Print Efficiently takes place in Hemel Hempstead for six days across two weeks in October. Joint host Apex Digital Graphics suggests there is a B3 offset revival underway.  

Look out digital printers, B3 offset is on its way back! This is the crux of the messaging being released ahead of this year’s Print Efficiently event, which will be taking place in Hemel Hempstead on 6-8 and 20-22 October 2015.

The joint hosts, Apex Digital Graphics and Intelligent Finishing Systems (IFS), now have adjacent buildings in the Hertfordshire town and the open house event will take place across the whole site. Twelve suppliers will be showing live demonstrations of working equipment and associated products, with Fujifilm, Imprint-MIS, Vpress, KAS, Colourbyte, CyanX, Premier, TSS (colour measurement), Renz and PDC all joining the host partners.

Apex Digital Graphics is a reseller of Konica Minolta bizhub production printers, and the 1060 model will be on show at Print Efficiently 2015. But Apex believes that developments in the small offset market have now made B3 offset, with its attendant Computer-to-Plate, a viable alternative to SRA3 digital. New press/CtP packages for 52cm (B3) format printers are being launched at the event.

According to Apex managing director Bob Usher, the key to this lies in the combination of two innovations: the advent of LED-UV drying; and the introduction of the latest generation of low cost, high quality CtP systems from Chinese manufacturer Cron.

He said: ‘LED-UV means that litho machines can now deliver a completely dry sheet, in the same way a digital machine can. Unlike a digital machine, a Ryobi press can do it at 15,000 sheets per hour, with offset quality and consistency, on substrates up to 600 micron, with no click charge.

‘We can offer a four minute make-ready and a price below £1 per plate – so we now have the lowest cost for a delivered sheet in the short run market. We are convinced it’s time to look again at B3 litho.’

Visitors to Print Efficiently can see three CtP solutions: 26-inch and 36-inch Cron machines; and the Mitsubishi VDP unit for B2 and B3 format polyester plates. All three devices will be driven by FFEI’s RealPro Adobe based workflow.

The 26-inch entry level Cron unit can be configured to produce low-cost UV metal plates or processless thermal using Fujifilm’s Pro-T plates, and is a highly flexible solution. The 36-inch UV Cron device, meanwhile, will provide high resolution, low cost plates to a five colour B2 Ryobi 755G at Print Efficiently, where visitors can see live demonstrations of the LED-UV technology which Ryobi pioneered, introducing the first on-press working system at drupa 2008.

‘Ryobi LED-UV is a real draw, and we expect plenty of interest in this technology at the show.’ said Apex sales and marketing director Neil Handforth. ‘We have a genuine LED-UV system, not a hybrid or simple low-energy substitute. The advantages of instant drying, clean working, long lamp life and power saving are substantial. Any litho printer who has not yet seen genuine LED-UV up close should take this opportunity.’