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To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of its death have been greatly exaggerated. Many argue the small-format sheetfed press, under attack by the continued rise of digital and operating in a market blighted by over-capacity and low margins, is becoming a rapidly extinct beast.

B3 press manufacturers and distributors, however, would disagree. They claim ever more automated and flexible press configurations, along with the better quality litho retains over digital, mean the B3 market is very much alive.

"It is a difficult market, but there are a good number of B3 printers out there who are very busy," says Apex Digital Graphics sales and marketing director Neil Handforth. "They are opting for ever more complex press configurations, with four and five colours plus UV-spot coating units and sealers becoming the norm."

Reversing trend?
There is even evidence to suggest that some small-format digital printers are actually moving back into litho, claims Len Taylor, southern area sales manager at Manroland GB. "I know digital is continually improving but when it comes to the sheer range of substrates and variety of special colours it can work with, litho wins hands down," he says. "Our Roland 50 press can print on substrates up to 0.8mm thick, for instance. It’s like a baby carton press."

Costs and waste associated with litho are diminishing all the time, says Taylor, as inline processes such as die-cutting become more prevalent. "We are currently beta-testing a couple of inline options for the Roland 50 press with a view to Drupa 2012," he adds.

For many printers looking to invest in a new B3 press, raising the necessary finance remains the biggest obstacle. Printers should expect manufacturers and distributors to facilitate contact with leading finance providers and help plan out repayments. In addition, most will accept a printer to trade in a used press as part of any transaction.

"It’s important we assist printers in becoming more cost-effective businesses," says Handforth. "Quite often, a printer will trade in a couple of one- or two-colour presses for a single four- or five-colour press, and put all of their work through one machine on longer shifts. If it helps them to raise the capital necessary for a new press, everyone wins."

Whatever the format or configuration of the press, those who have been keen to read the small-format sheetfed press market its last rites appear premature. There’s plenty of life left in the sector yet.

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WHAT'S NEW IN... SMALL-FORMAT SHEETFED PRESSES
• Leicester-based Printshop Direct says it has improved its quality and turnaround times since buying the UK’s first Hans Gronhi GH525 B3 press earlier this year.
• Heidelberg held an event at its Tamworth facility during the summer to promote the advantages of litho over digital. Using equipment such as the B3 Anicolor press, demonstrations and present-ations, the firm said it showed the "true cost of print" to visitors
• In July, Kent-based Urantia Press bought its second Ryobi two-colour B3 press to cope with a "significant" rise in demand for stationery. The purchase of the Ryobi 522GE press was the commercial printer’s third two-colour machine, joining a Ryobi 522HE and a Heidelberg PrintMaster
• Sense Creative, meanwhile, bought the Ryobi 525GE press off the Apex Digital Graphics stand at Ipex in May. The £1.2m company chose the £270,000 machine for its ability to better handle heavier stocks