Custom metal display products, printed to your artwork. Fulei Metal builds bookends, shelf dividers, retail stands, signage and desk display pieces from your drawing in stainless steel, aluminum or carbon steel, then applies your logo or graphics by UV printing or screen printing.
We laser-cut, bend, weld, coat and assemble the sheet-metal part in-house, then apply your artwork by UV printing or screen printing. The photo below shows one recent sample — a matte black coated steel bookend / shelf divider with white UV-printed numbering (“500-599”). Every display product we make is built to your drawing or sample, in stainless steel, aluminum or carbon steel, at our 2,500 m² plant in Ningbo, China, in operation since 2016. You send the drawing, a photo and the artwork; we make the part and the print.
What a custom metal display product means here
We use the term for sheet-metal parts whose job is to hold, present, label or identify something in a commercial or public space — and that carry a buyer’s graphics. Unlike our OEM enclosures and cabinets, these parts are usually cosmetic-facing: the printed surface is the point. Typical work includes:
- Bookends and shelf dividers — rigid L-shaped or flat metal dividers for retail shelving, showrooms and libraries, printed with category numbers, logos or color bands (the sample above is one of these).
- Countertop and desk display pieces — menu holders, name plates, product risers, brochure and magazine display stands, angled tablet and phone stands.
- Signage and wayfinding — public signage panels, street name signs, door and room plates, directional markers, branded wall letters.
- Point-of-sale hardware — display hooks, brackets, bases, stands and frames that carry printed graphics in a store or exhibition.
- Branded metal merchandise — printed metal giveaways, desk accessories and gift items where the finish and the print both represent the brand.
These are made-to-order parts, not catalogue items. If you need a standard off-the-shelf display, we are probably not the cheapest source; we are the right shop when the shape, size, material, finish or printed artwork has to match your brand or your fixture.
Printing on metal: UV printing vs. screen printing
We can apply your artwork by UV (digital) printing, screen printing (silk screen), or a combination — for example a screen-printed base color with UV-printed variable numbering. Which one we recommend depends on your artwork, quantity and where the part will be used. Tell us these three things and we will confirm the process on the quote instead of promising a method blind.
| UV digital printing | Screen printing (silk screen) | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Full-color artwork, gradients, photos, small batches, and variable data such as sequential numbers or per-piece codes | Flat spot colors, simple logos, larger runs, and heavy or opaque ink layers |
| Artwork change | Digital file — no plate cost, economical to revise or personalize | Screen made per color; a revision means a new screen |
| Typical use here | Numbered shelf dividers, short-run branded pieces, photo and gradient graphics | Brand-color panels, high-volume signage, single-color logos |
Both methods print onto a prepared metal surface — usually a powder-coated, painted or anodized finish. Printing is arranged as part of our finishing workflow, and we confirm the exact method and any protective topcoat on your quotation. We do not claim a fixed outdoor lifespan or a color guarantee without first agreeing the ink system and topcoat with you.
Materials and thicknesses
Display products are usually thin-gauge sheet, but the right material depends on stiffness, weight, corrosion and the finish you want. We cut and form:
| Material | Grades we commonly work in | Thickness range we handle |
|---|---|---|
| Stainless steel | SUS304, 316, 430 | 0.5–15 mm |
| Aluminum | 5052, 5754, 6061 | 0.5–10 mm |
| Carbon steel / coated steel | SPCC, SECC, Q235 | 0.5–18 mm |
Standard finishes: brushed and mirror-polished stainless, powder coating, painting, anodizing, passivation and plating. Brushed and mirror finishing are done in our own workshop; anodizing, passivation, plating and powder coating are handled by our finishing partners and quoted as separate operations. For printed parts we prepare the surface first so the ink bonds to the coating, not to bare metal.
How we make a printed display part
- Laser cutting — outlines, slots, holes and lettering cut on three fiber laser machines (two 3000 W and one 6000 W, including a newer TRUMPF machine). Typical cut tolerance is around ±0.1 mm; tighter features are reviewed per drawing.
- CNC bending — four CNC press brakes (250 t, 3000 mm bed) form the L-shapes, returns and angles that make a divider or stand rigid.
- Welding and assembly — ten welding stations for frames, bases and multi-piece stands; welds are dressed where they show.
- Surface finishing — coat, anodize or brush before printing, so the artwork lands on a controlled surface.
- Printing — your artwork applied by UV digital printing, screen printing, or both.
- Inspection and packing — check dimensions, finish and print before protective packing for export.
What you can customize
- Shape, size, fold angles, radii and hole or slot positions — from your DXF/DWG/PDF drawing, or a sample to reverse-engineer.
- Material and thickness, chosen for stiffness, weight and environment.
- Finish and color — powder-coat RAL color, brushed stainless, anodized aluminum, painted.
- Artwork — logo, full-color image, sequential numbering, QR or barcode, per-piece variable data; white ink on dark coating (as in the sample).
- Fixings — holes, threaded studs, magnets, rubber feet, wall-mount slots, countersunk screws.
- Packing — bulk, individually boxed, or retail-ready with your label.
Sample first, then production
We recommend approving a physical sample before a printed run, because color and ink adhesion look different on real coated metal than on a screen. Our normal lead times: simple samples in 3–7 days; complex first articles in 15–20 days; production runs in 25–35 days after sample approval. Tooling or fixtures, if your part needs them, are quoted separately. Nothing here is a fixed promise — we confirm the schedule on the quotation against your actual drawing and quantity.
Who this page is for
We build these parts for brand and retail teams, store-fixture and shopfitting companies, exhibition and display contractors, stationery and gift brands, signage contractors, and purchasing teams sourcing printed metal display hardware. If you are comparing suppliers, the useful question is not “can you print?” but “can you hold the shape, the finish and the color consistent across a repeat run?” That is what a sheet-metal shop with its own cutting, bending and welding is for.
Fulei Metal has quoted buyers in and shipped to 30+ countries. Drawings and artwork you share are treated as confidential and used only for your project.
Quality and what we can prove
Our quality system is documented to ISO 9001. To be precise: we do not hold a third-party ISO 9001 certificate, and we do not claim one. What we can show are third-party factory audit records — TÜV audit MIC-ASI243729 and Bureau Veritas audit MIC-ASR263630. If a certificate is a hard requirement for your supplier onboarding, tell us at the start and we will be straight with you about what we can and cannot provide.
Frequently asked questions about custom printed metal displays
Can you print our logo or full-color artwork directly onto the metal?
Yes. We print onto a prepared coated or anodized metal surface by UV digital printing or screen printing, including white ink on a dark coating like the black sample shown above. Send your artwork file (vector AI, EPS or PDF preferred; high-resolution PNG or PDF also fine) and tell us the colors and where the part will be used; we confirm the print method and any protective topcoat on the quote.
What is the difference between UV printing and screen printing for my display part?
UV digital printing suits full-color artwork, gradients, short runs and variable data such as sequential numbering, with no plate cost. Screen printing suits flat spot colors and larger runs, needs a screen per color, and lays down a heavier ink layer. Many parts use both. We recommend based on your artwork, quantity and environment rather than defaulting to one method.
What is your minimum order quantity for custom printed displays?
There is no single MOQ for this category — it depends on the part, the print method and the setup. We handle one-off samples and prototypes as well as repeat production runs. Tell us your target quantity, and expected yearly volume if it is a repeat item, and we will quote against it and say plainly if a different process would be more economical.
Can you work from a photo or sample instead of a drawing?
Yes. If you have a physical sample but no drawing, we can reverse-engineer it into a manufacturable drawing for your approval before cutting. A photo plus key dimensions is enough to start a conversation and a budget quote; a DXF, DWG or dimensioned PDF is best for exact pricing. See our reverse engineering from a sample page for how that works. Drawing creation is a separate paid engineering service, not part of a standard quotation. See our drawing policy for scope, cost and lead time.
How long does a custom printed metal display sample take?
Simple samples typically take 3–7 days; a complex first article that needs tooling or several operations takes 15–20 days. Production runs are normally 25–35 days after you approve the sample. These are our normal ranges, confirmed per project on the quotation — the printed color and ink adhesion are worth checking on a real sample before a full run.
Can you match our brand color on the coating and the print?
For coating we work to RAL colors; for print we work to your supplied color reference. Exact color matching on metal depends on the base coating, the ink system and gloss level, so we approve a physical sample before production rather than promising a match from a screen. If color is critical, include it as an approval criterion on the sample.
How do you protect my artwork and drawings?
Your drawings and artwork are treated as confidential and used only for your project. We do not reuse them or show them as our own work without your permission.
Do you ship display products to Europe and North America?
Fulei Metal has quoted buyers in and shipped to 30+ countries. We pack for export (bulk, individually boxed or retail-ready) and can work with your nominated forwarder or quote freight. Tell us the destination and delivery window on your RFQ so we can include packing and shipping in the offer.
Send us your drawing, photo and artwork
The fastest quote comes from four things: (1) a drawing or dimensioned sketch, or a photo or sample to copy; (2) the artwork file and the colors; (3) the material and finish you want; (4) your quantity and where the parts ship. Use our RFQ form — you can fill in project stage, expected yearly volume and buyer type there, which helps us route your inquiry to the right engineer — or email violet@fuleimetal.com. We will confirm the print process, the schedule and any tooling on the quotation, and tell you early if something in the design will not print or form cleanly.