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Fujifilm Aquafuze ink

This innovative ink formulation promises low-temperature cur-ing, says Simon Eccles

Fujifilm has developed non-water-solu-
ble photo-initiators and monomers and
found ways to keep them stable and uni-
formly distributed. Holdom says: “It locks
all of the pigment par-ticles in a cage of pol-
ymer, this prevents pigments sticking
together for longer, but also al-lows high
pigment strength in the dispersion without
any compromise in jetting perfor-mance or
ink stability. This gives Aquafuze a stronger
colour in the same ink thickness as tradi-
tional UV inks. A thin film means we can
get rid of the H2O carrier with heat and
fans be-fore the ink is cured, while main-
taining colour and a very flexible perfor-
mance and semi-gloss finish.”
What does it do? durable, instantly finished prints with The special RxD dispersions are made at
First shown at Drupa 2024, this inno- reduced energy use and fewer consuma- the Fujifilm Ink and dispersion manufac-
vative ink formulation promises low- bles. “It’s for high-quality, medium to high-
temperature cur-ing, instant finishing volume work where speed, versatility and turing cen-tre in Delaware, US, and the ink
and broad media compatibility and is said Specifications environmen-tal benefits matter.” itself is manufactured in Broadstairs.
to deliver vibrant, long-lasting print. Type: “We got the Triton in March before the The ink is said to have excellent long-
Aquafuze is a new type of water-based Water-based UV official launch and we’ve been testing the term stability and consistency in storage. It
UV-cured wide-format inkjet ink made by inkjet ink Aquafuze ink with all sorts of materials and only needs low-energy LED UV lamps, and
Fujifilm Speciality inks in its Broadstairs also showing it to other potential users. We prints are ready to laminate or finish imme-
factory. Fujfilm claims it combines the best Curing: UV-LED, put it be-tween our eco solvent and UV
features of wa-ter-based and UV-curable with water evapo- print and cut machines, for comparison. diately.
inks. It says it delivers durable, flexible, ration though We print on ban-ners, wall and floor mate- Although the use of an emulsion in water
instantly cured prints with low odour and heaters and fan rials, vehicle wraps – not much textiles. A sounds a bit like the water-based Latex inks
no hazardous emissions, while being ready Media compatibil- lot of people ask if it’s the same as Latex. from HP, these rely on heat to cure and
for finishing immediately and usable on a ity: Inkjet vinyls Aquafuze uses half the heat, there’s no work best with an ‘Optimizer’ primer.
wide range of substrates. and other flexible stretching on vinyl, and compared to eco- Aquafuze cures by UV, doesn’t need a
It uses a proprietary UV-curable emul- plastics, paper, tex- solvent there’s no wait for outgassing and
sion and non-water-soluble photo-initia- tiles we can laminate or hem and eyelet right primer and runs at much lower tempera-
tors. So far it’s only used with the Fujifilm away. It’s not the fastest printer, but there’s ture (40-45°C).
Acuity Triton printer, co-developed with Printer compatibil- no waiting time afterwards” Alex Liggett, Holdom says: “We apply a three-way heat
Mutoh, which the lat-ter also sells as the ity: Fujifilm Acuity owner, The Vinyl Guys, Stafford. system: a pre-heater to heat the media prior
HydrAton 1642. Triton and Mutoh to jet-ting; a platen heater together with a
HydrAton 1642 roll- How does it work?
When was it launched and what are fed inkjet printers Fujifilm calls Aquafuze “a proprietary fan to heat the media during jetting, which
the target markets? water-based UV-curable ink using an emul- is vital for im-age quality; and a post heater
It was previewed at Drupa 2024, with the sion de-sign”. The cured ink is scratch- to remove water completely. We don’t use
Mutoh HydrAton launching in January resistant and doesn’t need a protective IR radiant heating or hot air. There are
2025, and Fujifilm’s official launch at Fespa coating. other fans that help with the removal of
2025. According to Shaun Holdom, global Fujifilm says it took almost a decade of water.”
business development director at Fujifilm development in its Japanese labs. It points The Triton is shipping now, and available
Wide Format Inkjet Solutions: “Typical out that “other UV-water inks” require
customers are wide-format print service water-soluble photo-initiators and mono- together with the Aquafuze inks through
providers producing signage, wallcover- mers, which it says are prone to degrada- Fuji-film’s authorised dealer network.
ings, or vehicle wraps, to those who want tion and can shorten shelf life. Mutoh’s HydrAton 1642 is also shipping.
It was previewed at Drupa 2024, with the Mutoh HydrAton launching in January 2025.

30 PrintWeek MENA September 2025 www.printweekmena.com