During the successful RadTech Europe Conference & Exhibition 2025, held from Oct. 27-29 in Warsaw, Poland, RadTech Europe (RTE) presented the Innovation Award 2025 to Fujifilm Speciality Ink Systems for its 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,” says 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. It cures at just 40–45°C, making it suitable for heat-sensitive substrates, and produces low-odor, non-hazardous prints, improving operator safety. AQUAFUZE also enables immediate finishing post-print, with no need for outgassing or overcoats.

This award not only recognizes Fujifilm’s technical excellence, but also its commitment to advancing sustainable and energy-efficient solutions in the printing industry.