How to brand ceramic mugs?2024-08-30

Ceramic mugs have become incredibly popular promotional gifts in recent years, often seen as the shining stars of the promotional gift portfolio. In this blog post, we will explore why ceramic mugs make excellent promotional gifts and discuss the various decoration techniques available for applying logos and graphics.

WHY IS A CERAMIC MUG AN EXCELLENT PROMOTIONAL GIFT?

- Practicality and Daily Use: Mugs are useful, everyday items found in almost every household and workplace, ensuring that the promotional message displayed on them is seen daily.

- Durability: Ceramic mugs are long-lasting, which means the logo or message on them will remain in the consumer's life for an extended period.

- Customizability: They offer a smooth, large surface that is ideal for branding and can be customized using various decoration techniques. You can even create a series of mugs and encourage collecting different designs through special promotions.

- Cost-Effectiveness: When produced in large quantities, ceramic mugs are relatively inexpensive, making them ideal for mass promotional gifting. A promotional gift becomes cost-effective when it is used frequently and for a long time. To ensure that your branded mug is genuinely used and not relegated to the back shelves of office kitchens or home cupboards, design them with trendy, full-color, eye-catching graphics that make them not just accepted but desired gifts.

TECHNICAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT MUG BRANDING

Clients often ask how durable the decoration on ceramic mugs will be. Can the decorated mugs be washed in a dishwasher, and will the print remain intact? Drawing on our decades of experience, we will outline what mug decoration can and cannot do.

We fire the decoration onto ceramic and porcelain products at two different temperature levels, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.

1. High-Temperature Firing (approximately 600-800 °C): This ensures dishwasher resistance, making the decoration extremely durable, practically eternal. However, due to the high firing temperature, color accuracy cannot be guaranteed (e.g., pink, purple, and certain shades of all colors may not be achievable).

When do we use high-temperature firing? Note: Only high-temperature firing guarantees eternal results!

•    When the product and the decorated color allow it.
•    For decorating coffee cups.
•    When the logo is placed inside the mug.
•    When specifically requested by the client.

2. Low-Temperature Firing (approximately 200 °C): The manufacturer specifies 500 wash cycles for decorations applied at this temperature, though experience suggests otherwise. The advantage of 200 °C firing is that color accuracy is more reliable due to the lower temperature, resulting in a more predictable outcome. However, the decoration will be less resistant to soaking and mechanical wear.

When do we use low-temperature firing?

•  When color accuracy must be guaranteed.
•  For full color printing. (CMYK)
•  For heat-sensitive decorations.
•  For branding mugs with colored bases.

WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN DECORATING MUGS?

Workshops use various ink systems, each with different levels of resistance and durability. Laboratory tests and feedback from our partners show varied results.

Our branding facility adheres to the technological requirements regarding inks, auxiliary materials, and the appropriate pre-treatment and heat treatment. However, we cannot control the further life of the finished products. The conditions of use, washing, the chemicals used, temperature, dishwasher type, and mechanical stress all influence the durability of the print, so we cannot guarantee it.

If it is a critical requirement that the finished product be dishwasher-safe or the print color accurate, please indicate this when placing your order.

Contact us, and with our over 30 years of experience, we will handle everything from product design to packaging and delivery. Thanks to our substantial stock, we are sure to have what you need, whether it's a pad-printed water bottle, mechanical pencil, notebook, folder, kitchen tool, or any other promotional item to promote your business. In our facility, we can print, engrave, embroider, iron, press, and mold virtually anything onto anything.

You can read a comprehensive guide to the available branding technologies in this blog post.

Image sources: own photos