Finito is a patented product made from specially developed urethane, which is calandered to a PES polyester film. It is available in a range of formats type-matched to “all popular presses”, from Heidelberg GTO 52s to MAN Roland 900 XXLs.

BFS Pressroom Solutions in Reading is also a distributor of the Finito blankets.

PPP managing director Derek Pomeroy said: “It has been described as one of the greatest innovations that has been offered to help press minders in decades.”

Due to the durability of the self-levelling compressible layer, the Italian manufacturer of Finito, Printgraph Waterless, also guarantees the product for six months.

While Finito, like-for-like, is more expensive then traditional underpacking, Printgraph sales manager Luigi Casella said it pays for itself in terms of reduced downtime.

“And it means no more making the [underpacking] ‘sandwiches’ and finding out the gauge,” he added.

“[With] the old style underblanket, you also have to throw away every time you change the blanket. You can even keep Finito on the press if you have a smash.”

Printgraph launched Finito in Italy in 2005 before launching it worldwide at Ipex 2006. It currently has 800 users in Italy alone.

MAN Roland and KBA are currently evaluating the underpacking, with a view to supplying it as standard on their presses.

What innovation would make your print life easier? Email letters.printweek@haymarket.com