Is B2 digital killing B2 offset press gross sales? When the primary B2 format digital presses have been introduced at Drupa 2008 and 2012, their makers predicted that they’d be purchased to enrich B2 offset litho presses, in order that they shared use of current ending strains.
That’s been true up to a degree, though B2 litho presses are now not the large sellers they as soon as have been, squeezed from beneath by SRA3 and now B2 digital, whereas the pressmakers have compelling arguments to maneuver to bigger codecs for extra effectivity.
As an example Murray Lock, joint MD at RMGT importer M Companions, says that the RMGT 920, an SRA1-format litho press, has captured a number of what would beforehand have been B2 litho gross sales (a brand new 970 might be introduced at Drupa). In contrast with B1, he says, the RMGT SRA1 is extra compact and makes use of much less electrical energy. “We discover that 86% of B1 printers solely want SRA1,” he says. “We do nonetheless promote B2 too, nevertheless it’s a harder promote in contrast with SRA1.”
Erwin Busselot, enterprise improvements and options director at Ricoh Europe, says: “Most B2 digital gross sales are seen as a car to maneuver from offset to digital. It’s now occurring quicker than we anticipated”. Alternatively he says, a value struggle in B1 offset gross sales has led to overcapacity, which he thinks might clarify the relative failure of B1 digital to seize a lot of a market thus far.
Ricoh has now launched the Professional Z75 ‘Dragon’, a B2 inkjet press, as a step up from its SRA3 toner vary. “We internally mentioned B1 vs B2 vs B3 and determined B2 was one of the best alternative,” says Busselot. First revealed in 2019 however solely formally launched late final yr, the Professional Z75 is a CMYK aqueous inkjet press with a high velocity of 4,500sph. In contrast to the rival Fujifilm Jet Press 7xx collection it may possibly mechanically duplex and it has copier-style a number of feed trays.
Fujifilm Jet Press: the primary B2 sheetfed inkjet was launched in 2008
Fujifilm, whose 2008 announcement of the Jet Press 720 was the primary B2 sheetfed inkjet, has been steadily refining the design through the years. The 2018 750S was quicker (3,600sph) because of a brand new IR drier, whereas the 2022 750HS launched a barely bigger sheet measurement (750x662mm) for 6-up A4.
Nevertheless, late final yr Fujifilm additionally introduced what might grow to be one of the vital attention-grabbing digital newcomers at Drupa, the primary sheetfed B2 toner press, known as Revoria GC12500. Though Xeikon launched 500mm-plus B2-portrait net toner presses in 1997, solely Fujifilm has managed a 750mm panorama configuration thus far, with a 660mm size for 6-up A4s. The GC12500 will print 2,500sph CMYK on regular offset and copier shares, with not one of the inkjet points about drying or particular papers.
Fujifilm Europe’s product supervisor for digital press techniques, Mark Stephenson, factors out that it has twin feed trays on-line, and it’ll print duplex, not like the Jet Press. “It’s a less complicated press to function, corresponding to when getting paper out and in.” He says that operations and high quality are the identical because the long-SRA3 Revoria PC1120 (although with out the 2 additional colors), although there may be vital new donor and developer tech, with pre-heating and two-stage fusing to realize a good picture throughout the width. Pricing hasn’t been introduced however is prone to be considerably lower than a B2 inkjet or an HP Indigo.
Though Fujifilm was the primary into the sheetfed digital B2 market, it has been HP Indigo that has been the largest B2 vendor because it introduced its ‘wide-format’ (762mm) vary of Indigo sheet- and web-fed liquid toner presses at Drupa 2012. Installations worldwide since then are 1,300-plus for the sheetfed configurations alone, whereas rival B2 presses solely quantity at greatest a couple of a whole lot every – Fujifilm says it has 300 Jet Presses working worldwide.
The HP Indigo 120k is a brand new flagship 4/5 color sheet-fed duplex press printing as much as 6,000sph. This replaces the 100K launched in 2022 with the identical high velocity however much more automation. Additionally new is the 18K, a 4/5/6/7 color B2 workhorse all-rounder with a extra pedestrian 3,450sph, however a lot of automation together with new AI assist.
Ricoh Dragon: B2 assessed because the “greatest alternative”
The 120K and 18K will use the acquainted Indigo configuration of a multi-pass press with print models organized round a big frequent blanket cylinder. However HP has a quicker system within the wings, known as LEPx. This has been used first on a narrow-web (340mm) label press known as V12, with six two-colour print models inline alongside a switch belt. It was introduced final yr and can ship at Drupa. The velocity is a formidable 120m/minute (when printing six colors – half that for seven to 12), which is within the inkjet league. Nevertheless, the press is lengthy and pricing is unknown, although HP claims it should have “the incomes energy of a number of flexo presses”.
Sooner or later, HP plans to introduce LEPx for wider versatile packaging webs, and in the end for sheetfed industrial fashions; a calculator suggests 14,000 B2 sph may be attainable.
Konica Minolta is persevering with its distinctive UV-cured B2 inkjet tech, first seen with the KM-1 at Drupa 2012, and improved because the AccurioJet KM-1e in 2020. At this yr’s Drupa it’s introducing AccurioJet 60000, which is able to output 6,000sph, double the velocity of the KM-1e. No different particulars have been introduced thus far.
The KM-1 was developed as a three way partnership with Komori, which additionally bought it itself because the Impremia IS29, although neither noticed vital take-up within the UK, apparently because of ink prices. At a pre-Drupa press convention Konica Minolta pressured that the 60000 doesn’t substitute the KM-1e, however that Komori has not been concerned in its growth and won’t be promoting it. This press was solely introduced three weeks earlier than the joint Fujifilm-Konica Minolta strategic growth alliance was revealed, which can even have been an element.
Digital B1 has had a reasonably fitful begin, and solely small numbers have reached precise customers for carton and industrial work (digital corrugated is a distinct, comparatively profitable market). One of the vital spectacular sights at Drupa 2016 was Heidelberg’s huge Primefire 106, a B1 carton press mixing Fujifilm/Dimatix’s inkjet know-how with the Speedmaster parts. Nevertheless, solely a handful have been delivered earlier than Heidelberg did one in all its periodic turnrounds on digital technique, and dropped the Primefire and VLF analogue presses. It continued with its rebadged SRA3 Ricoh toner presses.
Primefire clients favored them, however are reportedly now having to retire them as a result of they’ll’t purchase the ink. Now Heidelberg is reportedly mulling getting again into digital once more, although outgoing CEO Dr Ludwin Monz denied an curiosity within the B2 Ricoh Professional Z75.
Koenig & Bauer and Landa are the present most important commonplace bearers for B1 digital. Koenig & Bauer’s 5,500sph VariJet 106 carton press is a three way partnership with Durst, and mixes the previous’s Rapida press experience with the latter’s inkjet knowhow. VariJet is a modular design and may incorporate litho and flexo models inline with the inkjets. The configuration to be proven at Drupa can have seven inkjet colors plus three flexo models so as to add embellishment – gold, silver and white. Thus far two VariJets have been delivered, and a 3rd is imminent.
Agfa is now becoming a member of them with its 11,000sph B1 Speedset 1060 Orca press, introduced late final yr with Delta Group later signing the primary order. It has been developed by the previous Inca Digital, which Agfa purchased from Display in 2022 and renamed Agfa Cambridge.
Orca is an aqueous ink CMYK printer with primer and two varnishing bars, appropriate for paper, cartonboard and light-weight corrugated. Agfa makes the ink and says it’s food-safe.
The 25m-long system is modular, with a Mabeg feeder and stacker, and Natgraph scorching air dryer.
Landa S10 55 bought thus far; S11 to be proven at Drupa
Benny Landa’s genius for publicity means most individuals will concentrate on his Nanography digital press know-how. That is basically offset inkjet, capable of print very shiny colors on nearly any substrate, from newsprint to plastics. Landa has been delivering regular numbers of the S10 simplex and S10P perfecting sheetfed B1 presses for the reason that final Drupa – LDP says there at the moment are 55 gross sales worldwide, half coming prior to now yr. A fifth have been second presses. Benny Landa says capability is being ramped as much as 100 presses per yr.
This Drupa will see the introduction of quicker S11/S11P sheetfed presses. Pace is up from 6,500 B1 sph to 11,200 – the final word goal is 13,000sph – with as much as seven colors. The principle enchancment is an IR drier for the switch belt, says Landa, nevertheless it’s additionally “smarter” because of new AI.
Konica Minolta’s larger-format pursuits are targeting its affiliate MGI, whose large 20tonne, €3m B1 AlphaJet will type the centrepiece of its Drupa stand. Alphajet is a 4,500sph four- or six-colour aqueous inkjet printer mixed with inline high-build UV-cured inkjet varnishing, with huge and distinctive horseshoe formed linear motor sheet transport system. Thus far the one industrial sale has been to ISRA in France, however KM hinted at a Drupa announcement.
To complete, with ending, one puzzle is that there isn’t a lot being developed particularly for short-run on- demand B2 digital, not like what occurred for SRA3. For industrial print it appears the idea is that you just’ll simply lower B2 in half and feed it right into a booklet maker or multi-finisher. The exception is small carton work and posters the place the variety of digital pleasant merchandise are rising and there might be bulletins at Drupa. We’ll return to that matter in one other situation.
