Fountain Solutions for Offset Printing
High performance and VOC-free fountain solutions
for low and high-speed Web Offset Printing
Printing Precision is Paramount
In the newsprint business, nothing is more important than crisp, clear imagery and text. But without the protection of the fountain solution film, ink quickly spreads from image areas to non-image areas. Not only does this cause smudging, but you also need to stop the printing process to clean the plates. You need an effective fountain solution to ensure your non-image areas remain free of unwanted ink, without increasing the need for water or disrupting ink pH.
Ink Only Where You Want It
We created an industry-leading fountain solution that preserves the clarity of your printing. It keeps ink at a neutral pH and offers strong plate protection with no gumming-up necessary, all while using less water to maintain ink-water balance and prevent emulsification. The result is improved ink, web and folder control, fan out, and ultimately much lower operating chemical costs.
We Perfect Printing Chemistry
The printing sector has not been without its challenges in recent decades. This means that efficiency and quality are more important now more than ever. That’s we focus our development on improving print clarity, sharper colors, needing less water to maintain ink-to-water balance.
Today, our fountain solutions are used internationally by experienced press operators who have struggled with the issue of fountain solution versus ink compatibility, and the alcohol or acid replacement issues. As one of Canada’s leading specialty chemical companies, we are proud of our reputation as leaders in surfactant-based chemistry. But we offer more than just our expertise—our team of sales professionals working with our highly trained chemists will provide ongoing support and solutions to any problems that may occur.
Featured Product
- Strong buffering to maintain neutral pH and avoid interference between the fountain solution, ink, printing plates and paper
- Neutral pH also eliminates press corrosion
- Protects press plates by covering the background for quick, clean startup and no gumming
- Preserved in concentrated form and at end use dilutions to prevent bacterial, fungal and algal growth
- Maintains constant water ink balance and reduces the tendency of ink to emulsify
We don’t believe in ‘deliver-and-done’. True benefits revolve around the consistency of program execution, which is why we’re there when you need us both for regular servicing and emergency support for life.
Our experts know your industry and will seek to understand the unique challenges of your business. Let’s talk.
Your systems and processes are interconnected. We’ll arrange a site visit to understand the bigger picture.
Fountain solution products
Every Guardian product we recommend for this application. Each product page has the technical detail. Not sure which one fits your system? Ask our team.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fountain Solutions
It keeps the non-image areas of the plate wetted so ink transfers only where you want it. The film has to hold at press speed without driving water consumption up or pulling ink pH around, which is the balance every fountain solution is trying to strike.
Almost always ink-water balance. Not enough solution reaching the plate, conductivity or pH outside range, worn dampening rollers, or an over-diluted mix. Scumming is a symptom, so check conductivity and pH at the fountain before you change product.
Run to the range on the product data sheet, and more usefully to a baseline you record while the press is printing well. The absolute numbers matter less than the drift. A steady rise in conductivity across a shift normally means contamination or a change in make-up water, not a problem with the solution.
For web offset newsprint, yes. Alcohol and its substitutes were used to lower surface tension and speed emulsification, and current VOC-free chemistry does that without the exposure, storage and emissions burden. PARAGON 517 is our VOC-free solution for low and high-speed web offset.
Hardness and alkalinity in make-up water change how the solution behaves. Hard water consumes buffer capacity and leaves deposits on rollers and plates, and high alkalinity fights the acid buffer. We ask for a water analysis, or work from known water quality for your area, before setting a dilution.
Yes. Over-concentrated solution, high conductivity or the wrong chemistry desensitises roller surfaces so they stop accepting ink, and calcium from the paper or water builds a glaze over time. If rollers are stripping, check concentration before you replace anything.
Get the concentration right first, because an under-concentrated solution is normally why the press is running more water than it needs. Then look at dampening roller condition and setting. Chasing water consumption by turning the dampening down without fixing concentration just moves the problem to scumming.
Yes. Excess water carried into the ink film slows drying and increases set-off on the reel or in the folder. If you are seeing set-off, the water balance is worth checking before the ink is blamed.
Yes. The same chemistry family covers both, but dilution and conductivity targets differ with speed and press configuration, so we set those with you rather than giving a single number.
Yes. We set the measures with your pressroom before the trial starts, normally water consumption, conductivity stability, scumming incidents and plate life, and run alongside your current solution so the comparison is real.
Something Better
Talk to our team for advice, quotes, and purchasing.
