“Refurbishment” above is really six distinct stages, all done in-house at our workshop rather than outsourced. Here’s what actually happens to your buttons between the moment they arrive and the moment we photograph the finished result.

1. Disassembly

The button, switch module, or full panel is removed from its housing so it can be worked on individually. For multi-button consoles (a full centre console, a steering wheel control module), every component – buttons, displays, electronic modules – is separated rather than refinished in place, so nothing gets missed and the finish stays consistent across the whole set.

2. Coating removal

The old, worn paint coating is removed chemically rather than by sanding. Sanding is faster but risks grinding away the fine plastic detail underneath – the raised or recessed lettering and symbol relief that the printed layer sits on top of. Chemical stripping removes the coating without touching that structure, which matters most on buttons where the symbol is close to worn through already.

3. Cleaning and surface preparation

The stripped component is degreased and cleaned, removing any sticker residue, dirt, or old adhesive left behind. This step also evens out the surface so the new paint bonds properly instead of flaking later.

4. Precision painting

We repaint using UV- and abrasion-resistant automotive paint, matched to the original colour and gloss level (piano black, matte, soft-touch, or textured). This is the step that has to be right across an entire panel at once – a console with a dozen buttons needs every one of them to match, not just look close.

5. Laser engraving

The pictogram or inscription is burned back into the surface with a laser, reproducing the original proportions, line thickness, and depth rather than approximating them. For backlit buttons specifically, we take light-intensity measurements after engraving to confirm each symbol lets light through at the correct, even brightness – depth that’s slightly off is the most common reason a “restored” backlit button looks dim or patchy compared to the others around it.

6. Quality control and reassembly

Before anything is reassembled, the finished component is checked against the original design or your reference photos. Once it passes, everything goes back together and we test functionality before photographing the result and sending it back for your approval.