Alongside FESPA’s own industry awards, the European Digital Press Association has been running a highly sought after technical award program since 2007, with hardware and software manufacturers alike seeking validation of their efforts in accord with the voting power of just over half a million readers determining the annual EDP Awards.
The long trip to Berlin for FESPA Global was well-worth the airfare for Mutoh Australia CEO Russell Cavenagh, pictured here proudly clutching a 2025 EDP Award
For Mutoh Australia CEO, Russell Cavenagh (pictured here), EDP Award success felt twice as sweet, with the Mutoh HydrAton 1642, a 1625 mm (64"), environmentally-friendly, roll-to-roll printer featuring innovative water-based UV technology, one of only 6 EDP Award recipients in the Large & Wide Format Printing hardware category and the innovative, water-based Fujifilm Aquafuze ink 
The European Digital Press Association Awards have been going since 2007 technology that is integral to the HydrAton’s exceptional environmental performance, also recognised with its own EDP Award in the Inks & Substrates category.
Asked what these awards meant to him/Mutoh, Cavenagh says: “Primarily this is just due recognition for a really innovative product. There is a growing emphasis on environmentally safe inks and with zero SVHCs*, no Carcinogens and no Hazard Symbols, we’re confident that the Aquafuze technology is the safest ink out there. Combine this with the fact that it is also a very thin film ink, yet still highly abrasive-resistant and you can see that the HydrAton 1642 with Aquafuze ink technology is a truly great collaboration with Fujifilm in the context of high-quality, environmentally-friendly printing capability.”
“Mutoh is also the only hardware manufacturer to manufacture wholly in Japan – and that equates to high quality finish for Mutoh products, with excellent technical engineering capability. Mutoh’s transparency as an industry-leading print solution provider is one of the keys to our ongoing success.”
* Substances of Very High Concern
Other EDP Award winners in the Large & Wide Format Printing category include:
- Durst, both for its Roll-to-Roll < 350 cm and its Flatbed/Hybrid 50-150 m²/h P5 350 HSR solution;
- HP for its Flatbed/Hybrid < 50 m²/h HP Latex R530W printer
- swissQprin for its Flatbed/Hybrid 150-400 m²/h Nyala 5
- AGFA for its Flatbed/Hybrid 400 m²/h Jeti Tauro H3300 XUHS
Mimaki also won an EDP award in the Textile Printing solutions category for its Direct to Transfer TRAPIS - Transfer Pigment System
Environmentally sustainable printing
Mutoh's HydrAton 1642The HydrAton 1642 (previously featured in WFO here) operates at significantly lower temperatures (30 - 50°C) compared to conventional industrial latex and water-based resin ink printers. This ensures compatibility with heat sensitive substrates and also reduces energy consumption and CO₂ emissions, making it one of the most eco-responsible solutions in its category.
Thanks to the optimized ink film formation system, which combines a three-way heater, a blower fan, and a UV lamp, prints achieve enhanced durability and superior image quality.
Equipped with two AccuFine HD print heads, the HydrAton 1642 delivers high speed and high-quality prints with improved ink placement accuracy, reduced banding and ensuring sharp details like fine lines and small text. AccuFine print heads differ in the fact that they have an increased nozzle row length and high-density nozzle pitch.
Designed with efficiency and ease of use in mind, the HydrAton 1642 is powered by Mutoh’s VerteLith RIP software and includes several smart automation features to streamline daily workflows
- DropMaster 2: automatically adjusts bi-directional alignment for perfect registration.
- FeedMaster: automates media feed correction using built-in sensors.
- Media Tracker: prints and scans barcodes to track remaining media length, reducing material waste.
The Aquafuze technology developed by Fujifilm (previously featured in WFO here) meets diverse requirements when it comes to the sustainability of print. It combines the advantages of UV-LED and water-based inkjet. Compared to other water-based printing systems, drying requires little energy and takes place at lower temperatures. As a result, heat-sensitive substrates can also be printed with this technique. The prints can be further processed immediately after printing and drying, including lamination. The Aquafuze technology offers excellent adhesion to a wide range of media without the need for a pre-coat primer or optimiser. Prints have a thin film that is scratch-resistant and does not require a topcoat. In addition, they are low-odour and comply with safety regulations.
All this and more can be seen on the Mutoh stand, C58 at PacPrint, opening next Tuesday 20th May in Sydney!
