Nameplate & Badge Glossary

Parts, accessories, or branding products made for a vehicle or product after it has left the original manufacturer — as opposed to OEM parts installed at the factory.

An electrochemical process that thickens aluminum’s natural oxide layer and allows it to be dyed a stable color that becomes part of the metal rather than a surface coating. Full explainer →

An electroplating process that deposits a thin layer of chromium, usually over a nickel underlayer, onto metal or plastic to create a bright, mirror-like finish with added corrosion resistance. Full explainer →

A material or finish’s ability to withstand rust, oxidation, and chemical degradation over time, typically measured using accelerated tests like the ASTM B117 salt spray test.

A manufacturing process where molten metal, usually zinc, is injected under high pressure into a steel mold to produce detailed, three-dimensional badge shapes.

A business that buys products in bulk from a manufacturer and resells them to smaller retailers, dealers, or installers, rather than selling directly to end customers.

A badge finished with a clear polyurethane resin dispensed over a printed graphic, which cures into a raised, glossy, UV-protective dome. Full explainer →

A process where nickel is deposited layer by layer onto a master mold in an electroplating bath, producing an extremely fine-detailed, lightweight metal shell.

Pressing a flat metal sheet between hardened dies to raise a logo or design above the surrounding surface, typically done alongside stamping.

A process where metal, usually aluminum, is pushed through a shaped die to create a continuous profile with a consistent cross-section, then cut to length.

Accelerated corrosion that occurs when two dissimilar metals are in direct contact in the presence of moisture — a common cause of premature badge failure when mounting hardware doesn’t match the badge material.

A manufacturing process where molten plastic resin is injected into a precision mold and cooled into shape — the base process behind most plastic and domed badges.

The smallest quantity of a product a manufacturer will produce in a single order, which varies by process — die casting and electroforming typically carry higher MOQs than stamping.

A company that produces parts or badges installed by the original vehicle or product manufacturer at the factory, as opposed to aftermarket products added later.

A chemical treatment applied to stainless steel that removes free iron from the surface and enhances the metal’s natural corrosion resistance without adding a visible coating.

A standardized documentation and approval process, common in automotive supply chains, used to confirm that a manufacturer can consistently produce a part to specification before full production begins.

Products manufactured by one company but sold under another company’s brand name — the core business model for dealers and resellers who want custom-branded badges without operating their own factory.

A business that purchases finished or private-label badges and nameplates and sells them to end customers, often adding its own branding or bundling them with installation services.

The industry-standard corrosion test, exposing samples to continuous salt fog to compare how different metals and coatings resist rust over an accelerated timeframe. Full explainer →

Pressing flat metal sheet between hardened dies to cut the outline and shape of a nameplate in a single stroke — fast and cost-efficient at scale.

The base material a badge is built on before any plating, printing, or doming is applied — for example, the aluminum sheet under an anodized finish or the plastic base under a domed badge.

The custom molds, dies, or fixtures built specifically to manufacture a given badge design — typically the largest upfront cost in die casting, stamping, and injection molding, and the reason MOQs exist.

A material or finish’s ability to resist fading, chalking, or cracking under prolonged sun exposure, typically evaluated using accelerated tests like ASTM G154. Full explainer →

Selling products in bulk at a reduced per-unit price to distributors, dealers, or resellers, rather than at retail price to individual end customers.