As well as a larger format, the new press is also based on a traditional tower design, which opens up the potential for a fifth or sixth colour, as well as coating.

Explaining the move, group product director digital printing Mark Sullivan said: "Why B2? We have been directed there by our users and the market. Customers said they wished the press was a little bigger, this is the fulfillment of that wish."

The 16,000sph waterless press handles a maximum sheet size of 788x600mm. It also features an updated version of Presstek's chemistry-free on-press imaging technology, which the firm claimed results in higher quality imaging and faster makereadies, with a job-to-job changeover time of eight minutes.

A five-colour 75DI will be demonstrated at Ipex, and a machine with a coater will be shown at Graph Expo in October. Commercial deliveries are slated for Q4 2010.

Sullivan said that a UV option would probably be added next year.

Pricing depends upon configuration but will be circa $800,000 (£533,000) for a four-colour machine.