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Have you ever crossed the finish line of a major marathon or stood on a podium at a regional tournament and wondered about the journey that piece of metal took to get to your neck?
Today, roughly 70% of the world’s custom medals are produced in one part of China. This region has quietly become the backbone of the international medal industry, supplying sports organizations, event planners, institutions, organizations, and athletes across the globe. Medals not only serve as awards for these groups but also celebrate athletes’ achievements and victories, representing recognition of excellence and success in sports and competitions.
The demand for custom medals is not случай—it is driven by the rapid growth of global sports events, especially running races, marathons, and community competitions.
To better understand how this demand is evolving and what is shaping the industry, you can read this detailed analysis:
👉 [Custom Medals: The Global Market Trends in Running Events and Sports Awards]
This article explores where most medals are manufactured, the major global production regions, and why one city in particular dominates the medal manufacturing industry. PeaKeen is a leading manufacturer of sports and award medals in China, providing a global perspective on the industry.
Medal production exists in many countries, but the majority of global supply comes from China. Within China, Zhongshan has emerged as the world’s largest manufacturing hub for medals, badges, and metal awards.
While a large percentage of medals are produced in a concentrated region, the global manufacturing landscape is more complex than it seems. Different countries and regions specialize in different stages of medal production, from design to die casting and finishing.
If you’re interested in a deeper breakdown of how global medal manufacturing is distributed, explore this guide:
👉 [Inside the Global Medal Manufacturers: Where Are Custom Medals Made?]
Located in Guangdong Province, Zhongshan has developed a highly specialized ecosystem dedicated to producing medals for sporting events, marathons, academic institutions, corporate programs, and commemorative occasions. Thousands of factories and workshops operate in this area, producing everything from simple souvenir medals to complex, high-end custom designs.
This region didn’t become the leader overnight; it resulted from decades of infrastructure development, the perfection of die casting and stamping techniques, and a hyper-efficient logistics network that can ship a ton of brass to New York as easily as to London.
Today, companies from North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia regularly source their medals from Zhongshan because of its efficient production capabilities and highly experienced workforce. These company clients rely on Zhongshan for both standard and custom medal solutions. Reputable medal manufacturers for sports events include Crown Awards, GSJJ, and Medalcraft Mint. When choosing a custom medal manufacturer, it is important to evaluate design support, material quality, turnaround times, and pricing.
Although Zhongshan dominates global medal production, it is not the only location where medals and trophies are manufactured. Several industrial clusters across the world contribute to the industry, each specializing in different production scales and product types.
Some regions focus on mass production for global exports, while others specialize in small-scale custom work or premium handcrafted medals. Understanding these regions helps explain how the global medal supply chain functions.
Types of custom medal manufacturers include specialized custom makers, large-scale award providers, and eco-friendly options.
Zhongshan is the “Big Player.” If you are looking for sports medals, marathon medals, or high-volume personalised medals, they likely originate here. The scale is monumental, with factories capable of churning out millions of units annually for global events. Customers can easily customize and design their own medals with unique specifications, ensuring each award is tailored to their needs.
Advantages:
Complete supply chain: Every step from raw metal to the final ribbon is done within a 10-mile radius.
Large manufacturing capacity: They can handle the largest marathons in the world without breaking a sweat.
Competitive pricing: Due to the sheer volume, the cost per unit is unbeatable.
Experienced medal manufacturers: Generations of artisans have perfected the “hand-filled” enamel look.
Easy customization: Customers can create their own medals with a variety of options for design, logos, and styles.
Factories in Zhongshan use brand-new raw materials and do not mix in recycled materials. This results in higher material waste and higher costs compared to Yiwu, but the product quality is significantly better.
In the die-casting process, factories in Zhongshan commonly use 88-ton die-casting machines and automated robotic arms. The casting speed is relatively slower, but the products have higher density and better structural quality.
In Zhongshan factories, both the front surface and the edges of the product are polished. This results in a smoother finish with a better mirror-like effect.
Custom medals can be personalized with event names, logos, and unique designs to commemorate achievements.
Dongguan is another major manufacturing city in Guangdong Province. While Zhongshan focuses heavily on large-scale medal production, Dongguan is known for its expertise in premium metal crafts and detailed custom designs.
Factories in Dongguan often produce high-end medals with intricate details, multi-layered structures, or advanced finishing techniques. In addition to metal, crystal is frequently used as a premium material option for awards and trophies, offering a luxurious and elegant appeal. These medals and crystal awards are typically used for prestigious events or collector-grade commemorative pieces.
Advantages:
Advanced mold technology: Dongguan manufacturers invest heavily in high-precision mold technology. This allows them to produce complex medal shapes and intricate details that require advanced tooling.
Strong OEM capabilities: Many companies in Dongguan operate as OEM manufacturers, producing medals based on custom designs provided by international brands or event organizers.
Precision manufacturing: Because of the region’s strong engineering background, Dongguan factories are particularly skilled in precision metalworking and detailed craftsmanship.
Yiwu, located in Zhejiang Province, is famous worldwide for its wholesale markets and small commodity manufacturing. In the medal industry, Yiwu specializes in souvenir medals and small-batch personalised medals.
Advantages:
Low minimum order quantities: Yiwu factories frequently offer lower MOQs, making them suitable for small businesses or organizations that need limited quantities of medals.
Fast production cycles: Because many manufacturers specialize in smaller orders, production times can be relatively quick compared with large-scale factories.
Strong e-commerce supply chain: Yiwu has a highly developed e-commerce infrastructure. Many suppliers sell directly through international online marketplaces, making it easier for small buyers to access medal products.
Ability to submit custom artwork or specifications for small-batch orders: Buyers can submit their own designs or requirements for approval, allowing for personalized and custom medal production even in small quantities.
Factories in Yiwu typically use standard raw materials. They mix virgin materials and recycled materials using a blender, which helps minimize raw material waste.
Factories in Yiwu typically use 38-ton die-casting machines and rarely use robotic arms. The casting process is faster, but the products generally have lower density.
After casting, Yiwu factories usually only perform rough edge finishing to ensure the product edges are not sharp and won’t scratch the hand.
While China dominates global medal manufacturing, the United States and Europe still maintain local medal production industries. These manufacturers typically operate on a smaller scale and focus primarily on domestic markets, also producing plaques as another popular type of award for corporate recognition and achievements.
Advantages:
Local service and communication: Working with local manufacturers allows organizations to communicate more easily during the design and ordering process. This can be beneficial for complex projects that require close collaboration.
Faster domestic delivery: For customers located in the same country or region, local production can significantly reduce shipping times.
Customization for any organization: Local manufacturers offer the ability to customize awards, including medals and plaques, to reflect an organization’s branding, logo, or unique identity, making them suitable for businesses, sports teams, schools, and event organizers.
Manufacturing costs in the United States and Europe are generally higher due to labor expenses and smaller production scales.
Most Western manufacturers do not operate the massive production facilities found in Chinese manufacturing hubs. As a result, very large orders may still be outsourced to overseas factories.
Behind every memorable award ceremony or victorious finish line, there’s a meticulous process that brings custom medals to life. At PeaKeen, our experienced team is dedicated to crafting custom medallions and sports medals that truly celebrate achievement and recognize winners in every field—from soccer and baseball to gymnastics, dance, music, and track.
Our medal manufacturing journey begins in our design studio, where our design team collaborates closely with clients to create just the right item for their event. Whether you’re looking to highlight academic achievements, commemorate running events, or showcase your organization’s logo, we ensure every detail reflects your event’s unique style and occasion. With a wide selection of custom insert medals and custom award options, our medals shop makes it easy to find or create medals that fit your budget and event details.
Once the design is finalized, our production team gets to work using state-of-the-art equipment and a variety of high-quality materials, including metal, glass, and acrylic. Every medal is carefully crafted to meet our exacting standards for shape, color, and finish, ensuring great quality and a lasting keepsake for each recipient. Our commitment to excellence means that every custom medal—no matter the sport, competition, or academic field—stands as a symbol of success and recognition.
We understand that timely delivery is crucial for every event. That’s why we offer fast turnaround and flexible order sizes, so whether you need a handful of personalized awards or thousands of medals for every sport, we deliver on time and help you save money without compromising on quality. Our medals shop is equipped to serve teams, organizations, and events of all sizes, providing fast delivery and satisfaction guaranteed with every order.
At PeaKeen, we take pride in our ability to create custom medallions and awards that celebrate life’s victories, big and small. From the initial concept to the final shipment, our experienced team is here to ensure your medals are crafted with care, delivered in a timely manner, and remembered as a cherished part of your event’s success. Let us help you recognize achievement, honor recipients, and make every occasion truly special.
If you are unfamiliar with the medal production process, please read “How To Customize The Medal? (In-Depth Case Study)”.
In Zhongshan, a medal factory doesn’t just “make medals.” They are surrounded by a web of specialized sub-industries:
Mold manufacturing: Specialized CNC shops for custom medal designs.
Die casting and stamping: Heavy-duty facilities for various metal types.
Electroplating: Advanced tanks for gold, silver, and antique finishes.
Enamel coloring: Hundreds of stations for precise color filling.
Ribbon and packaging: On-site textile mills for custom lanyards.
The workforce in Zhongshan has “metal in their DNA.” Skilled workers here specialize in the nuance of medal craftsmanship, knowing exactly how long to polish a piece or how to ensure the enamel doesn’t bleed. This expertise ensures that even at high speeds, the quality remains consistent.
When a city hosts a World Cup or a Major Marathon, they need 50,000 medals delivered by a hard deadline. Zhongshan factories are built for this pressure. Their ability to scale production up and down instantly is something Western factories simply can’t match.
Because the entire ecosystem is in one place, transportation costs between “mold maker” and “plater” are zero. This economy of scale allows medal manufacturers in Zhongshan to offer high-quality products at a fraction of the cost of local domestic production.
Finally, the region has perfected the art of the export. From integrated customs clearance to partnerships with global shipping giants, a custom order from Zhongshan can reach a doorstep in Europe or the US in as little as 5-7 days.
Navigating the massive manufacturing landscape of Zhongshan can be daunting for an outsider. This is where PeaKeen steps in as your expert partner. As a company, we bridge the gap between world-class Chinese manufacturing and your specific vision.
As a professional manufacturer with deep roots in this industrial hub, PeaKeen offers the best of both worlds: the cost efficiency of Zhongshan and the precision design services you expect from a premium brand. We don’t just “take orders,” we consult on the best materials and finishes to ensure your medals have maximum impact.
To ensure your event gets the attention it deserves, we avoid the “one-size-fits-all” approach. Instead, we invite you to contact our sales team directly. This allows us to provide a bespoke quote and ensure your custom medal order is handled with the white-glove service that PeaKeen is known for. We look forward to helping you with all your medal needs.
Vintage hotel keychains are experiencing a massive resurgence in the hospitality industry, transitioning from simple functional tools into powerful branding
Table of Contents Packaging is often the last thing corporate buyers consider when designing a custom keychain. However, it completely
No. 5, Tongan Road,
East District Xiaolan Town,
Zhongshan, Guangdong,
China
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