The anti-marking hardware specialist marked its anniversary on 1 July, 20 years after it was founded in a small home office and converted outbuilding.

It will shortly celebrate the milestone with employees, according to founder Robb Harman, who told Printweek: “We love to eat together, and bring all the families together.”

Harman founded the company after recognising a niche in the sheetfed market for anti-marking hardware, and specifically for the transfer cylinder: he secured UK and European agency for Super Blue anti-marking equipment, and Bluprint was born.

With sales in 76 countries worldwide, the company is now much changed: but the unorthodox approach of the start-up remains in Bluprint, which has been a four-day-week employer for 15 years.

The recipe for success, said Harman, has been in prioritising quality in products, service, and support.

He said: “Many after market sellers are looking over their shoulders after each deal – we didn’t want to be like that. We provide the best products we can, being generous with our customer service and offering of technical support.

“Developing our dealer networks has also been extremely important to our success, and to establish these requires time, investment, and good relationship.”

In January 2023, Bluprint launched its latest anti-marking product, its Transfer Shells - designed to fit on Koenig & Bauer transfer cylinders for K&B Rapida 105 and 106 presses, the shells are fitted to the transfer cylinder, rather than replace it.

With shells costing £10,000 per pair, they offer a significant saving on having to replace the pair of cylinders in their entirety, according to Bluprint.

The firm launched a similar product for K&B 105 and 106’s delivery cylinders in 2020.

Bluprint employs five, and turns over around £1m annually.