dunk test of fountain concentrates

Approval of fountain concentrates

The corrosion and polymer swell tests follow a procedure that was developed in cooperation with all german press manufacturers (Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, Koenig & Bauer, manroland Goss web systems GmbH, manroland sheetfed GmbH). The approval and thus the certification of the fountain concentrates is carried out by the respective manufacturers.

Certified fountain concentrates and approval lists

Your benefit

Approved products are entered and published both in the manufacturers' databases and in the FograCert database. On the product itself you can indicate the approval in the form of a FograCert logo.

All fountain concentrates recommended for new printing presses must at least have successfully passed the technical approval test. This technical approval test is the prerequisite for warranty claims during the warranty period in the event of any press damage.

Dr Philipp Stolper

Materials & Environment

+49 89 431 82 - 354

GEt in touch

Your contact

Do you need help with the approval procedure for your fountain concentrate or would you like to have preliminary tests carried out?

I would be happy to advise you on all questions relating to the approval test and will prepare an individual offer for you.

What you need to do

You would like to have your fountain concentrate certified (validity: 5 years) or renew an existing certification?

We need from you

  • a written order to carry out the approval test (complete or repeat test),

  • the safety data sheet (SDS),

  • the fountain concentrate: 1 liter of the concentrate together with the information on the maximum recommended dosage.

fountain concentrates swell test

Relevant information for the certification of your fountain concentrates:

TitleDescription/abstractVersionDateFile typeDownload
General information General information on the approval procedure V23.2 26.05.2023 pdf Download
Polymer Description: Polymer resistance test (swelling test) V21.1 17.05.2021 pdf Download
Metal Brief description: Testing of metallic materials (corrosion) V21.1 17.05.2021 pdf Download
Metal Detailed description: Testing of metallic materials (corrosion) V21.1 17.05.2021 pdf Download

Our procedure

After receipt of the order by Fogra you will receive an order confirmation which contains all details of the test period, contact person and price. The processing period for an approval test (complete or repeat test) is usually approx. 4 to 6 weeks.

Before the corrosion tests and the polymer swell test are carried out, the pH and conductivity measurements are taken. To enter the testing procedure, a fountain solution must fulfil the following criteria:

  • pH value: 5.0 ± 0.2 to 9.0 ± 0.2

  • Electrical conductivity of fountain solution limited to +1800 (coldset-/heatset) and +2000 μS/cm (sheetfed) above the conductivity of the water used to prepare it

After completion of the tests, Fogra sends all results in the form of a final report to both the customer and the press manufacturer. On the basis of the test results, the manufacturer decides whether the product can be recommended for use on the press. In case of a successful certification the manufacturer authorises Fogra to issue the test certificate or to extend the release. Furthermore we list your fountain concentrate in our FograCert database.

Electrical conductivity of fountain solution

Our offer

Extract from the price list:

Approval for on fountain concentrate (sheetfed or web offset):
€ 2,760.00 (Fogra member) | € 3,944.00 (regular)

I would be pleased to provide you a non-binding offer for your washing agent certification:

Request a quote

Facts and figures

30 countries of origin of fountain concentrate manufacturers

450 approved fountain concentrates

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