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The printing industry often debates which technology, format size, or feeding type is “best.” The truth is that there’s no single winner: It really depends on print volumes and applications. That said, you can’t analyze anything without something to focus on, and we’ve decided to take a look at format size. Specifically, we will explore some key shifts, growth opportunities, and vendor strategies for the B2 market.
Key Industry Trends
The digital printing market has been in flux regarding feeding types and size formats and even shifts from offset to digital.
- Roll-fed digital printing is growing thanks to its very high productivity and lower total cost of ownership (TCO), but roll-fed devices require sufficient volumes and suitable applications. This means cut-sheet devices will remain vital for flexibility.
- B2 is seeing steady adoption and growth, offering more productivity advantages and low TCO. B1 currently has low placements (which is a possible sign that it’s ahead of its time), while A3 is declining because digital print volumes are consolidating to larger production presses.
- We are seeing a continued shift from offset towards large production digital printing due to higher crossover points in favor of digital as TCO decreases while short-run and customization demand grows , as well as improved productivity in digital printing solutions.
Interestingly, many print service providers (PSPs) prefer a format closer to the finished product size (often A4/8.5" × 11"), choosing larger format printers often to boost productivity. However, bigger isn’t always better. While larger formats can increase throughput, exceptions do exist. For example, the Canon varioPRINT iX3200 (B3 cut-sheet inkjet) can outperform some B2 devices for certain applications. When weighing up A3 against B2, it’s not only about the sheet size. PSPs often consider how each format impacts workflow productivity, costs/waste, and the types of jobs they can run efficiently.
B2 Market Outlook
First introduced at drupa 2008, B2 digital printing has seen ups and downs, but overall growth is steady. Year-over-year growth is expected to be around 11% from 2024 to 2029 in the US and in Western Europe. With demand for B2 digital printing on the rise, vendors are refining their portfolios and launching new technologies to capture market share and address evolving customer needs.
- Canon announced its varioPRESS iV7, which is (potentially) the fastest B2 press at 8,700 4/0 impressions per hour. This device could also be future-ready for B1 capabilities as it feeds the long edge first.
- Fujifilm JetPress has strong print quality and features a new coating via Kompac that mimics photo AgX. Besides commercial and publishing applications, the JetPress is also targeting photo and folding carton markets.
- HP Indigo is leading the B2 market with electrophotography and has an advantage vs inkjet in supporting embellishments and a wider substrate range. HP’s 18K and 120K presses also leverage artificial intelligence (AI) for reliability, uptime, and ease-of-use to better compete against inkjet.
- Komori J-Throne was beta installed at One Vision and features LED UV curing, which is ideal for heat-sensitive media. This device leverages the company’s offset market presence to expand Komori’s digital footprint.
- Konica Minolta (KM) is launching its AccurioJet 30000 with UV inks, faster RIP, and improved printheads with faster boards and better temperature management. KM will be offering field upgrades for its KM1e and HD devices. The new 30000 will also offer outdoor durability for display applications and mist-reduction for improved print quality.
- Ricoh Z75 shares printheads and ink technology with the company’s VC80000 roll-fed presses and is the largest format B2 device (along with KM’s offering), which can provide a productivity edge in certain applications.
Choosing the Right Solution
When evaluating a press, print service providers should consider:
- Quality (including substrates): Meet customer expectations and market demands.
- Productivity: Match speed and format size to application type, not just rated specs. Uptime (including being easy to use) feeds into productivity.
- TCO: All costs must be analyzed against print volumes, press/RIP capabilities, and job mix.
- Sustainability: Energy consumption and waste management are increasingly important buying criteria, which also feeds to costs.
Keypoint Intelligence Opinion
The opportunity in finding the “best” print devices lies not in finding a single champion, but in leveraging and integrating the strengths of each one of them to meet evolving market demands. Most importantly, the future of print depends on knowing exactly where it delivers the best value within a broader communication activity.
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