In previous editions of this series I wrote about the main applications production inkjet is being used for, focusing mostly on roll-fed inkjet – the dominant production method so far. This is different for cutsheet inkjet, which is far more versatile and is used across a number of applications. This is part of the very nature of the devices with cutsheet paper being easy to exchange and available in a wide variety of grades. Cutsheet devices generally have a lower paper waste when changing papers or starting up as well. On the other hand, cutsheet presses tend to be slower and inline finishing is more difficult to implement, at least for the larger formats. Accordingly, we see many roll-fed installations with a narrow application focus while cutsheet is often addressing multiple markets.
Before going into detail a few remarks have to be made on what is included in the article and what is not. The myriad of office inkjet printers is excluded and so is large format printing. Specialty and decorative printing is not included either, however packaging print is, as there is quite some overlap into commercial print. Not to expand this article too much I exclude here the lower end of cutsheet production (MCS, Kyocera and RISO), which will be covered at a later date.
The cutsheet inkjet can be broadly categorized by the paper sizes used. Typically, the ISO standardized sizes of B3, B2 and B1 are referred to, although formats of individual presses might differ somewhat. This might be important when trying to squeeze additional images on a sheet, but broadly speaking devices in the three size classes are in the same competitive space.
Generally it can be observed that the number of installations is connected to the size classes: the smaller the format the more installations are around. Canon stated that by the end of 2019 they had 250 VarioPrint i200/300 installations worldwide with more than 100 in Europe by now. Almost all are the i300 model. When Canon launched the device in 2015 the main target markets were transaction and direct mail. However, with the upgrades through ColorGrip and MX-inks (in the US marketed as “plus” models) the application range broadened considerably. Today about a quarter of all installs are in commercial print and similar types of printers according to Canon Europe. The rest is split equally between transaction/DM and books/manuals. Average volumes of 2.5 million A4 pages a month are surpassing expectations and testify the good use printers are making of these devices. To enlarge the application space even further, Canon launched the iX-Series in April with improved resolution and paper range. The first iX already went to Dutch printer Kampert-Nauta in May, not coincidentally a commercial/online printer.
The other contender in the high-end B3 market is Xerox. The Brenva HD launched at drupa 2016 has been replaced by the Baltoro platform last year. According to Xerox the devices have been quite successful in Europe specifically in in-plants, education, transactional marketing and government. The 2019 launched Baltoro is upping the stakes and increasing the application range using a higher imaging resolution and wider paper range, coupled with Integrated automation – AI and inline color management to achieve and maintain image quality. Accordingly, the Baltoro should have more appeal to commercial printers and other sites with a strong focus on image quality. As a platform the Baltoro is upgradeable with Xerox promising more options and upgrades to come.
The demand for B2 inkjet presses is dominated by commercial printers, owing to the excellent quality achieved by these presses. In fact, the quality of these presses was always targeted at commercial printers. At this format an overlap into packaging print starts as well as some are partially or full time used for packaging print. Fujifilm was the first company to sell high-end production cutsheet presses with the JetPress 720 (JPress in the US) in 2012. In the meantime, all of the first-generation devices have been replaced by the second generation 720S and the recently launched third generation: the JetPress 750S. The 750S is offering a bigger sheet and higher speeds. Today almost all sales are 750S. Currently there are more than 40 presses installed in Europe with several more in limbo due to the Covid crisis. Several users already opted for multiple devices with Straub Druck in Germany already owning 3 presses. Close to two thirds of all users are in commercial print, but several installation fall into dedicated applications as book, photo, folders, posters and other specialty print. Even some pure packaging printer use the JetPress equipped for heavier weights. Fujifilm's focus is on high value prints rather than highest volumes although some users, especially in book printing, run the press 3 shifts, 6 days a week.
Komori joined the B2 inkjet market in 2016 with the IS-29, a UV inkjet press co-developed with Konica Minolta. Currently the company has about 10 installations in Europe with more installations planned, but on hold due to the Covid crisis. Again, the majority of users are commercial printers, complemented by online printers, mailing house and also POS printers. One IS-29 made it into a packaging printer as well. The UV ink is allowing for a huge substrate latitude, including structured and non-absorbent substrates, and a wide range in paper weights - while maintaining the full print speed. Typically, users are printing 200k to a million sheets a month as high value print is the target. Komori is working on a second option in cutsheet inkjet: the B1 size NS-40 based on Landa imaging technology. Unfortunately, Covid wrecked all plans for 2020. The press was slated for being shown at drupa with a first installation in Europe later this year.
Konica Minolta is selling the same base press as the IS-29 as AccurioJet KM-1. There are more than 10 installations in the European market already, but again activities slowed a lot due to the Covid crisis. Commercial printers play a big role again, but online, book and specialty printers can be found as well. Especially book printer Totem in Poland has seen a lot of success with volumes growing 180% in 2019 over 2018, leading to the decision to install a second device. All other sites owning the press in 2018 did see good growth in 2019 as well. As with the Komori version the UV inkjet technology is opening up packaging print opportunities not only for printers trying to move into packaging, but also a first pure packaging printer adopted the KM-1. The ability to print on special substrates supports printers as well in offering high value products that set them apart. In June Konica Minolta announced the AccurioJet KM-1e, as an improved version and upgrade option to the existing devices. The “e” stands for Evolution and brings several improvements like support for transparent/metallic/colored media, improved paper stability for lower weights and lower maintenance times.
Although with a format slightly smaller than B2 the Delphax Elan would fall into the B2 category, but the press is only sold in North America so far.
Cutsheet inkjet is well entrenched in the B1 format as well now, although most offerings target packaging print. However even with presses designed for packaging there is overlap into POS/POP or poster markets.
Landa is the only player active in both markets so far: commercial and packaging print. In both areas the installed base is growing and despite a slowdown due to Covid crisis the company expects to have 10 installations in Europe by the end of 2020 – about equally split between the single sided S10 and the double sided S10P. The focus of the S10 has been folding carton so far, enabled by a maximum substrate thickness of 800µ. The S10P is a bit more limited in the maximum substrate weight, but offers two-sided print. The focus is on commercial print, although interestingly three out the first four customers in Europe are online printers. Although the installations were quite recent most presses run multi-shift already and Landa reports growing volumes even through the times of the Corvid crisis.
The joint venture of Koenig & Bauer and Durst has several B1 inkjet models as well, although all of them target packaging markets. The SPC 130, originally developed by Durst, has already 4 presses in operation, with Schumacher in Germany having installed the second line already. The CorruJet is at the first customers sites, successfully ending the beta tests. Both target the corrugated market but can be used for display print as well. A third device, the VariJet 106, is targeting folding carton and should have been shown running at drupa, but due to the Covid crisis the launch will be somewhat delayed. As the joint venture has been founded quite recently most activity has been in Europe so far, but other geographies will be addressed soon.
There are more presses targeting the corrugated market, not all are having installations yet however. EFI with the B1 sized Nozomi has about 30 devices installed worldwide and uses UV inkjet. Some of its installations are printing POS materials as well. Another company focusing on corrugated with cutsheet inkjet is HP with the PageWide C500. The press was released in 2018 and is now in use at 9 converters in the US and Europe. According to HP the PageWide C500 solution is reaching production volume maturity level. Focus is on corrugated print with water-based inks.
While more players are joining the market a first major player existed the market already. Heidelberg announced that it will discontinue the B1 Primefire 106 in 2020 to cut down on development costs.
Even with drupa 2020 postponed to 2021 there have been more launches in cutsheet inkjet this year and additional might follow. The Covid crisis will make it more complicated to bring them to the market as travel is restricted and users are reluctant to invest. This applies to all the models on sale mentioned above as well. While this will dent the sales and uptake of cutsheet inkjet I have no doubt that sales will be on the rise again. Cutsheet inkjet is offering the flexibility many printers need. With many suppliers, ink technologies, sizes and price points to choose from many different demands can be addressed. Upgrades and new launches will only help to increase the choice.
