Over the years, there has been fits and starts for flexible and printed electronics. Some markets show promise and then either tail off, like e-readers, or never really emerge, such as photovoltaics.

However, in recent years, healthcare and automotive are two of the segments that have become go-to markets for flexible and printed electronics.

Healthcare was arguably the first major printed electronics success story, as glucose sensors were successfully screenprinted, emerging as a billion dollar a year industry.

It’s taken a while, but new applications are proving to be ideal for the technology. In “Flexible and Printed Electronics in Healthcare,” industry leaders discuss some of these possibilities.

One success story is Information Mediary Corp.’s Med-ic smart medication blisters, which use conductive traces that, when broken, show that patients have taken their medication. Jones Healthcare Group has also developed technology that shows if medication is taken. This helps all stakeholders – patients, medical providers and pharma companies.

The automotive market is another success story, and in this case, there are a variety of technologies in play. OLED displays and lighting are providing designers with the ability to create flexible systems inside the cockpit and for tail lights. Carbon nanotube-based heaters in head lights have the potential to improve lighting. In-mold electronics are changing the interior designs of cars. These are all incorporated in vehicles, such as sensors for seat belts, air bags and more, printed heaters and much more.

In “The Automotive Market and Flexible and Printed Electronics,” industry leaders talk about the latest in the automotive segment, and it is a fascinating field.

Also, the Winter 2021 issue of Printed Electronics Now features our annual International Suppliers’ Directory, our comprehensive listing of flexible and printed electronics systems, raw materials and equipment suppliers, services, researchers and more. Our International Suppliers’ Directory can also be found online at nitesh_pen.rodpub.com. I hope you find this issue to be helpful.