Quick Printing is the resource for the Commercial printing, visual and graphic arts industries. Since 1977, Quick Printing has focused on improving efficiency and increasing sales and profits in the print shop. Industry experts share their ideas and
Issue link: https://quickprinting.epubxp.com/i/455911
12 Quick Printing | February 2015 MyPRINTResource.com Demand continues to grow for 'B2' format digital sheet- and web-fed presses, as 75 percent of users report that owning the technology has expanded their customer bases. By Mark Vruno R eaders familiar with conventional offset print parlance know that a "B2" size sheet (19.7 x 27.8 inches) is half the dimension of a 27.8 x 39.4 inch "B1" size sheet used on 40-inch sheetfed-offset presses. Hence, the "half-size" descriptor often is used to classify these printing machines. The maximum sheet size for most cut-sheet digital presses was 13x19 inches—until seven years ago, when Fuji Xerox introduced the Jet Press 720, a sheetfed inkjet press in the B2 offset format. Four years later, HP shook up the printing world with its nearly 21-inch-wide Indigo 10000 model featuring a maximum sheet size of 20.9 x 29.5 inches: quite large for a digital sheetfed device. The 29-inch buzz was loud and clear leading up to drupa 2012, and B2 digital has, indeed, proven to be a game-changing technology for many com- mercial print frms. Other OEMs, including Canon/Océ, Dainippon Screen, Delphax Technologies, MGI Digital Graphic Technology, and Ryobi MHI, have stepped up to the half-size plate in the past 34 months. Already, more than 140 B2 digital installations are in place worldwide, according to 2014 re- search conducted by InfoTrends. While that may seem like a small number, "it actually represents a great achieve- ment in only about two years by just a few suppliers," the report said, adding this bottom-line note: "The B2 color digital presses commonly cost $1 million or more, so (all together) those placements amounted to well over $100 million in sales." In its study, InfoTrends surveyed 200 printing compa- nies not owning a B2 digital color press and found that market awareness is still low. Most of the market is still not familiar with the choices that are available; therefore, only 17 percent of all responding companies are consider- ing investing in B2 digital. Many manufacturers tout the advantages of B2 devic- es, such as Fujiflm's aforementioned J Press models. "The 720S [sheetfed] and 720F [for folding cartons] are 19-inch Buzz: Is 'Half-size' Digital Width for You? establishing a new product category in the market," said Ste- phen Sanker, global marketing group director for Fujiflm production inkjet systems. "This new platform enables Fujiflm to deliver game-changing image quality. Fujiflm's platform features developments to ensure end users have the ability to maintain and operate at optimum levels, Sanker noted. "The 720S not only enables them to increase production, but also realize fnancial benefts through reducing waste and optimizing throughput for custom and variable-data output in a B2/half-size sheet- fed digital printing press," he added. "The 720S features elements in the area of print head design; utilization of a new scan, read, and pull methodology for integrity of two-sided variable print jobs; and enhancements in work- fow and frmware. These elements help make the 720S a leader in image quality." Fujiflm contends that because of its design, format, and orientation, the 720S integrates well into commercial printing operations. "Its surface strength and sheet char- acteristics have the same durability as an offset sheet, which makes the utilization of existing bindery operations second nature," Sanker explained. "Our vision was to develop a four color, B2/half-size format digital press that would raise the bar in terms of image quality and sheet characteristics—capabilities that could be fully integrated into a commercial operation." Smaller and Larger Sheets With an 18x25.3-inch maximum sheet size, the full-color elan 500 from Delphax Technologies is almost 'half-size,' running at up to 500 impressions per minute. Last fall, Delphax sold its frst elan 500 to direct mail frm Com- puMail Inc. of Concord, CA. The elan 500 is a produc- tion-class sheetfed system offering 1600-dpi print quality. The sale follows a beta test by CompuMail that included production of more than 15 million letter-sized images, 24-hour client turnaround, and two to three shifts per day during peak production. The elan is powered by Memjet technology. Every stationary print head has 70,400 jets that fre up to 700 million drops of ink per second. elan's versatility allows for printing on a range of coated and uncoated substrates, in- cluding 60 gsm to 350 gsm. A patent-pending inline prim- er option can expand the substrate range even further.