Amuseko - Specialized in OEM&ODM of amusement machines and vending machines
Custom Claw Machines: OEM Process and Artwork Requirements
A custom claw machine makes sense when the cabinet is part of the brand experience — a chain of venues, an IP collaboration, a mall activation, or a distributor building its own product line. It is usually not worth it if all you want is a different colour. Amuseko has built claw and prize machines in Guangzhou since 2004; this is the process we use for OEM and ODM orders.
What can be customised
| Element | Options | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinet wrap and colour | Full vinyl wrap, painted panels, Pantone matching | The highest-impact change and the easiest to reorder later |
| Marquee, LED and decals | Logo lightbox, RGB lighting, glass decals | Confirm the power draw and whether LEDs are replaceable |
| Prize chute and control panel | Branded fascia, button layout, language | Keep cut-outs aligned with the standard template |
| Claw and prize theme | Coloured claw, themed plush, prize mix | Match prize size and weight to the mechanism |
| Payment module and UI | Coin, note, card, QR; interface language | Selected for the destination market |
| Machine settings | Claw strength, play price, sound, attract mode | Can be adjusted again on site after handover |
| Packaging and documents | Branded carton, manual, label, spare parts kit | Useful for distributors reselling under their own brand |
What normally stays standard
The claw mechanism, gantry, control board, power supply and prize sensor are the serviceable core. Changing them increases lead time, complicates spare parts and makes future batches harder to match. Our recommendation is consistent: customise the visible layer, keep the mechanical and electrical core standard. That also keeps warranty and after-sales straightforward.
Artwork files the factory actually needs
- Vector originals — AI, PDF or EPS — with all fonts outlined
- CMYK colour, with Pantone references for brand colours
- Bleed of 3–5 mm and a safe zone around every cut-out: prize chute, coin slot, buttons and service door
- High-resolution raster images where photography is used, not screenshots
- The flat dieline template for the exact cabinet model — we supply this before you design
Do not design from a photograph of a machine. A perspective photo is not a dieline, and panels that look correct on screen will not line up with the cut-outs. Ask for the template first.
Colour is the other common problem. A monitor is not a printed vinyl wrap. Approve a printed proof or a photographed sample under lighting close to the machine's final location, and keep that approval as the reference for future batches.
From enquiry to shipment
- Brief. Cabinet model, quantity, destination market, payment methods and the scope of branding.
- Quotation and feasibility. What is custom, what stays standard, MOQ and lead time — all confirmed in writing.
- Dieline template issued for the chosen cabinet.
- Artwork submission and proof. Digital proof first, then a printed proof or sample photograph.
- First-article confirmation. Sign off on colour, finish and panel alignment before the full run.
- Production.
- QC and test play. Claw calibration, payment test, lighting and a continuous run check.
- Packing. Wrapped panels protected so artwork is not scratched in transit.
- Shipment and documents.
Do not approve artwork by screenshot, and do not change artwork after production has started. Both are the fastest ways to turn a straightforward order into a delayed one.
Common causes of delay
- Low-resolution logos or artwork taken from a website screenshot
- Fonts not outlined, so the printer substitutes a different typeface
- Brand colour chosen from a screen rather than a Pantone reference
- Design changes after materials have been ordered
- Plug type, voltage or interface language for the destination market confirmed too late
- Third-party characters used without authorisation documents
IP, quantity and after-sales
If the design uses licensed characters, provide the authorisation documents before printing — we will need them on file. Minimum order quantity depends on how much is customised, so it is confirmed at quotation rather than quoted as a fixed number.
Wrapped panels, marquees and printed decals can be reordered later; keep the artwork master file. Confirm the warranty scope and the after-sales contact in writing with the order.
Frequently asked questions
Can I order a single customised machine?
MOQ depends on the depth of customisation. Single-unit branding is sometimes possible with a vinyl wrap rather than a full production change — ask at quotation.
Can you match our brand colour exactly?
Yes, with a Pantone reference and a printed proof approval before the production run.
Does custom artwork affect the warranty?
No, as long as the mechanism and electronics remain the standard configuration. Warranty scope is confirmed in writing with the order.
Can I see the machines during production?
Yes. Factory visits in Guangzhou and live video walkthroughs can be arranged.
Send your cabinet model, quantity, destination market and branding scope, and we will return a dieline template plus a feasibility note before any artwork work begins.
Related reading
Lead time, written quotation and factory checks
Artwork approval is part of the schedule, so agree the production timeline at the same time as the graphic proof.
Once the order is confirmed, standard configurations take 45 days to build. Custom OEM artwork, non-standard cabinets and special payment modules are agreed in the written quotation before production, and shipping is quoted separately. When you ask for the quotation, also ask for the current certification documents, the minimum order quantity and the payment options; a factory visit or live video audit is available on request.
Related question: For own-brand builds, see also Do you offer OEM and ODM claw machine manufacturing?
Email: Larry@amuseko.com