BIRKAN Company news

Second plotter put into operation

An additional plotter is now available in our production facility specifically for plotted coating plates. This will relieve the load on our main plotter for cutting rubber blankets.

The new plotter enables particularly fine details in coating plates, as can be seen in the shape of the reindeer plotted for our end-of-year newsletter. Incidentally, our Christmas motif was cut from TyreF Rossa Evo, a quality that is particularly easy to strip.

More information about our coating form service here.

New product range Offset

Now available for download: the new product range "Offset"!

Even more comprehensive than the previous catalogue – more information, more photos, even more colourful: just like our core range of printing blankets, which now includes a good 30 different printing blankets and coating plates (well over 40 if you count all thicknesses).

Quality and expertise across 24 pages.

100 years of BIRKAN: glamourous anniversary celebration with Knight Templars

BIRKAN GmbH celebrated a rare company anniversary last weekend: 100 years ago – on 12 November 1924 – Birkner & Kandlbinder OHG was founded, from which BIRKAN GmbH emerged in 1979. To mark the occasion, Mathias Klein and his daughter Stefanie Klein, company owner and Managing Director, organised an anniversary celebration for employees and their families on 21 September. Local pensioners were also invited.

In glorious autumn weather, the guests, many of whom appeared in traditional Bavarian costume, gathered for an aperitif in front of the marquee and listened to the Tuerkenfeld brass band, which provided the musical accompaniment for the first half of the day. After the guests had enjoyed the savoury and epicurean delights of the food truck, Managing Director Mathias Klein reviewed the highs and lows of the company's history in his speech: From the patented invention of a rubber blanket for printers, through the war and post-war years in bombed-out Munich, to the company's own building in Eching am Ammersee, perseverance and entrepreneurial spirit have characterised the fortunes of BIRKAN GmbH, which is now one of the largest blanket converters in Central Europe. Stefanie Klein, who has been a member of the management team since 2014, then thanked the employees for their commitment and longstanding loyalty and promised to lead the company into an equally successful future.

Several impressive highlights were provided by a group of Knight Templars from nearby Kaltenberg (widely known for its medieval festivals), who created a historical flair with authentic costumes and weapons: show fights, sword training for children and adults and a knightly speech by the Master of the Order, including honours for individual employees, ensured that there was never a dull moment. Not forgetting the election of the Salt Servant and the knighthood for particularly deserving employees... In between, the children were able to let off steam in the bouncy castle (where adults were also spotted) and try out crazy costumes in the photo booth.

To round off this successful day, Mathias and Stefanie Klein planted a young ginkgo tree on the company premises with the participation of all employees, as a symbol of the company's longevity and a bearer of hope for the future.

BIRKAN receives certificate for 60 years of Fogra membership

Fogra is one of the most important research institutes in the print and media industry. It is organised as a non-profit association whose members all support the common goal of promoting printing and media technology in the areas of research, development and application and making the results usable for the printing industry.

BIRKAN has always endeavoured to look for improvements in the interests of its customers, the users of printing blankets, and to pass on technical knowledge. We therefore attach great importance to our Fogra membership. We are proud to have been contributing to progress in printing technology with our commitment to Fogra since 1964 – for 60 years!

(More about Fogra here.)

BIRKAN becomes TyreF distribution partner

Founded in 2007, TyreF has developed into an internationally recognised manufacturer of coating plates for the printing industry within just a few years. The range includes coating plates in various thicknesses and with different application focuses as well as underpacking blankets and special printing blankets. The coating plates developed by TyreF and produced in Arco in northern Italy are adapted to the diverse and specific requirements of the packaging industry and commercial printing.


Not only are raw materials selected according to strict quality criteria used in production, but particular emphasis is placed on sustainability and environmental compatibility – from renewable energies to the ingredients: All products are solvent- and phthalate-free and therefore comply with the guidelines for food packaging. The coating plates are suitable for all types of the latest dispersion and UV coatings as well as speciality coatings. A special surface technology ensures optimum coating transfer without coating build-up.

“The decision to take on the future sales partnership in the DACH region was an easy one for us, as we see a great deal of agreement with TyreF in all key areas,” says Managing Director Josef Wittenberger. “Both our focus is clearly on product quality, which enables us to help our customers optimise their printing processes. We were also impressed by TyreF's innovative strength and willingness to develop new products with us, as well as their ecological approach to production.” Both companies are looking forward to their partnership with great confidence.

The TyreF range: Rossa Evo / Rossa Evo HS / Aqua Plus PB 1.95 / Aqua Plus FB 1.95