During the successful RadTech Europe Conference & Exhibition 2025, held from 27–29 October in Warsaw, Poland, RadTech Europe (RTE) proudly presented the Innovation Award 2025 to Fujifilm Speciality Ink Systems for their groundbreaking development: AQUAFUZE – a novel water-based UV LED curing technology for inkjet printing.
Selected from a record number of entries, AQUAFUZE stood out for its radical new approach to ink chemistry, combining the best of water-based and UV-curable technologies. The award was presented during the plenary session of the RTE Conference, which brought together the entire value chain of UV/EB energy curing technology, from raw material suppliers to brand owners, under one roof.
Developed by Shota Suzuki and the R&D team at Fujifilm, AQUAFUZE marks a significant materials science breakthrough. For nearly a decade, Fujifilm worked to overcome the chemical incompatibility of UV-curable materials and water. The result: a proprietary UV-curable emulsion system that delivers exceptional print performance, shelf stability, and media versatility, all while curing at low temperatures using energy-efficient LED UV lamps.
"AQUAFUZE represents a new category of wide-format inkjet technology," said Suzuki. "By rethinking ink formulation from the ground up, we’ve created a product that truly responds to what print providers have been asking for: durability, flexibility, sustainability, and safety, without compromise."
Unlike conventional inkjet inks, AQUAFUZE:
- Requires no primers or optimisers, thanks to built-in adhesion properties.
- Cures at just 40–45°C, making it suitable for heat-sensitive substrates.
- Produces low-odour, non-hazardous prints, improving operator safety.
- Enables immediate finishing post-print, with no need for outgassing or overcoats.
This award not only recognises Fujifilm’s technical excellence, but also their commitment to advancing sustainable and energy-efficient solutions in the printing industry.
About the RTE Innovation Award
The RTE Innovation Award Competition offers companies the chance to showcase innovations in products, inks, coatings, adhesives, and manufacturing applications that use energy curing technology. With free exposure, recognition across RTE’s communication channels, and a one-year complimentary RTE membership, the award spotlights those who are shaping the future of the UV/EB industry. This award demonstrates commitment to manufacturing excellence using energy curing technology. The next RTE innovation competition will be held in 2027.