The Runcorn-based company has been supplying bespoke finishing equipment since 1990 when managing director Ian Boulton designed the first Z-card machine.

Previously, customers were encouraged to come to Finishing Solutions for specific pieces of finishing equipment, such as folders, tippers and feeders, but this latest development will see the company designing, building and even patenting any machine that its customers can think of.

Boulton said: "There are printers out there with a product, but no machine. We can design the machine, build it and we will even help patent it.

"A lot of people are scared off by the patent process, they think it will be expensive. But we can go through our agents and pen a rough patent for them, we can make the whole process easier for them."

He added that recently the company had designed and patented a machine that enabled leaflets to be inserted into a food sleeve.

The company has specialised in products based around a folded leaflet and combining leaflets with a carton, a food sleeve and a wallet, but Boulton added that Finishing Solutions was now willing to expand its services.

He said: "It will be request led, but we are branching out into other areas. These will be specifically in the packaging and print arena, but if somebody has an idea we would be interested to look at it."