How Are Enamel Pins Made?

The production process for pins begins with finalizing design specifications. Customers can provide design files in the following formats: AI, EPS, PDF, SVG, PNG, JPG, WEBP, Word, and Excel.

At this stage, all core parameters of the pin, including its final size, pin shape, thickness, metallic outline, background color, and Pantone color scheme, will be confirmed. To meet the design needs of different clients, GS-JJ provides both automated design tools and professional artist support, helping you easily transform your ideas into production design drafts.

Once artwork is approved, we create a high-precision steel enamel pin mold to bring your 2D design into the physical world.

• Precision-carved steel mold: The programmer inputs the 3D model into the CNC milling machine, and the pin pattern is engraved layer by layer on a high-hardness black steel sheet (mold steel). For intricate details, master craftsmen use precision gravers to manually refine the mold.
• Wire-cut cutting die: Before heat treatment, the precise profile of the pin must be traced using a high-precision projector, and the cutting die is then cut using a wire-cut EDM machine.
• High-temperature heat treatment: The sculpted pattern mold and the wire-cut die need to be processed together in a high-temperature furnace to optimize the carbon content, followed by rapid oil quenching to ensure they can withstand the continuous impact of heavy-duty hydraulic presses (typically applying 50 to 500 tons of force).
• Steel ring assembly: A protective steel ring is fitted around the cooled mold to prevent cracking or deformation during the subsequent high-pressure stamping process.

 
Differences in mold types:

Once the mold engraving and hardening processes are complete, the next step is to mount the mold onto the machine to shape the raw material.

•  Die Stamping / Casting: A mold is mounted onto a large hydraulic press, and a metal substrate—such as copper, iron, zinc alloy, or aluminum—is selected based on design specifications. The machine applies immense pressure to precisely imprint the mold's relief patterns onto the metal sheet.
•  First-Piece Inspection: After the first batch of blank parts is produced, the staff will carefully check every detail against the drawings. Even minor cosmetic defects require modification or adjustment. Mass production can only begin after all parts have passed verification.

After stamping, excess metal scraps and burrs are trimmed and polished.

•  Trimming: A custom-made die is used on a small punch press to trim away excess metal from the formed blank, thereby defining the pin's final outline.
•  Vibratory Polishing & Deburring: Freshly trimmed blanks often have sharp burrs along their edges. The blanks are placed in a bowl-shaped vibratory finishing machine; high-speed vibration causes the metal parts to collide and rub against one another, automatically smoothing away sharp edges for a clean finish.

After deburring—and prior to polishing and electroplating—pin posts are welded onto the back of the metal blanks. The workshop typically uses a high-frequency resistance welding machine or a special positioning spot welding machine to firmly weld the metal pins to the back of the enamel pin.

Next comes the precise coloring process, which is the step that changes the most significantly in terms of the pin's appearance. There are considerable differences in the coloring process between soft enamel and hard enamel:

•  Soft Enamel: The base undergoes polishing and plating before this step, creating a brilliant, raised metal outline; Subsequently, the coloring material is injected into the electroplated recesses; this process can be performed manually by artisans or automatically using high-precision UV printing equipment.
•  Hard Enamel: The bare metal base is filled with enamel paste prior to plating. Artisans use a handheld micro-dispenser to inject pigment precisely into the recessed areas separated by raised metal lines.
•  Pantone Spot Color Matching: Colors are tested and compared against the specific Pantone C codes designated in the design to ensure zero color deviation in the finished product.
•  Optional Value-Added Special Effects: GS-JJ offers a wide range of custom finishes and special effects, including glitter, glow-in-the-dark powder, rhinestones, 360° spinning or sliding mechanics, embedded NFC tags, and Epoxy Coating(used for custom epoxy pins, where a clear protective resin dome is applied after high-temperature baking for a smooth, glossy finish).

After all the coloring is completed, the pins need to be put into the oven for high-temperature curing. It is important to note that the choice between soft enamel and hard enamel entails significant differences in the corresponding baking and surface polishing processes.

1. High-Temperature Baking & Curing

• Soft Enamel: The pigment is cured by baking at a moderately high temperature. Once dry, the pigment sits slightly below the raised metal lines, creating a distinct visual and tactile contrast between the recessed color areas and the raised metal.
•  Hard Enamel: Uses a resin enamel paste cured in baking ovens at 150°C - 200°C (300°F - 400°F) to fully solidify the colors into a hard, wear-resistant surface. The paste melts and expands to fill the entire mold cavity; upon cooling, it becomes extremely hard and highly resistant to wear and damage.

2. Precision Stone Grinding & Lapping (Exclusive to Hard Enamel)
After baking and curing hard enamel, the pigment typically rises above and covers the metal lines. To achieve a perfectly flat surface, a specialized stone polishing process is required:

•  Precision Surface Grinding: The fired pins are placed in a water-fed stone grinding machine. Using fine-grit stones and micro-abrasive paper—combined with a continuous water flow for cooling—excess hard enamel is ground away layer by layer until the pigment surface is perfectly flush with the raised metal lines.
•  Ultimate Mirror-Like Finish: After being stone-ground flat, it undergoes a high-polishing process, which integrates the metal lines with the pigment, delivering aseamless, jewelry-grade polish that is completely flush with the metal lines.

The electroplating process utilizes the principle of electrolysis to deposit coatings—such as gold, nickel, or silver—onto the pin's surface, establishing the final metallic base color and outline:

•  Pre-plating high-gloss polishing and cleaning: Before the workpieces are placed into the electroplating bath, workers manually fine-polish all the metal blanks using high-speed soft cloth wheels to remove surface imperfections; this is followed by acid pickling and ultrasonic cleaning to ensure the plating adheres firmly to the metal surface.
•  Hard Enamel: Hard enamel pins—having just been leveled by grinding and then polished and cleaned—proceed to the electroplating bath. The coating is deposited onto the exposed metal borders, completely eliminating the risk of plating wear associated with earlier grinding steps.
•  Soft Enamel: For soft enamel pins, all polishing and electroplating processes are completed prior to the color-filling stage (Step 6); therefore, this step is bypassed, proceeding directly to quality inspection and packaging.

1. Accessory Attachment Options
GS-JJ supports a variety of back attachments—such as rubber clutches, metal butterfly clutches, and pinless backings—and offers upgrades to premium locking clasps, strong magnetic non-piercing fasteners, safety pins, and keychain attachments to suit diverse wearing and display needs. Not sure which pin back suits your design? Read our guide to pin backing options to find the perfect match.

2. Visual Quality Inspection
GS-JJ conducts a comprehensive, item-by-item quality inspection on every finished product prior to shipment. Key inspection points include the following:

•  Surface Defect Inspection: The focus is on inspecting the enamel and painted surfaces, checking for scratches, bubbles, color bleeding, discoloration, and color leakage to ensure that the pattern outlines are clear and crisp and the colors are accurately reproduced.
•  Plating and Gloss Inspection: Verify that the plating on the metal frame and back is uniform and smooth; oxidation, blemishes, peeling, or plating defects are strictly prohibited.
•  Attachment Security and Pull Testing: Test the solder strength of each pin pin individually; repeatedly open and close the butterfly, rubber, or magnetic backings to ensure a secure fit and prevent accidental detachment during wear.

3. Packaging 
GS-JJ offers a variety of flexible packaging solutions. In addition to providing dustproof and scratch-resistant individual OPP bags/poly bags by default free of charge, it also supports upgrades to exquisite velvet bags, transparent plastic boxes, premium velvet gift boxes, and custom cardstock printing that can be double-sided color-printed with the brand logo, comprehensively enhancing the brand value and commercial display quality of products. In addition, all orders are uniformly packed in thickened outer cartons to ensure the goods remain undamaged during transit.

•  Global Direct Express Shipping: GS-JJ ships via FedEx, DHL, and UPS; shipping is free for most countries and regions, though additional fees may apply for remote or hard-to-reach locations. If you need to know the specific delivery time, production cycle and shipping arrangements, please refer to our "Custom Lapel Pin Lead Times & Shipping Guide" to help you plan your order smoothly.
•  GS-JJ After-Sales Guarantee: If any quality defects or quantity discrepancies caused by manufacturing or workmanship are found after receiving the goods, the GS-JJ professional customer service team will intervene immediately to provide a remake, a refund, or appropriate compensation, ensuring a worry-free customization experience throughout the entire process.