Stop Manually Filling Your Ink Fountains.
Sentinel automates the last manual process of your offset press.
Today’s offset presses are built for speed, control, and repeatability, but in many pressrooms, ink delivery is still handled manually.
Operators still have to watch the fountains, decide when to add ink, refill trays, manage cleanup, and hope the bead stays consistent through the run.
Sentinel Ink Management Systems help fix that broken workflow by bringing ink delivery into the same controlled, automated process as the rest of the press.
WITH OVER 7,500 SENTINEL INSTALLATIONS GLOBALLY
The Sentinel Ink Management System can be fitted to all press manufacturers, both new and used, perfectly complimenting your current operation.
Ink Delivery
A skilled pressman should not have to spend the day babysitting ink levels. On a modern press, the operator is already managing makeready, color, quality, job changes, sheets, plates, and everything else that keeps production moving. Manual ink delivery adds another interruption to that list.
Sentinel helps take that task out of the operator’s hands without taking control away from them. LED and audio alerts signal when a cartridge needs to be changed, and changeouts can be completed in 15 seconds or less.
That is a small action compared to manually managing fountains throughout a run. It allows press operators to stay focused on the higher-value parts of production while the ink system handles the repetitive monitoring and replenishment in the background.
Ink Consistency
Ink delivery has a direct impact on color. When the fountain level changes, the ink bead changes. When the bead changes, the press has to work harder to stay on target.
That is where manual ink handling can quietly create problems. A press operator may be doing everything right, but if ink is being added unevenly or too late, the color control system is constantly reacting to a moving target.
Sentinel helps stabilize that part of the process. Fountain filling and ink levels can be controlled directly from the console, helping maintain a more consistent ink bead throughout the run.
That consistency gives the press’s color control system a better chance to do its job. Instead of chasing density changes caused by uneven ink levels, the press can stay closer to target with fewer interruptions.
Ink Savings
Ink waste does not usually happen all at once. It shows up a little at a time. Too much ink in the fountain at the end of a job. Ink that skins over. Extra cleanup. Messy handling. Leftover material that never makes it onto the sheet.
Manual filling makes that harder to control because operators are often adding ink based on what they see in the moment. To be safe, they may add more than the job really needs. On a busy press, that can become normal. Sentinel continuously monitors fountain levels and automatically replenishes ink as needed. The goal is to maintain the right ink bead without overfilling the tray.
That helps reduce leftover ink, limit unnecessary cleanup, and keep more of the ink working for the job instead of becoming waste.
Ink Monitoring
A lot of pressrooms know how much ink they bought. Fewer know exactly how much ink a job used.
That matters, especially when the job comes back around. Without good ink usage data, repeat work is often estimated from habit, memory, or whatever notes were left behind from the last run.
Sentinel helps turn ink usage into usable job information. By tracking job details and generating end-of-job reports, the system gives teams a better record of what actually happened on press. That makes repeat runs easier to estimate, easier to plan, and easier to compare against previous production.
It is not just about monitoring ink. It is about giving the pressroom better information the next time that job comes through the door.
Automate Your Ink Workflow
Sentinel is more than a cleaner way to put ink in a fountain, it connects one of the last manual parts of offset printing to the rest of the automated press workflow.
When ink delivery is manual, the workflow is broken. Operators have to fill the gap with time, attention, and experience. Sentinel helps close that gap with automated monitoring, consistent replenishment, better reporting, less waste, and fewer interruptions.
For pressrooms already investing in faster, smarter offset equipment, ink management should not be the weak link.
It should be part of the workflow. That helps reduce leftover ink, limit unnecessary cleanup, and keep more of the ink working for the job instead of becoming waste.
"It frees up operators to focus on printing instead of worrying about ink being distributed on the press."
Kenny Lynn, General Manager
Printed Specialities Inc,
Koenig & Bauer Rapida 106
The Sentinel Ink Management System is a globally trusted solution with thousands of installations worldwide.
The Sentinel iPro automatically monitors and dispenses ink to maintain precise levels, ensuring consistent color, reduced waste, and smooth press operation for every run.
The Sentinel Ranger connects to a bulk ink system to deliver a steady, uninterrupted ink flow, maintaining consistent levels and boosting efficiency for high-volume offset printing.
The RemoteLinc adapter replaces the standard 8 lb. cartridge, providing a seamless hydraulic connection to a bulk ink supply for continuous, pressurized delivery.
Compatible with All Inks
The Sentinel Ink Management System accepts automated cartridges from all ink vendors and suppliers in both 8 Lb. and 2 Kg. sizes as well as the RemoteLinc™ Bulk Pumping Adapter.
