Evaluating an on-site medal engraving vendor comes down to one question: can they engrave a steady stream of medals, accurately, while the line stays short — without adding work for your team? Here's what to ask.
Throughput & wait time
- How many medals per hour per station, and how do stations scale for your field size?
- What's the typical wait at peak finish, and how is it managed?
- Is there a runner-facing confirmation step so what's engraved is what was approved?
Data & timing integration
- How do they get the runner's name and official finish time — by bib, from your timing provider?
- Can runners pre-purchase during registration, pay on-site, or both?
- How is spelling and accuracy handled at speed?
Branding & the sponsor moment
- Can the registration page, station screens, and lounge carry a sponsor's identity?
- For a “day-after” activation, can engraving be free to the runner and billed to the brand?
Operations & logistics
- Are they self-contained — power, staffing, signage, setup, teardown?
- How much support do they need from your team on race day? (The answer should be “very little.”)
- What's the weather plan?
Trust & accountability
- Are they insured, and experienced at events of your scale?
- Can they share references from race directors or brand teams?
- Do you get a post-event report — medals engraved, throughput, engagement?
A good partner answers all of these without hesitation and makes race day easier, not harder. If you'd like ours, tell us about your event and we'll come back with a station plan and a footprint that fits your finish festival.