BIRKAN: Printing blankets and plates BIRKAN GmbH is one of Germany’s oldest graphic arts distributors. The company was established in 1924 as Drucktuch-Vertrieb Birkner & Kandlbinder OHG with its own patent for the Triumph rubber blanket – a revolutionary invention at the time. BIRKAN continues to enjoy great success with offset rubber blankets, which are converted at its in-house production facility – one of the biggest and most modern anywhere in Europe – and exported to more than 100 countries worldwide. Direct laser engraving – a relatively new business segment – is dedicated to the manufacture of elastomer plates for suppliers of flexible packaging, labels, cups and varnishes. Direct laser engraving is gentle on the environment because no solvents are required – from the software to the XL fibre laser, BIRKAN uses only the very latest technology. Today, BIRKAN offers a full range of plates to its customers – from polymer to elastomer – as well as prepress and repro services.