangular fridge magnets wholesale (unisub so expensive to buy blank) then we would like to look into a magnet press machine and print traditional way but cannot find any UK suppliers. There seem to lots of button press machines which can do round magnets but cannot find any specific rectangular magnet presses outside of China. Anyone have any ideas please?
I think you'll find most people use acrylic one's were you just print and cut an insert.
Yes I think you are right for perhaps promotional business give-a-way ones but we sell mainly to gift retailers and so need better quality. After a lot of research then this is what we are after basically but ideally a UK or EU supplier (and yes we have emailed them to ask): http://wenlingdaneng.en.alibaba.com/...g_Machine.html
I have spent hours searching for a european supplier without any luck, as you say there are plenty of suppliers in China but not yet found one that will supply the machine & blanks. Very reluctant to purchase from two different places as there does seem to be variation in sizes as well. The look and feel of the Chinese metal types is much better than the acrylic ones in my opinion.
I am currently going down a different track and making my own: eBay ally coated sheets (0.7mm) + magnetic sheets for backing, desktop metal guillotine (warco), sheet metal punch (kennedy) and warrior corner rounder. Guillotine takes sheets up to A4 short side and has production stop for repeat sizes. I am no longer limited to standard sized magnets and can produce anything up to A4.
Also useful for producing bookmarks and have cut my material costs by around 50%. Equipment cost is around £250 so will not take long to break even.
Having said this I would still be interested to see how you get on.
Thanks for your great post. I am certainly going to continue trying to source a supplier as it seems we just need a badge press with rectangular cutter and mound template attachment. I have a 65mmx90mm magnet from a shop in Devon that is exactly what we are trying to accomplish made up of outer layer with artwork on, metal insert and then magnet stuck on back. The outer layer founds around onto back giving a professional finish and thick construction. This shop magnet says "made in the uk" and I kind of know the guy who owns shop so I've emailed asking for printers name. I shall keep you informed of progress.
Hi, looking for exactly the same thing. Did anyone get any further information
The conclusion was that the only quality press is one made in the USA and that is nearly £1500. The Chinese ones had a REALLY bad press (excuse the pun!) and didn't last long and didn't cut the paper very well. Apparently they are so espensive to make because you have to mill out a perfect rectangle. We ended up getting a 75mm badge press machine and buying the 75mm magnet backs for it.
Did contemplate a punt on the Chinese one but worried about quality and getting more components. Found one supplier who offered a package including several thousand blanks but advert had disappeared when I returned. Having looked at a lot of fridge magnet "styles" over the last few months it seems that many are simply domed prints with a magnetic backing sheet, will be trying a more upmarket version using 0.5mm ally soon.
What about getting printable magnetic sheet and a Cameo?
You can do any shape and size you like then?
I have the brother scancut and was looking at cutting magnetic sheets yesterday. Had heard of printable magnetic paper (approx 400gsm) but not inkjet thick sheet so will look into this.
I have the stuff from TMT which is for a laser printer, prints really well and then the cameo cuts nice and easy. It does open up other avenues of business as it gives you the ability to create bespoke shapes (shields, team shirts etc etc).
I think the magnetic paper will work in most OKI laser printers as the sheet lays flat when being printed and then exits out the back meaning no curve and the risk of jams.