Metalphoto of Cincinnati

What Metalphoto of Cincinnati does

Metalphoto of Cincinnati is a custom identification manufacturer founded in 1950 and operating as a division of Horizons Incorporated from Cincinnati, Ohio, with related manufacturing at Horizons Imaging Systems Group in Cleveland. The company designs and produces custom nameplates, front panels, graphic overlays, labels and tags, and signs across multiple substrates, including its proprietary Metalphoto photosensitive anodized aluminum, BlackPLUS, DuraBlack, AlumaMark, and conventional anodized aluminum, stainless steel, brass, and plastics. Metalphoto's defining technical capability is sub-surface photographic imaging inside a sapphire-hard anodic layer at 3556 dpi resolution, producing parts with a 20+ year outdoor service life and resistance to UV, abrasion, chemicals, temperatures up to 650°F (1,200°F for XHT variants), saltwater corrosion, and steam sterilization.

Revenue is generated through custom one-time product sales priced per quote with no minimum piece quantity and a $400 minimum production run per part number, supplemented by sales-engineering consultation. GTM is sales-led with direct website and phone channels, an online MPC Nameplate Designer configurator, and free sample and evaluation kits. The customer base spans 13 verticals including defense (US Navy, Smiths Detection), aerospace (NASA, Boeing), transportation (Hyundai Translead, Denyo), heavy equipment (Caterpillar, Link-Belt), medical (WakeMed), energy (Danfoss), marine (Seatrax), manufacturing (LeBlond), and professional audio. The company is ISO 9001:2015 certified and ITAR compliant, with products qualified to MIL-DTL-15024, MIL-STD-130, ANSI/AAMI ST79, and FDA UDI requirements.

Metalphoto of Cincinnati is a privately held operating unit within Horizons Incorporated alongside the Camcode sub-brand. Headcount sits in the 11-50 range with no external investors or funding events disclosed. The business model is mature and stable: durable specialization in a niche industrial identification category, anchored by long-tenured enterprise customers (many exceeding 20-50 years) and supported by proprietary material technology and regulatory certifications that create switching costs in defense, aerospace, and medical procurement.

Name

Metalphoto of Cincinnati

Legal name

Horizons Incorporated

Website

https://mpofcinci.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Metalphoto of Cincinnati is a custom manufacturer of durable nameplates, panels, overlays, labels, and signs, built on proprietary photosensitive anodized aluminum technology. It serves defense, aerospace, transportation, medical, and industrial equipment customers globally with ITAR- and MIL-spec qualified identification products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Identification Manufacturing

NAICS

All Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (33299), Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing (332322), Electroplating, Plating, Polishing, Anodizing, and Coloring (332813)

SIC

Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Products (3490)

akta.pro primary industry

Tapes, Labels & Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives (IMAEAGAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial & Commercial Painting/Coatings/Surface Treatment (IMAIAAAK), Automotive Surface Materials & Coatings for Interiors/Exteriors Manufacturing (Upholstery Materials/Decor Films/Paints for Trim) (IMACAKAL)

Keywords

• Custom nameplates
• Anodized aluminum labels
• Industrial identification products
• Equipment asset tags
• Graphic overlays panels

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Identification Products: Manufacture and sale of custom durable nameplates, front panels, graphic overlays, labels, signs, and tags. Products are custom-manufactured to customer specifications with various materials (Metalphoto, anodized aluminum, stainless steel, brass, polyester, polycarbonate, vinyl). Revenue is generated through one-time product sales with no minimum quantity requirements.
2. Professional Services: Sales engineering consultation to help customers select appropriate materials and designs for their specific applications. Custom quote process and sample/evaluation kit services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Metalphoto of Cincinnati is a custom manufacturer of durable identification products, including nameplates, front panels, graphic overlays, labels and tags, signs, VIN plates, rating plates, and compliance/UL labels. Products are built primarily from the company's proprietary Metalphoto photosensitive anodized aluminum (sub-surface photographic imaging) along with ancillary substrates such as anodized aluminum, stainless steel, brass, polyester, polycarbonate, and vinyl, and are sold with no minimum piece quantity.

Product overview

Metalphoto of Cincinnati is a full-service manufacturer of durable custom identification products, operating as a division of Horizons Inc. The company's portfolio centers on proprietary Metalphoto® photosensitive anodized aluminum technology, which embeds photographic images sub-surface within anodized aluminum for exceptional durability exceeding 20 years outdoors. The core product line includes nameplates, front panels, graphic overlays, labels and tags, and signs—each available in multiple substrates including Metalphoto, standard anodized aluminum, aluminum, stainless steel, brass, and plastic materials (polyester, polycarbonate, vinyl). Supporting the product portfolio is the MPC Nameplate Designer online tool enabling customers to create custom designs. Additional proprietary material variants include BlackPLUS®, DuraBlack®, and AlumaMark® for specific application requirements. The company serves diverse industries including aerospace, defense, transportation, medical, marine, railroad, and industrial manufacturing, with products meeting various military, aerospace, and regulatory standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nameplates Custom metal equipment nameplates manufactured from durable substrates including proprietary Metalphoto photosensitive anodized aluminum, designed for equipment identification in harsh industrial environments. Customers are industrial OEMs across aerospace, defense, transportation, heavy equipment, and manufacturing.
• Front Panels Control panel faceplates and front panels for industrial equipment, audio devices, and machinery applications, available in multiple materials (Metalphoto, aluminum, stainless steel, brass, polyester, polycarbonate, vinyl) and finishes (matte, satin, brushed, gloss).
• Graphic Overlays & Faceplates Decorative and functional graphic overlays for control panels and equipment interfaces, providing visual communication and protection for underlying components, manufactured in durable materials including Metalphoto, polyester, polycarbonate, and vinyl.
• Labels & Tags Durable equipment labels and identification tags for tracking, asset management, and regulatory compliance across industrial applications, with variable data serialization (barcodes, QR codes, alphanumeric) available on Metalphoto and plastic substrates.
• Signs Industrial and commercial signage solutions including safety signs, indoor signage, and custom signs for various environments, manufactured primarily on Metalphoto and durable plastic substrates.
• VIN Tags Vehicle Identification Number tags and plates for transportation and automotive applications (tractor trailers, shipping containers), designed to withstand harsh environmental conditions, chemical exposure, and highway salt spray.
• Rating Plates & Serial Number Plates Rating and serial number plates for medical equipment and industrial machinery, providing essential identification and specifications in durable substrates.
• Custom Safety Approval Plates Safety approval plates meeting regulatory requirements for equipment certification and compliance documentation across industrial, medical, and other regulated sectors.
• Instructional Labels Labels providing operating instructions, procedures, and guidance for equipment operation and maintenance, manufactured for durability in industrial and harsh-environment equipment.
• UL Labels and Tags Underwriters Laboratories (UL) certification labels and tags for electrical equipment and compliance marking, used to demonstrate UL-listed status on industrial and electrical products.
• Compliance Tags Tags and labels meeting industry-specific compliance requirements and regulatory standards (e.g., safety, inspection, calibration) for industrial and equipment applications.
• Custom Safety Signs Custom-manufactured safety signs meeting specific workplace and regulatory safety requirements for facilities and equipment, manufactured in Metalphoto and durable plastic substrates.
• Indoor Signage Interior signage solutions for office, facility, and indoor industrial environments, including wayfinding and identification signage.
• Plastic Equipment Tags & Labels Identification tags and labels manufactured from plastic materials (polyester, polycarbonate, vinyl) for various industrial applications where cost-effective durable identification is required.
• Plastic Equipment Nameplates Nameplates made from plastic substrates (polyester, polycarbonate, vinyl) offering cost-effective identification solutions for industrial and equipment applications.
• Plastic Front Panel Front panels manufactured from polycarbonate and other plastic materials for control interfaces where plastic substrates are preferred over Metalphoto aluminum.
• Plastic Overlays Plastic graphic overlays for control panels and equipment interfaces, typically manufactured from polycarbonate and polyester films.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20+ years outdoor service life without fading or degradation
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments13 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and parent company.

• Pacific BioLabssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPacific BioLabs conducted sterilization testing for Metalphoto photosensitive anodized aluminum. Testing validated that Metalphoto can survive ANSI/AAMI ST79 steam sterilization and sterility assurance standards without harboring bacteria. Testing involved infecting samples with Bacillus stearothermophilus and verifying sterilization effectiveness.
• Horizons Incorporatedparent companyOthersMetalphoto of Cincinnati is a division of Horizons Incorporated. Horizons Imaging Systems Group, a part of Horizons Incorporated, manufactures Metalphoto and is located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Camcode: Sister division under Horizons Incorporated, Camcode produces durable asset tags, barcode labels, and identification products for asset tracking — directly comparable product category, customer base (industrial, government, utilities), and shared parent manufacturing platform.
• Metalcraft: Custom manufacturer of metal nameplates, asset tags, barcode/RFID labels, and serialized identification products serving aerospace, defense, and industrial markets — closely comparable product mix and customer segments to Metalphoto of Cincinnati.
• ID Label: Manufacturer of durable industrial labels, barcode labels, and asset tags for warehouse, manufacturing, and harsh-environment applications — comparable custom durable-labeling offering with overlapping end markets.
• Nameplate Inc: Custom industrial nameplate and label manufacturer producing metal, aluminum, and plastic identification products for OEMs across equipment, electronics, and machinery — direct competitor in the custom nameplate space.
• RACO Industries: Provider of asset tracking and identification solutions including barcoded labels, RFID tags, and industrial labeling systems. Comparable target customer (manufacturing, logistics, utilities) and identification-product portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Brady Corporation: Large public identification-solutions company (NYSE: BRC) offering durable labels, nameplates, and asset-tracking products across industrial, safety, and electronics verticals. Overlaps with Metalphoto in industrial identification and asset marking but operates at much greater scale and breadth.

Emerging players

• Dunmore: Specialty manufacturer of coated and laminated films, foils, and identification materials including aerospace-grade labels and surface films. Comparable in advanced material capabilities for harsh-environment labeling but broader into films and laminates beyond identification.
• Tekra: Specialty converter and distributor of films, adhesives, and coated substrates used in industrial labels and identification products. Partial overlap with Metalphoto through label substrate materials and adhesive solutions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MPofCinci
• Facebookfacebook.com/mpofcinci
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mpofcinci

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Metalphoto of Cincinnati