The Theale, Reading-based family-run consumables supplier initially took on a rubber roller factory in Suffolk in 2007, through its acquisition of Tyke Rollers.

A year later it went into partnership with German roller manufacturer Westland, taking over its UK business and becoming a licensee to manufacture the company’s rollers in the UK.

In 2010 the roller factory moved to a much larger site and business continued to grow. BFS said plans to expand the roller factory in 2021 will enable the rubber roller business “to expand further into new markets outside of print”.

The company was established in December 1986 by husband and wife John and Carol Hope, who set up Business Forms Services from a small site in Reading.

Known as BFS, the business sold Rollin Type100 printing blankets to business forms and envelope printers in the UK.

John and Carol Hope’s son Robin Hope joined his parents in the business six months later, followed eventually by their daughter Sarah and son-in-law Paul as well as Robin’s wife Nicky.

In 1995 the company invested in blanket converting equipment and expanded sales of blankets into the newspaper, heatset and sheetfed sectors of print, with Rollin blankets becoming widely used in web offset.

The company’s rebrand to BFS Pressroom Solutions came in 1999, to better reflect its position as a one-stop source of pressroom consumables.

Managing director Robin Hope said: “We have continued to invest in our business and stayed focused on selling high quality consumables and working with really strong partners that continue to develop new and exciting products as our industry changes.

“We’re very proud about our achievements and it’s nice to have something positive to say in these difficult times.”

The BFS product range also includes blankets, inks, UV lamps, folder parts and other pressroom sundries.