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, NY, the company has grown to become a significant force in the process and industrial automation industries.
Formed in 1972, Festo Corporation provides parts and service to Festo’s woodworking equipment, and markets the line of pneumatic automation components. Over the years the company expanded to better serve the United States market, with the first major expansion coming in 1983 when the United States production facility was introduced.
Festo has continuously developed new products and service offerings to help its customers maximize productivity and efficiencies. 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 field bus valve manifolds to the market.
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.
While celebrating its 40th anniversary at the Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center in Riverheard, NY, Festo displayed its bionic AquaJelly and AirPenguin alongside the natural exhibits. More than 250 people attended the event, including several local politicians, customers, many of the Festo staff, and the company's management board.