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FEBRUARY 2025 I DESIGN007 MAGAZINE 65 chemically etching. Where it can be used, it can potentially offer significant savings, cer- tainly in terms of time. Another area of advance has been in stretchable mate- rials which have become a significant focus in the devel- opment of flexible intercon- nection solutions. For appli- cations like wearable elec- tronics or health-monitoring devices, flexibility alone is insufficient; stretchability is vital for such applications to conform to the human anat- omy. While early stretchable designs needed to serpentine conductors to mitigate stress dam- age to conductors, stretchable conductive inks now are being developed to produce circuits that maintain their functionality even when stretched or deformed. Such material combi- nations are paving the way for innovations in robotics and smart wearable products such as health monitoring solutions. Traditional methods for fabricating flexible circuits are unlikely to disappear anytime soon but they will be increasingly complemented by new techniques that increase precision, reduce costs, and allow for the integration of advanced features. One of the more promis- ing is 3D printing. Because most flexible cir- cuits are "flex-to-fit" applications, being able to print in 3D has some profound implications, allowing the printing of both the body and the conductor patterns in a single machine. It may not yet be as cost effective as one might hope. What's Next? e future of flexible circuits appears incred- ibly bright. With continued advancements in materials, manufacturing techniques, and integration with emerging technologies, flex- ible circuits are poised to play an even more prominent role in shaping the future of elec- tronics. From ultra-thin, stretchable wearables to smart packaging and beyond, the possibili- ties are quite literally endless, limited only by the designer's imagination. Since their introduction, flexible circuits have represented not just a technological breakthrough but a fundamental shi in how engineers and product developers think about electronics. eir evolution is a testament to the power of the minds of the innovators, their collaboration, and the relentless pur- suit of new possibilities. As this technology matures, we will undoubtedly see it transform the way we interact with the world around us, paving the way for smarter, more intuitive, and more sustainable electronic devices for years to come. DESIGN007 Joe Fjelstad is founder and CEO of Verdant Electronics and an international authority and innovator in the field of electronic interconnection and packaging technologies with more than 185 patents issued or pending. To read past col- umns or contact Fjelstad, click here. Download your free copy of Joe Fjelstad's book Flexible Circuit Tech- nology, 4th Edition, and watch his in-depth work- shop series "Flexible Circuit Technology."