For a long time, the B2-format sheetfed digital press has represented a Holy Grail for press manufacturers; something elusive that must be quested after. In the 1990s, Indigo (in its pre-HP days) regularly brought a mock-up of a future B2-format press to trade shows, but never managed to develop an imaging engine for it and so the mock-up was all that there was.

At Ipex in May, however, a UK audience will get to see for the first time true B2-format sheetfed digital presses from both Dainippon Screen and Fujifilm. These two machines were previewed at Drupa two years ago and they are the first true sheetfed digital colour production presses that use inkjet technology.

Perhaps surprisingly, these two presses take different approaches to achieving the B2 format. The Fujifilm JetPress 720 is a true 720mm-wide press like a B2-format offset press. The Dainippon Screen TruePress JetSX, however, takes the long dimension down the sheet so although it can print to 720mm, it has a maximum paper width of 530mm. 

The Fuji press has been constructed around an existing Ryobi offset press chassis for the paper transport, whereas the Dainippon Screen press is a completely new design. When both of these presses were previewed two years ago they were both operating as single-sided presses that would require the paper to be printed twice to allow for duplex printing. That said, Dainippon Screen has announced that the TruePress JetSX will have an automatic duplex facility, although at this time no details have been made available as to how.

Market worries
I have been fascinated by this move to the B2 format in the digital arena and also by the fact that none of the established sheetfed digital press suppliers have decided to enter this market. This started me thinking about the rationale for introducing a press for this format.

Many of the existing digital press suppliers I have discussed this with feel there is no compelling reason for a digital B2-format press. However, Fujifilm and Dainippon Screen tell me there has been major interest from printers for this format.

If this is true, it would be interesting to know whether this demand is coming from offset printers who have yet to move into digital printing, or from existing digital press users needing more format options.

Fujifilm says its press is suitable for complex work where larger forms of printing require complex folding. They also tell me it is where highly accurate back-to-front registration is critical. The Fujifilm press is really not suited to variable data printing as it would require two passes and if a sheet is damaged on the second impression, how do you recover from this?

Offset technology, particularly where the same inks and substrates are used from job to job, is increasingly sophisticated for rapid turnaround between jobs. If the only saving with a B2 sheetfed digital press is in the makeready, and then your cost for each print is higher, and your press purchase cost is higher, then how do you make the cost justification for such a press? 

Fujifilm states that its target market against B3-format digital and offset presses is from 200 to 2,000 impressions. For Dainippon Screen the situation is slightly different in that they can go after the pure variable data digital print market, but one then has to ask is 90 pages a minute fast enough?

I am not convinced there is a large enough market to differentiate the new B2 format sheetfed digital presses from the existing B3 format presses or from direct imaging and conventional offset presses. I don't think B2 digital presses can be successful unless they are closer to matching offset press speeds and running costs. I hope I am wrong because it is good to see major companies endeavouring to change the market. I shall watch the outcome of this market after Ipex with great interest, but my belief at this time is that this technology in its current implementations has arrived too late to be successful.

Andrew Tribute is a journalist and consultant in digital pre-press and pre-media marketing and technology. Visit www.attributes.co.uk