According to Friedheim's Baumann/Wohlenberg sales manager Roger Cartwright, paper handling equipment has always been aimed at the B1 market, often making it too expensive for a B2 printer to invest in.

He said: "Because a ream of B2 paper is half the weight of B1, the question has always been 'do we really need handling equipment'.

"This is the first time any of the manufacturers have launched a range aimed at the B2 market. Because there is less weight involved, much of it has been simplified down. But it isn't just a case of stripping down a B1 machine; it has been completely redesigned with the B2 printer in mind.

"B2 printers often have less space, so the footprint is smaller. It brings the investment level down and makes it far more viable. For instance, a B2 paper handler could be bought with a guillotine for about £60,000, which is some £40,000 less than a B1 model."

Baumann's B2 range comprises of a jogger, pile hoist, pile turner and unloader. The jogger is semi-automatic in operation and has sidelays that can be adjusted manually, while the unloader table can also be moved manually.