Speedex is a unique sheetfed offset printing ink with features that printers really want. Speedex features:

• The ability to be used right out of the can.
• Extremely fast initial setting.
• Jobs printed with Speedex on paper can be handled 5 minutes after impression.
• Speedex develops good cure in less than 12 hours.
• Speedex can stay "open" on press overnight, even on copper rollers.
• Speedex will not "skin" in the can for days.
• Speedex uses a drier-free setting mechanism.
• Speedex's cure rate and hardness can be greatly enhanced with driers.
• Speedex has approximately 20% VOC content: low enough for use in California.

Use Speedex wherever there is commercial printing on paper substrates. Speedex works well on a wide variety of stocks including quality offset stocks, and coated stocks of virtually all basis weights. Since Speedex is a true oil-based litho ink, it has a great deal of compatibility with many graphic arts chemicals. Ink 

conditioners and gel reducers will all work well with Speedex inks. Speedex contains high-melt polyethylene wax and a trace amount of PTFE wax. This means that, with the proper precautions, Speedex can be used with or without overprinting right out of the can. Consult the Speedex pamphlet for more details.

How does Speedex Set so fast?

Speedex is a true quickset ink. The word "quickset" is used widely to describe the drying mechanism where the initial "setting" occurs by means of the liquid portion of an ink (i.e.: solvents and oils) quickly seeping into the fibrous matrix of the paper substrate immediately after impression, leaving a dry layer of resin and pigment on top of the ink film. This "set" film feels dry to the touch and does not offset onto other sheets easily. Later, the quickset ink's film actually "cures" by chemically converting the vegetable oil-based portion of the ink through the process of oxidation polymerization, further anchoring the ink film to the substrate. What makes Speedex unique is its ability to achieve initial setting so rapidly, then start curing in hours without the aid of conventional driers like cobalt and manganese. To ensure maximum set speed and hardness of cure, Speedex uses no soy oil, but contains 25% vegetable oil.

Where can Speedex be used?

Use Speedex wherever there is commercial printing on paper substrates. Speedex works well on a wide variety of stocks including quality offset stocks, and coated stocks of virtually all basis weights. What makes Speedex so useful is its ability to set so rapidly on stocks that are even marginally absorbent such as high basis weight coated papers. Jobs can be turned around almost immediately, and excessive use of spray powder can be controlled.

What is Speedex compatible with?

Since Speedex is a true oil-based litho ink, it has a great deal of compatibility with many graphic arts chemicals. For example, ink conditioners and gel reducers will all work well with Speedex inks. Simple reducer solvents like "52 oil" or gelled solvents work best, since they won't interfere with Speedex's quicksetting mechanism. Other chemicals that work well with Speedex include fountain drying stimulators and wax compounds. Speedex works with just about any conventional sheetfed fountain solution, even the ones using alcohol substitutes based on glycol ethers. Also, the curing speed and hardness of Speedex can be enhanced by adding metallic driers such as cobalt and manganese. Other driers such as zirconium and cerium compounds can also be used successfully. Speedex is strong enough to be modified with 10-15% of other items to change its performance characteristics where necessary.

Speedex can be used for special purposes, too.

The ability of Speedex to convert and form tough films should not be overlooked. This can be a very helpful asset when you encounter tough assignments like semi-porous stocks, packaging applications and even some nonporous stocks like polyester films. We recommend adding 2% of cobalt and 1% of manganese driers (at 6% metal content) to quickly initialize the oxidation curing mechanism. Remember that Speedex loses its "stay open" property when drier is added, but skin in the can is usually quite flexible and simple to remove.

How about overprinting with Speedex?

Overprinting with overprint varnishes or coatings on top of Speedex is not a problem. Like many quickset inks, Speedex contains high-melt polyethylene wax and a trace amount of PTFE wax. This means that, with the proper precautions, Speedex can be used with or without overprinting right out of the can. Consult the Speedex pamphlet for more details about overprinting.

The Speedex 4 PRS Series of press-ready quickset sheetfed base colors are available at a tack of 15 points (1200 RPM) in the following colors:

• Process Blue
• Phthalo Green
• Rubine Red/Process Red
• Rhodamine Red
• Process Yellow
• Purple
• Reflex Blue
• Violet
• Warm Red
• Neutral Mixing Black

All colors have been balanced and making color blends is a snap! A suitable transparent extender for all Speedex Colors is our Speedex Extender found in the section called "Quickset Letdown Vehicles" further on in the catalog. All Speedex 4 PRS base colors are available in kits for immediate delivery.