The new machines can print at a maximum speed of 13,000sph and on a maximum printing area of 900x615mm. Ryobi's 920P SRA1 format presses can also handle a wide range of substrates in thicknesses from 0.04mm to 0.4mm.

According to Neil Handforth, sales and marketing director at Apex Digital Graphics, the 920 press series is suitable for printers wanting to take the step up from B2.

He said: "Many printers looking to move up from B2 format tend to focus on B1 as the next logical move, when in reality many only intend to print eight-up A4 work.

"A B1 press for this work is simply overkill. It would mean that the printer is running a larger, more expensive press, using oversize plates, and often oversize substrates."

The Ryobi 920P also features optional LED-UV curing, implemented at the perfecting device and the press delivery to cure both sides of the sheet.

Other optional extras include printing density control systems Ryobi PDS-E, PDS-E Spectro, and PDS-E SpectroDrive, which allow for colour control thanks to measurement of the colour bar on the printed sheet.

Handforth added: "With a maximum sheet size of up to 640 x 920mm on the straight presses, the Ryobi 920 Series can handle eight pages of A4 with trims, but the press only takes the floor space of a B2 machine.

"In recent years many printers have moved up to a B1 format machine, with all of the associated costs, just to print eight-up A4 work. An SRA1 machine could have saved them a fortune."