The first sheetfed offset press I ever purchased was in 1976, and it was a used 1-color Harris 29. For me, the maximum sheet size, 23 x 29 in., was perfect for a new printing business. I could print six US letter-sized pages, two trifolds (2 up), pocket folders, an assortment of postcards… I built a great business by ganging sell sheets, postcards, etc., so the total sheet margin was great! Eventually it became time to replace it as the work increased, and when I had to use a machine shop to manufacture replacement parts more times than practical. So it was time to go shopping for a press. I started by looking at B1 28 x 40 in. presses thinking that getting that bigger sheet size would open many other print opportunities.

Around that time, Heidelberg introduced their “half size” B2 SM74. Considering the price difference and the reduced operator manning requirements, I found it very tempting. My only hesitancy was that I couldn’t get six letter-sized pages up since the sheet size was 20 x 28 in., and for that I would need a B1 sheet size. So it became a choice of flexibility vs. cost, so I wound up going with the lower cost SM74, I ultimately adapted, although occasionally missing the 23 x 29 in. size. Enter the newer the B2+ presses which aren’t based on the ISO216 standard for paper sizes, and therefore paper sizes can vary among press manufacturers. Although they seem to be addressing my early dilemma with a page size of approximately 23 x 29 in. Where were they in 1979?

The B1 size press has long been the “go to” press as a result of its larger print area which was also great for folding carton printing as well, and it can also run smaller paper sizes when necessary. Furthermore, with today’s digitalization of offset presses and the availability of both digital (EP) and inkjet presses, the manning requirements are less of an issue. While that makes the decision between B1 and B2 or B2+, or the newer B2 XL in the current form of the Fujifilm Revoria Press GC12500, a bit easier, it still comes down to flexibility versus cost.