Flexible and printed electronics manufacturers developed some interesting products during the past year, either reaching or nearing commercialization. Here is Printed Electronics Now’s list of Most Intriguing Flexible and Printed Electronics Products of 2024. In alphabetical order:

• adidas and Infineon:  Infineon Lighting Shoe

Imagine a sneaker that reacts to music and lights up in fascinating patterns. While that may sound futuristic, adidas AG and Infineon Technologies AG have created just such as shoe, which it is showing as a prototype. The Infineon Lighting Shoe features Infineon’s high-end sensor technology, this innovative adidas originals NMD S1 shoe has microphones and microcontrollers that convert audio into colorful LED effects on the shoe.

• Ambient Photonics

Creating solar power is of increasing importance in today’s world and in the future, but how does one capture the power inside as well as outside? There are a number of approaches, but Ambient Photonics has developed its own unique concept, with an eye on photosynthesis, and Ambient Photonics has numerous projects already on the market and in development.

• Beontag and Michelin: RFID-Enabled Smart Tires

Beontag has launched a new partnership with world-leading tire manufacturer Michelin that will see Beontag’s technology incorporated into millions of new commercial and passenger tires over the next two years and beyond. The UHF embedded tag, which consists of a jointly designed pod and antenna using state-of-the-art chips and materials, will enable complete traceability of all new tires, including manufacture date and storage location, distribution, installation and replacement, refurbishment and more, for the entire life cycle of the tire.

• Epicore: Connected Hydration Platform

Temperatures on a work site can reach extreme temperatures, which places employees in danger. Keeping employees hydrated and healthy requires more than just drinking liquids; monitoring their health can help protect them. With its Connected Hydration platform, Epicore Biosystems has developed a solution that can help solve these problems. The platform has earned honors, most recently the prestigious Red Dot Award for exceptional product design.

• Reelables: Roll-to-Roll Printed Smart Bluetooth Label

There are lots of approaches to tracking packages, including barcodes, RFID and other means. However, the ability to print Bluetooth-enabled labels is an ideal way to more easily track packages and other items. Reelables has perfected this technology and is shipping millions of these smart labels. The London-based company invented a smart label that can be easily attached to objects and tracked automatically through a phone app.