New NAPCO Research B2-Format Inkjet Study: 25% of Commercial Printers Planning Investment

B2 Inkjet has long held promise as a production inkjet press. Also referred to as a half-size press, the 29˝ B2 press format is a popular press format for commercial print providers. With short-run capabilities and the ability to personalize output with digital functionality, the B2 format is an attractive investment option for commercial printers.

With B2 press offerings from Fujifilm, Konica Minolta, Komori, Ricoh, and others now in-market, NAPCO Research developed a comprehensive research assessment of the B2 inkjet landscape. A survey was fielded to commercial printers and more than 250 survey responses were collected from current and future B2 inkjet press owners, along with 10 in-depth telephone interviews, resulting in rich insight.

The research addresses:

• Adoption and planned adoption of B2-format equipment
• Adopter profile
• Application use
• Run lengths and volumes
• Substrate use
• Expected equipment acquisition costs
• Optimal service and supplies delivery models
• Expected ROI period
• Current and future B2 inkjet presses and their capabilities
• How B2 users have improved their business by implementing B2

Full research results are available to subscribers of the study, but key findings from the research are highlighted below. Contact research@napco.com for study subscription details.

Twenty-Five Percent of Commercial Printers Plan to Invest in B2 Format in Next Two Years

Click to Enlarge

Five percent of respondents currently own a B2-format inkjet press, with ownership distributed among companies from small (10 to 19 employees) to medium (20 to 49) to large (50+).

Interest in the B2 inkjet presses is high: 25 percent of respondents say they have plans to invest in the next two years. With 24,000 total commercial service providers in the U.S., this means that roughly 6,000 printers are considering an investment in B2 inkjet over the next two years.

Lower Operating Costs Primary Driver of Investment

Why are print service providers investing in B2 inkjet? The primary driver is lower operating costs compared to offset for short-run work, with 63% of service providers that are evaluating B2 inkjet citing it as a motivator for investment.

Click to Enlarge

Before B2 digital presses, the maximum sheet size for most cut-sheet digital presses was typically limited to A3+ (13x19'˝) for two-up applications. The larger B2 press size allows for higher productivity because it support multi-up impositions, which enable applications such as wraparound book covers, multi-panel brochures, point-of-purchase signage, pocket folders, photobooks, and folding cartons.

Respondents also cite compatibility with common commercial substrates and larger sheets size than other digital sheetfed options as motivators driving investment.

Conclusion: B2 Inkjet Adoption Poised to Grow

As evidence by the 25 percent of commercial printer respondents that plan to invest in a B2 inkjet press in the next two years, this technology is poised for more wide-spread adoption thanks to its larger press size, productivity benefits, and ability to handle many types of short-run jobs.

Commercial printers would be well-served in evaluating the technology as an option that can enhance productivity and provide flexibility in handling job types of varying sizes. Technology manufacturers must ensure they have a clear understanding of market needs and wants as they relate to B2 inkjet presses and provide high levels of support in enabling an informed buying decision.

NAPCO Research has recently completed a comprehensive market study of B2 production inkjet technology. The study will help service providers understand market dynamics and make an informed buying decision and will inform technology providers as to target buyers, market needs and wants, adoption intentions, substrate usage, application trends and monthly volume impressions. Full study findings are available at a reduced rate for a limited time. Contact research@napco.com for additional details.

Join the NAPCO Print Industry Research Panel and gain exclusive access to unpublished data and reports. Participation requires completing a 3-5 minute web-based survey approximately once a month. Follow this link to join our business panel: research.net/r/PrintPanel