Is Digital B2 for You?

2 Minute, 15 Second Read

The B2 size isn’t unfamiliar to most commercial printers accustomed to running offset equipment. The 29-inch, “half-size” press is, or at least was, common in many shops of various sizes, but until recent years, digital inkjet or toner-based presses were limited to the smaller A3 size range, thus limiting the usefulness of the platform.

The popularity of digital B2 printing continues to rise across the market; a significant portion of the work a commercial printer is producing on offset equipment can now be shifted to a digital press. This makes digital benefits more attractive. That said, one roadblock that was still holding back many printers from adopting digital production was the lack of corresponding B2 finishing options for these new presses.

If the finishing efficiencies are not in sync with the printing efficiencies, a problem exists!

That has now changed with new high-speed, digital finishing options in the B2 format, which allows upgrades to speed for improved productivity across the entire operation.

That said, there are a few major points to consider as to why digital B2 equipment is gaining in popularity so quickly. Here are just a few of the applications that can be easily shifted from offset to digital with these new options:

• Books, brochures, and catalogs
• Oversized direct mail pieces
• Posters and calendars
• Pocket folders
• On-demand packaging
• Custom shaped cards and postcards
• Signage and floor graphics
• Prototyping and sample production

When digital B2 finishing is added to the mix, the application possibilities grow even further.

But Is It Right for You?

The question remains: Is investing in B2 equipment right for your shop? Here are a few things to consider before answering that question:

1. How important is flexibility with run lengths and turn times? If your shop is still producing long-run jobs in a fair amount of time, then B2 might not be the ideal investment for you. However, if your run lengths are shrinking alongside your turnaround times, then digital B2 inkjet could be the solution you need to keep productivity high and costs low.
2. How important is personalization? Is your shop still focusing on more traditional print jobs or are you seeing an increase in requests for more personalized or targeted content? One of digital’s strongest benefits is the ability to print a run of hundreds, or hundreds of jobs of one, with no difference to speed or productivity in either case. And, with the addition of digital finishing to match the press size and speed, jobs can get even more individual. But it is up to you to decide if that is something your shop can benefit from or not.
3. How important is automation? One of the ways many shops are trying to reduce costs is by reducing touch points in the life of a job. And to do that, automation has become a much bigger consideration than ever before. Digital B2 presses provide a lot more options for automated workflows versus traditional offset B2 presses. So, if automation is something you’re thinking about, this is a platform worth considering.
4. How important are your ancillary services? Do you offer services such as data management or high-end finishing? Are you looking to expand into new vertical markets? All of these will impact how useful a digital B2 platform will be for your shop.

While offset continues to excel in what it does, digital can be far more versatile. Shops that simply need to increase capacity for the current operations might not see a high value in adding digital to the mix, but those looking to expand in other directions might find digital B2 inkjet presses to be an invaluable tool in opening up those new spaces profitably.

Adding digital B2 inkjet presses and finishing equipment can be a fantastic investment for a shop looking to evolve and grow in new directions. Especially in the unprecedented times we live in, the added flexibility and lower costs can make all the difference.

Duplo has made a significant investment in the B2 finishing solutions market. This investment has allowed for the successful pairing of the efficiencies of digital B2 printing to the needed efficiencies of B2 finishing. Hand in hand, they provide the complete B2 digital print and finish solution.

B2 finishing solutions include:

• Platen Die-Cutter
• Digital Die-Cutter
• Digital Spot/Raised UV Coating
• Foil, High Speed Automated Booklet-Maker
• Slitter/Cutter/Creaser with Perf and Fold capabilities