Acrylic Idea Factory (AIF) is a family-owned manufacturing company that was established in 1948 by Murray Wald and is now run by Eric and Brad Wald. The company positions itself as the world’s largest manufacturer of acrylic awards, plaques, and advertising specialty items.
What They Do: The company specializes in manufacturing acrylic products across several categories:
- Recognition products: Awards, trophies, plaques, and corporate recognition items
- Signage: Custom acrylic signage including ADA-compliant signs
- Home décor and gifts: Acrylic photo blocks, wall art, and decorative items
- Custom engraving and personalization services
Their key differentiator is their proprietary AcryliPrint® HD technology, invented in 2007, which allows them to permanently fuse full-color digital images onto acrylic without using solvents, glues, or producing VOCs (volatile organic compounds). The company operates manufacturing facilities in the United States (headquarters in Tucson, Arizona, with additional location in Norcross, Georgia), Mexico, and Vietnam.
Business Model: Acrylic Idea Factory primarily operates through B2B partnerships and a dealer network. Their products are only available through local awards, recognition, engraving, trophy, or advertising specialty companies – not directly to consumers.
Pros:
- Long-established company with over 75 years of experience since 1948
- Environmentally friendly manufacturing process (no VOCs, solvents, or glues)
- Proprietary technology that’s unavailable elsewhere in the world
- Multiple manufacturing facilities across three countries
- Wide product range serving multiple industries
- Claimed position as the largest manufacturer in their niche
Cons:
- Limited direct consumer access (must purchase through dealers)
- Some customer service concerns noted (Facebook review mentioned overdue orders)
- Website appears to have limited public-facing information (login-restricted)
- B2B-only model may limit market reach compared to companies selling direct-to-consumer
The company serves the awards and recognition industry, signage industry, and photo/home décor markets with their specialized acrylic manufacturing capabilities.
1 Reviews on “Acrylic Idea Factory”
Kristin
Photo Block by Acrylic Idea Factory
Ordered: 8/31
Shipped: 9/3
Delivered: 9/7
Packaging: Arrived in a sturdy cardboard box. Item was wrapped in plastic with bubble wrap on one side backed by cardboard. The shipping labels do not mention my information. Return address states customer service and an address in AZ. Printify notes this item is printed in the US but sourced from Mexico. The box also does have “WT: Mexico” on it. Item was in perfect condition.
Item: This product comes in 5×7 or 7×5, it’s basically the size of a greeting card but 1″ thickness. The print is perfect, clear and very colorful. The back is covered in black, durable material.
I think this is a great quality item. My only concern would be the price. Production was 22.93, this is with premium I believe it’s 29 without. Shipping is 15.99. I have not researched enough to know what people are willing to pay for photo blocks.