Festo Corporation, the United States arm of one of the world’s leading manufacturers of automation equipment, is celebrating 40 years of advancing automation. Based in Hauppauge, New York, the company has grown to become a significant force in the process and industrial automation industries.
“The 40th anniversary of Festo Corporation observes the company’s positive impact on U.S. manufacturing productivity, the breadth of the company’s product lines, and its far-reaching research and development into the next generation of automation systems,” said Richard J. Huss, president and CEO of Festo Corporation U.S. “We also are carrying out our commitment to educating workers and students and established widespread educational partnerships. We are all very proud of these accomplishments and grateful to our customers and employees who helped get us here.”
Festo Corporation was formed in 1972 to provide parts and service to Festo’s woodworking equipment and to market the line of pneumatic automation components. Over the years the company expanded to better serve the US market, with the first major expansion coming in 1983 when the US production facility was introduced.
Festo has continuously developed new innovative products and service offerings to help its customers maximize productivity and efficiencies, said Huss. "Festo leads the field of pneumatic rodless actuators with its groundbreaking DGO magnetically coupled cylinder. The company was also the first to recognize the value of integrating pneumatic valves and electronic controls and brought the first intelligent fieldbus valve manifolds to the market. Today the CPX/MPA Intelligent Valve Manifold systems enable integration like no other; along with valve control, the CPX performs proportional pneumatics and even servo motion control. After four decades the innovations continue. In 2012 significant advancements were made in product offerings, including such innovative handling solutions as the DHMB Pitch Slide Module and the telescopic Sliding Fork assembly," he said.
Launched in 2006, the Bionic Learning Network has become a proving ground for new technology. Festo research and development personnel, along with key partners, study nature to devise efficient and safe motion for factories of the future. Using these basic technical principles derived from nature, Festo developed the Bionic SmartBird, AquaJelly, and Air Penguin. These projects challenged the Festo engineers to look at lightweight materials, new production methods, and control techniques.
"With the innovation highlighted by the Bionic Learning Network, it was a natural choice for Festo to host a 40th anniversary celebration at the Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center in Riverhead, NY in September," said Huss. "Here Festo’s bionic AquaJelly and AirPenguin were on display alongside the many wonderful natural exhibits. The event was attended by over 250 people, including several local politicians, customers, many of the Festo staff, and the company’s management board."
