Supera News, for the newspaper market, and Atlas Web, for the heatset market, both feature Thermasphere, a thicker and tougher compressible layer in development for two years. "The Atlas Web's long life on press is probably its biggest selling-point," said Kinyo managing director Geoff Battison. "Where we've run trials, we have increased standard blanket life by about 20%." Five printers were already using Atlas Web, he said, with 14 trials also under way.

A "big installation" of the Supera News was completed just over a month ago, he said. Atlas Web also features a redesigned carcass and a new surface rubber which are solvent-resistant.

The company has backed the launch by sending bouncy "space-hoppers" to potential and existing customers.

Story by Josh Brooks