Abstract: A silicone applicator and method are disclosed which apply a controlled concentration of an aqueous silicone emulsion to a paper web as the web is moving through a printing press. The applicator comprises a silicone concentrate supply tank, a water supply, and a mixing tank for mixing the slicone concentrate with the water to form an aqueous silicone emulsion of desired concentration. A silicone holding tray holds a supply of silicone emulsion, and a roller picks up the silicone emulsion from the holding tray and applies it to the paper web. A first transfer device transfers to the mixing tank metered quantities of the silicone concentrate from the supply tank, and water from the water supply. Water is charged to the mixing tank when a sensor in the tank senses that the level in the tank is below a predetermined lower limit. The charging is discontinued when the level reaches a predetermined high value as detected by another sensor.