enThu, 16 May 2013 12:29:23 +020041913500hourly102013-05-23T18:10:33.317545Z312426http://www.festo.com/net/en_corp/SupportPortal/Press.aspx?documentId=312426The valve series VZWF controls high pressures with large nominal diameters.Thu, 16 May 2013 12:29:23 +02002013-05-16T12:29:23+02:00<p><strong>For water, air and neutral media</strong></p> <p>VZWF valves – for high pressures with large nominal diameters</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>The valve VZWF is one of a number of new process solutions that now gives customers a one-stop-shop for Festo’s high productivity and quality automated systems. Festo’s process offerings also include ball, butterfly, and gate valves</strong><strong>, </strong><strong>and associated automated controls.</strong><strong> </strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Festo introduced the VZWF valve, a force pilot operated solenoid valve that can be used with water, air and neutral media. This new valves utilize small solenoids to control high pressures with large nominal diameters. The units can switch at pressures as low as 0 bar and close automatically in the case of a pressure loss in the circuit. These valves can be applied in closed media circuits.</p> <p> </p> <p>The VZWF series is generally suitable for applications in which the medium can be vented downstream of the valve into the atmosphere or a tank. The valves are used for gaseous and liquid material flows up to a viscosity of maximum 22 mm²/s. Actuation is supported by the pressure of the medium, a special feature of the VZWF. Smaller coils can be used because of lower power requirements to open the valve – the energy of the medium contributes to opening.</p> <p> </p> <p>Applications for the VZWF valve include: filling systems (secondary circuit), water treatment, pipeline construction, steam boiler construction, liquid gas installations, hot water applications, heating circuits, power plant systems, petrochemical industry, pump systems, storage tank installations, and pneumatic automation systems.</p>312079http://www.festo.com/net/en_corp/SupportPortal/Press.aspx?documentId=312079Festo will be showing its latest solutions on its stand E3-001 at the 7th SNEC from May 14th to 16th.Sat, 11 May 2013 00:51:00 +02002013-05-11T00:51:00+02:00<p><strong>Festo makes it easy for users in the photovoltaic </strong><strong>industry: ready-to-install handling systems for safe and efficient high-speed applications enable customers to concentrate fully on their core activities in wafer, thin-film and roll-to-roll production. Festo will be showing its latest solutions on its stand E3-001 at the 7th SNEC International Photovoltaic Generation Conference & Exhibition from May 14th to 16th.</strong></p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p>More than 1,800 companies from more than 60  countries will be taking part in this showcase of the photovoltaic industry at the Shanghai New International Expo Center. The organisers are expecting more than 150,000 visitors.</p> <p> </p> <p>The stars of assembly automation on the Festo stand are a high-speed T-gantry and H-gantry with a Bernoulli gripper for the contactless gripping of solar cells, a sliding fork for loading and unloading glass substrates and air-bearing rails for the gentle transport of thin-film cells.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>High-speed T-gantry</strong></p> <p>The high-speed T-gantry can easily achieve cycle times of 670 milliseconds. It is a high-speed pick & place unit with a higher dynamic response than a conventional linear gantry and can be scaled to any stroke. It can thus keep up with the cycle times required in the form-fill-seal process. At the end of this process, the high-speed T-gantry distributes the heat-sealed packages to boxes.</p> <p> </p> <p>The gantry has a speed of 4 m/s and achieves acceleration rates of 50 m/s² over the entire working area thanks to a clever design that connects both toothed belt axes to the cross member with a single rotating toothed belt around the drive shaft. The belt is driven by two servo motors EMMS. An added benefit is the fact that the motors do not need to be moved within the X/Y area with its two degrees of freedom. Reduced mass and two servo drives, which are mounted parallel to each other, facilitate fast, dynamic motion and result in less wear.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>High-speed H-gantry</strong></p> <p>The high-speed H-gantry is breaking all speed records. It’s 30% faster than any conventional Cartesian handling unit – with comparable procurement costs. Festo has developed this high-speed handling unit for dynamic assembly operations in the fields of photovoltaic, electronics and small parts handling, and wherever small, lightweight mass-produced items need to be positioned quickly and flexibly.</p> <p> </p> <p>This new type of 3D/planar surface gantry covers a square-shaped working area that is significantly larger than that of robot systems with delta kinematics, which can only work in round or kidney-shaped areas. Other disadvantages of delta robots are the high costs, the installation weight of around 150 kg and the space needed.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Contactless gripping </strong></p> <p>The Bernoulli gripper picks up workpieces such as silicon-based wafers by contactless means. In order to do this, an overpressure is created at the Bernoulli gripper itself, while at the same time a vacuum is generated at the surface to be gripped, thus causing the wafer to be drawn towards the gripper until there is equilibrium between the weight force, the force of the back pressure from the nozzle and the force of attraction resulting from the acceleration pulse of the fluid. During this process, a certain distance (approx. 0.5 mm to 3 mm) is maintained between the gripper and the gripping surface of the workpiece, so that the object is held in position without contact.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Sliding fork</strong></p> <p>In the manufacture of thin film solar cells in the front-end area, 4 mm thick glass is fed into various process chambers and coated. This process area is under high vacuum and at a temperature of approx. 200°C. Traditionally, special clean-room robots have been used to transport the coated glass from one process chamber to the next.</p> <p> </p> <p>A less expensive and more compact alternative to these robots is the infinitely adjustable telescopic "sliding fork" handling system. Its telescope principle with a triple transmission ratio allows jerk-free stroke movement up to 2,100 mm with electric spindle drive. The installation space required is governed by the workpiece size. The atmospheric box (ATM) encapsulated against vacuum contains electric motor, gear unit and vacuum rotary union (spindle bearing).</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Air-bearing rails</strong></p> <p>These transport thin-film modules, which are coated on both sides, contactlessly through the manufacturing process on an air bearing, controlled by electric drives fitted with special suction cups which leave no residue on the thin film cells. A diagnostic module measures the exact distance between the glass and the air bearing and controls the air consumption so as to ensure energy-efficient operation.</p> <p> </p> <p>Festo matches its automation solutions to the individual needs of its customers so that they can concentrate fully on their core competencies. The company provides support services for its complete solutions throughout their entire life cycle, ranging from consulting and engineering for complete handling solutions through to the commissioning of its ready-to-install systems and comprehensive after-sales service.</p> <p> </p> <p>Festo designs complete system solutions in accordance with customers’ specifications and also takes care of testing and commissioning. The company’s automation specialists then integrate the solution into the customer’s production operations, incorporating an appropriate control architecture into the user’s communication concept and master control system.</p>305213http://www.festo.com/net/en_corp/SupportPortal/Press.aspx?documentId=305213Federal Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel visited the Festo stand during her tour of the Trade Fair on 8th April 2013.Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:39:59 +02002013-04-08T12:39:59+02:00<p><strong>Trade Fair on 8th April 2013. The Chancellor was accompanied this year by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russia is the partner country of the 2013 Hanover Trade Fair. Along with state-of-the-art production technology, at this year’s Trade Fair Festo is once again presenting its latest Future Concepts with numerous links to the topics of Integrated Industry and Industry 4.0 – including BionicOpter, a flying object inspired by the flight of the dragonfly. Attention also centred on the bear-proof GBVA drive system specially developed for the partner country’s oil and gas industries.</strong></p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p>BionicOpter is an ultralight flying object. Just like its natural model, BionicOpter can turn in any spatial direction while performing complicated aerobatics.</p> <p> </p> <p>But not only bionics was at the focus of the Chancellor’s and the Russian President’s visit. At the Festo stand, guests also found out how Festo has been supporting Russia with competitive, energy-efficient solutions and training concepts for factory and process automation following the partner country’s accession to the WTO. Energy-efficient solutions are likewise in high demand both in the field of mechanical engineering and in water and wastewater management.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Festo: Already a partner of Russian industry for many years</strong></p> <p>Festo has been a partner of the Russian manufacturing industry for over 40 years, providing automation and training solutions. This sector is now orienting itself towards international standards to an increasing extent. The growing demands on quality and energy efficiency have made Festo the No. 1 partner of the Russian machinery and plant manufacturers. More than 9,000 customers in automation and 3,000 in didactics are served by Festo’s Russian national company, with headquarters in Moscow and six automation centres in St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Chelyabinsk, Irkutsk, Samara and Rostov-on-Don, along with further outlets in a total of 21 cities.</p> <p>With didactic centres in Moscow, Chelyabinsk and St. Petersburg, Festo advises companies, universities and public educational institutes with practical qualification schemes, ranging from training courses and seminars to the planning and equipping of industrial learning laboratories and learning factories. The course “MEI Festo” at the Moscow Energy Institute (MEI) of the Moscow Technical University, for example, was already initiated in 1999 to provide high-quality, state-of-the-art technical training and English classes. An increasing number of Russia’s leading universities have since been relying on learning systems from Festo for the training of expert staff.</p> <p> </p> <p>Until next Friday, 12th April, at the <strong>2013 Hanover Trade Fair</strong> Festo is presenting energy-efficient, intelligent production technologies, innovative technologies and Future Concepts from the Bionic Learning Network <strong>(Main Stand D07, Hall 15)</strong> and environmentally friendly solutions for cities and metropolises <strong>(Metropolitan Solutions area, Stand D08, Hall 1)</strong></p>305070http://www.festo.com/net/en_corp/SupportPortal/Press.aspx?documentId=305070With sales growth of around 6% to €2.24 billion in fiscal 2012, the Festo Group achieved its sales targets.Mon, 08 Apr 2013 11:00:00 +02002013-04-08T11:00:00+02:00<p><strong>With sales growth of around 6% to €2.24 billion (previous year: €2.1 billion) in fiscal 2012, the Festo Group achieved its ambitious sales targets in a difficult environment of volatile global markets as well as winning over additional market shares. While the dynamic growth in Asia (8%) and Western Europe (approx. 2%) slackened, the regions of the Americas (9%) and Eastern Europe (over 11%) exceeded expectations. Additional impetus for growth was provided by the new business segments of Electric Drives, Process Automation and the project field of Customer Solutions. In all key sectors such as automotive, food and packaging, electronics, biotech/pharmaceuticals and metropolitan solutions/water/wastewater, customers rely on Festo as a global development partner and a provider of holistic solutions. The Didactic division recorded a record year with its industrial training solutions for global markets (over 14%). Major growth impetus came from the Asian and African countries, which are now relying more on education in order to counteract the shortage of local skills. Over the coming years too, the focus will be on expanding the global market supply, strengthening competitiveness and innovative leadership by means of state-of-the-art technology and manufacturing facilities, and securing sustainable growth in new business segments and markets. The Group thereby intends to continue its highly successful strategic orientation of recent years. The workforce grew worldwide in 2012 to 16,200 employees (previous year: 15,500), including 7,400 in Germany (previous year: 7,100) and 8,800 abroad (previous year: 8,400). The share of R&D amounted to more than 7% worldwide in 2012. For fiscal 2013, the Management Board is expecting a growth rate between 3-6 percent compared to 2012. </strong></p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>Sustainable growth </strong></p> <p>“Festo, an independent family enterprise, has exhibited stable growth over an extended period. We have continued to strengthen our market position worldwide, thereby creating ideal conditions for further growth. We see our ability to change as the basis of our success: new business segments are providing us with enormous potential for the future. We already develop around 10,000 individualised solutions annually in our Customer Solutions business segment. The field of electrical drives is another major growth market for us. In this sector, we can provide our customers with the most efficient technology-neutral solutions, which combine pneumatic and electrical systems,” said Dr. Eberhard Veit, Chairman of the Management Board of Festo AG, on the occasion of the annual press conference at the 2013 Hanover Trade Fair.</p> <p> </p> <p>As a solutions provider for automation in production and as a company with a long-term perspective, Festo has been living out sustainability – both within the Group and as experienced by its customers. “We closely monitor the entire value chain, from engineering and energy-efficient products to the efficient design of systems and the energy-efficient operation of plant and machinery as examples of “green production”. We have also developed Energy Saving Services and expert qualification concepts, so that we can reduce our overall energy consumption in production by about a third,” said Dr. Veit.</p> <p> </p> <p>Sustainable concepts are at the centre of attention not only in production, but also in the areas of infrastructure and facilities. “In the buildings at our worldwide locations too, we are setting ecological standards with innovative concepts that range from architecture, through air-conditioning technology, up to building automation,” Dr. Veit continued.</p> <p> </p> <p>Festo is likewise giving sustainable orientation to its processes in innovation management. “We have a unique culture of innovation at Festo. Our R&D activities are closely meshed with those of the trendsetters in our industries. With our Bionic Learning Network and our Future Concepts, we are also looking far into the future to initiate new trends in the industry and to be inspired by nature with regard to energy-saving motion concepts, lightweight design and conservation of resources,” added Dr. Veit.</p> <p> </p> <p>“We see it as our duty to join forces with partners from science and industry to meet the challenges currently under discussion in the context of Industry 4.0 and think ahead to future production. For Festo, intelligent components on the one hand form the basis of future production systems. Integration and miniaturisation solutions, for example, must be further developed so that the real and virtual worlds can grow further together in production. But human-machine cooperation is likewise a core issue. The decisive factors for Festo are that we pursue a holistic approach, work on the fundamental technologies and pave the way for networked overall systems in technological terms, while also concentrating on aspects such as providing young people with training and qualification for future production environments,” Dr. Veit continued.</p> <p> </p> <p>“We also take heed of overriding global topics such as electromobility, global food security and water shortage. We want to make a contribution here too, for instance through the efficient production of batteries for electric vehicles, in the food sector and especially in the field of water/wastewater. Our process automation solutions are in increasingly high demand among major cities and metropolises, as this technology provides intelligent automated processes for saving energy and water and thus contributes to sustainable urban development. Already today, we are automating water works in St. Petersburg, Istanbul and the Chinese city of Nanjing that supply millions of people with clean water. There is immense demand the world over for these solutions,” Dr. Veit pointed out.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Production in emerging markets with high added value in Europe </strong></p> <p>To generate additional growth, Festo is further extending the scope of its global supply in the target markets. “A focal point for us is China. With a population of 1.3 billion, this country is the world’s largest market in the field of automation. Having opened our Regional Service Centre (RSC) and our Global Production Centre (GPC) China in Jinan in 2012, we shall now be extending our Technical Engineering Centre (TEC) in Shanghai in 2013 so that we can cater to the strong demand for the development of customised solutions for the Asian region,” said Dr. Veit. “A further focal point is the USA. Many American companies are now concentrating production activities on their home country once more and need our support in the form of production expertise. We too shall be expanding our production capacities there over the coming years,” Dr. Veit continued. <strong></strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Festo is also investing in many further locations, particularly in India, Indonesia, Argentina, Bulgaria, and Mexico, to provide its customers with even better local support. “We are making these investments in order to remain competitive in the future, to promote sustainable growth in these countries and to win over motivated and creative employees – but also in order to shape new work environments and laboratory space and to promote productivity and quality through innovative buildings and performance factories,” said Dr. Veit in explaining the objective.</p> <p> </p> <p>Festo will continue to pursue its successful two-pronged strategy for its global product range in the future. In Europe, the company is manufacturing on a modular basis with increasing levels of automation and economies of scale. At the Group’s locations in the global growth markets, production is carried out “in the region, for the region”. In these countries the modules are locally adapted to the needs of a particular region or customer, and tailor-make solutions are even developed for individual customers. “This means that our German and European markets account for a high proportion of the added value in our growth markets and benefit from this demand,” said Dr. Veit, and explained: “With our national companies and our production facilities outside Germany, we have greatly contributed towards improving the innovative power and production quality of the new markets. The technological standards have risen in the local markets, and with them the expectations placed on products; this is boosting the demand for our competitive automation solutions. Customers in Asia have now come to expect the same service, excellent delivery and consultancy that have long been strong points for us in Europe.”</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>The high-tech location Germany: expertise for research, development and production </strong></p> <p>In Germany, Festo is extending its activities in the fields of expertise, research and development, future technology, and technology factories. “We are giving our customers here at the 2013 Hanover Trade Fair a new value proposition: we are the engineers of productivity! This is the yardstick we want to be measured against in the future. We intend to give our customers an even greater competitive advantage in the form of smart and intuitive products along with increased productivity in their facilities and processes, and individually tailored qualification concepts. For this purpose, we are investing 185 million euros in future products and services in Germany alone,” said Dr. Veit.</p> <p> </p> <p>The<strong> Esslingen headquarters</strong> will be extended to become <strong>a high-tech location</strong>. First of all, the Automation Center for Sales in Germany is to be completed by the end of 2014. “We are thereby securing much-needed space for the implementation of our strategy: this is not just about making up for existing space deficits; it also concerns the planned future areas for new working worlds, especially our increasingly complex project activities for the rapid implementation of customers’ projects. Customer applications will be tested here in future and put into operation, and reference plants will be presented. This will also pave the way for additional laboratory capacities and provide more room for strengthening our cooperation with universities and colleges in high-tech clusters and joint research projects. We are closely networked with the excellent university and research environment in Germany, and we benefit from it and are giving it shape,” said Dr. Veit.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>A benchmark for production “made in Germany” </strong></p> <p>A technology factory is to be created at the Scharnhausen site near the Esslingen headquarters by the end of 2014. “Our realignment will create ideal conditions for even more competitive production through more efficient processes,” said Dr. Eberhard Veit. “The restructured plant is also a showcase for customers that will demonstrate optimal material and value-added flows. At the same time, we are giving visible form to our innovative power by providing the necessary spatial conditions for integrated technological and product-related developments. Furthermore, we shall greatly improve time-to-market by means of our optimised procedures and reoriented core processes. By demonstrating our excellent production competence to our customers and partner companies in Germany in this manner, we shall create attractive, modern jobs that will help boost the motivation of our employees even further,” said Dr. Veit.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Increased production capacities for electric drives and process automation </strong></p> <p>The objectives of the corporate strategy for 2015, especially the growth and focal areas defined within it, require additional production space in all of Festo’s regions of activity worldwide. “Festo’s global production volume has grown by around 40% within the last five years. The increase in space requirements at our Rohrbach location is mainly due to the growth products in the field of drive technology,” explained Dr. Eberhard Veit. The Global Production Center (GPC) Rohrbach is the foremost cylinder manufacturing plant in the global production network. Along with pneumatic actuators, this plant is increasingly oriented toward the growing business segments of Electric Drives and Process Automation. Festo is therefore also extending facilities at its locations in Saarland. The extension of the production area by 6,000 m² and of production logistics by 3,000 m² should lead to an approximately 30 percent increase in productivity by 2015.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Expansion of polymer expertise for products of the future </strong></p> <p>Festo is also investing in a <strong>high-tech centre for polymer materials</strong> at the Rohrbach/Diedesbühl site, which is expected to commence operation in late 2014. “Establishing the Polymer Competence Centre in the immediate vicinity of our production and logistics site is an important step towards ensuring the competitiveness and productivity of our Saarland location, and our long-term corporate success. At this location, in addition to research and development, we intend to concentrate our global expertise in the field of polymer materials, develop efficient production technologies as a global benchmark and establish our Polymer Competence Center as the key element of the polymer network. By using innovative materials and benefiting from the specific characteristics of polymers, we want to offer our customers an even more attractive range of products in the future,” said Dr. Eberhard Veit.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>The outlook for 2013 </strong></p> <p>Festo will continue to pursue its growth strategy. “We shall be keeping a close eye on the markets, in order to recognise trends in good time. We want to continue to grow more rapidly than the market – not only in the growth markets of Asia and the Americas, but also in our European core markets. We are even expecting a revival of the Southern European markets. For 2013, the Management Board is expecting a growth rate between 3 – 6 percent compared to 2012,” announced Dr. Veit.</p>305018http://www.festo.com/net/en_corp/SupportPortal/Press.aspx?documentId=305018Festo has been a partner of the Russian manufacturing industry for over 40 years.Fri, 05 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +02002013-04-05T10:00:00+02:00<p><strong>Festo has been a partner of the Russian manufacturing industry for over 40 years, providing automation and training solutions. In view of Russia’s accession to the WTO, this industry is now increasingly focusing on compliance with international standards. Growing demands on quality and energy efficiency are now making Festo the No. 1 partner of the Russian machinery and plant manufacturers. In addition to factory automation, process automation is also playing a major role. </strong></p> <p> </p> <p>More than 9,000 customers in automation and 3,000 in didactics are served by Festo’s Russian national company, with headquarters in Moscow and six automation centres in St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Chelyabinsk, Irkutsk, Samara and Rostov-on-Don, along with further outlets in a total of 21 cities.</p> <p> </p> <p>This market success in Russia dates back to 1971 with the signing of the first contract with the USSR Ministry of Machinery Manufacture for the supply of automation equipment. The next step followed in 1988, with the establishment of a joint venture with a representative office in Moscow; and in 1989, the national company was established with headquarters in that same city. Today, Festo is the market leader in Russia with over more than 200 employees.</p> <p> </p> <p>The market has been characterised by growth for a number of years. The expansion of logistics has cut delivery times in the Russian market to only a few days, since more than 50% of all goods are now delivered directly from the Moscow warehouse. The Solution Engineering Centre SEC Moscow, founded in 2004, caters to the increasing demand for individual customer-specific solutions. One example of such special developments is the bear-proof GBVA drive system for the oil and gas industries. But there is also strong demand for energy-efficient solutions, both in mechanical engineering and in water and wastewater technology.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Access to the global market and energy-efficient solutions for major cities </strong></p> <p>“We are currently observing two significant trends: on the one hand Russian mechanical engineers from the manufacturing industry – for instance from the food and packaging sector, or the automotive and rubber/plastic industries – are seeking to position themselves on the global market with their products. As a result of the WTO accession, the companies are hoping for new market opportunities that they intend to realise with the help of our support in the form of German production technology and expertise. The companies that we are supporting here on location have great innovation potential, but are currently still largely manufacturing for the local market,” says Alexey Vititnev, Managing Director of Festo Russia, and adds: “The second trend relates to the increasing awareness of energy efficiency on the part of towns and major cities in Russia. Our solutions in water and wastewater technology concentrate on precisely this development and offer us enormous potential for growth. Vodokanal of St. Petersburg supplies that city’s 4.8 million inhabitants with clean drinking water and has set itself the ambitious goal of reducing electricity consumption by one third. Energy-saving pneumatic drive units from Festo are already being used in the new K-6 block of the water treatment plant.”</p> <p> </p> <p>One example is the machinery manufacturer KB-NS, which produces equipment for processing pastry and pasta. The company is increasing its production capacity by 40% in 2013 and will now be producing 14 machines per month. KB-NS is relying on an intensive technology partnership with Festo in this undertaking. “Our customers use our machinery on a 24-hour basis,” explains Anatoly Zelenkjevitsch, Managing Director of KB-NS, “and Festo’s products are ideally suited for these high loads. At present, our market focus is still on Russia and its neighbouring countries. We have already held initial discussions with potential customers in the EU, and we are technically in a position to deliver EU-compliant machinery at any time.”</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Qualification of experts is the key </strong></p> <p>To achieve this, the Russian machinery manufacturers need increasing numbers of highly qualified staff. Here too, they are supported by Festo: “If Russia intends to earn a reputation on a broad basis as an export nation, the next few years will see a high demand for skilled workers. Major deficits are to be expected here. With our Didactic Centres in Moscow, Chelyabinsk and St. Petersburg, we provide companies, universities and public educational institutes with practical qualification schemes, ranging from training courses and seminars to the planning and equipping of industrial learning laboratories and learning factories,” says Andrey Shpitov, Head of Festo Didactic Russia. The course “MEI Festo” at the Moscow Energy Institute (MEI) of the Moscow Technical University, for example, was already initiated in 1999 to provide high-quality, state-of-the-art technical training and English classes. An increasing number of leading universities in Russia have since been relying on learning systems from Festo for the qualification of experts. As part of its Corporate Educational Responsibility (CER) initiative, Festo also supports technical universities in Russia by providing laboratory equipment and learning systems.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Russia: a growth market </strong></p> <p>For the coming years too, Festo Russia can look to the future with optimism: “We are expecting growth in sales to the order of 16 to 18% on average. With our wide range of offers in not only factory but also process automation, we can also optimally cater to sectors highly characteristic of Russia – such as mining, oil and gas or the aluminium industry – with our customized range of products right down to the low-temperature range,” explains Alexey Vititnev.</p>301108http://www.festo.com/net/en_corp/SupportPortal/Press.aspx?documentId=301108As an automation specialist, Festo will be present for the second year running at the Metropolitan Solutions Fair 2013.Fri, 05 Apr 2013 09:00:00 +02002013-04-05T09:00:00+02:00<p><strong>Festo at Metropolitan Solutions 2013</strong></p> <p>Perspectives on water – solutions for sustainable urban development</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>As an automation specialist, Festo will be present for the second year running at the Metropolitan Solutions Fair from the 8th to the 12th of April 2013. The event for urban infrastructures is held at the same time as the Hanover Fair. Festo will display efficient solutions and innovative concepts for future communal water supply and wastewater treatment in cities and metropolises on a stand of just under 100 square metres (hall 1, stand D08). </strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Efficient solutions for water and wastewater treatment are particularly crucial when it comes to dealing sustainably with water as a resource. As a result, more and more attention is being focused on the automation of water and wastewater treatment plants for sustainable urban development.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Urban water solutions</strong></p> <p>As a supplier of pneumatic and electrical automation technology, Festo takes advantage of this international platform to present holistic solutions for future urban infrastructures. “As a global trend setter, we’re making an important contribution to innovative concepts for future, worldwide water supply and wastewater disposal with our automation solutions”, explains stand supervisor Armin Müller, responsible for Process Application Management at Festo. “Emphasis is placed on increasing efficiency by automating processes”, stresses Müller.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Efficiency, networking, analysis – insights into Festo water technology</strong></p> <p>Where communication structures and automation solutions are concerned, the focus is more and more on efficient operations. This is also the case in the field of wastewater technology where, for example, rainwater accumulated in decentralised basins is fed to a central water treatment plant. With the help of a GSM link, the entire system can be controlled and monitored from the wastewater treatment plant’s central control station. Condition monitoring at the component and system levels enables efficient operations management, service and maintenance. A current reference project dealing with energy self-sufficient automation of decentralised rainwater basins addresses this concept. It enables Festo to offer insights into innovative, energy-efficient solutions for decentralised applications in process automation. Exhibits involving sand and membrane filtration will also be on display at Festo’s stand.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>AquaJellies – bionic showpiece for water technology</strong></p> <p>With the help of its AquaJellies as bionic showpieces, Festo will demonstrate what efficient systems in the field of water technology might look like in the future, and explore their potential at its stand. The AquaJellies have been developed within the framework of Festo’s Bionic Learning Network. The autonomous jellyfishes, which are equipped with communicative capabilities, embody innovative developments in the areas of system capabilities, energy efficiency, communication and lightweight construction. The current status of each individual jellyfish can be recorded and monitored with the help of a smartphone app, while other functions, such as detecting battery levels, is made possible by real-time diagnostics.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Festo worldwide metro activities</strong></p> <p>Festo water technology is used around the world in the infrastructures of megacities and metropolises with several million residents. And thus the company is making a valuable contribution to the automation of newly constructed water and wastewater treatment plants, as well as to the modernisation of existing facilities. In addition to drinking water projects already presented at Hanover in 2012 – one in Cairo, a city with a population of roughly 16 million, and another in the city of Nanjing with 6 million residents – emphasis will be placed this year on an application in Saint Petersburg, Russia, partner country to the Hanover Fair 2013.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>Drinking water for Russia</strong></p> <p>Festo is currently working together on site with the team from its national company on the water project in Saint Petersburg. Festo pneumatic automation technology is providing the new systems with enery efficient solutions. In addition to modernising 34 pumping stations, Vodokanal, Saint Petersburg’s water utility, has set itself the goal of reducing power consumption for drinking water supply by more than 33%. This is supported by the pneumatic automation technology supplied by Festo, which results in much lower energy costs than using electric actuators for opening and closing the butterfly valves in sand bed filters and pumping stations. Vodokanal supplies Saint Petersburg and its five million residents with 1.9 million cubic metres of drinking water.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>Festo Didactic</strong></p> <p>Investment in basic and further training for qualified personnel is the basis for globally functioning water supplies. The Didactic division will therefore introduce new, hands-on training for the water sector.</p> <p>The modular training system EDS Water, consisting of five learning modules, will be presented. The individually combinable units for water transport and distribution, as well as treatment monitoring and energy optimisation, form a comprehensive concept for the issue of water supply. They allow the simulation of operations sequences and impart the necessary process awareness. The goal is to provide practical training for the operation of equipment and systems in the water sector. Furthermore, an extensive range of training programmes has been developed on the basis of this learning system, which can be provided anywhere in the world and adapted to local circumstances.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Metropolitan Solutions Forum</strong></p> <p>Festo will not only exhibit its products as a solutions supplier, the company will also hold presentations at the Metropolitan Solutions Forum. The focus will be on innovative technologies for tomorrow’s water supply. This encompasses the increasing significance of actions targeted at optimising energy efficiency and life cycle costs in water management.</p> <p> </p> <p>Further information is available at www.festo.com/urban-development, www.festo.com/water and www.festo.com/press</p> <p> </p> <p>Festo’s main stand is located in hall 15, stand D07. An electro-mobile shuttle service to and from the main stand will be available.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Metropolitan Solutions Forum – planned Festo presentations:</strong></p> <p>Wednesday the 10th of April 2013: focal point: <strong>“Russia Special”</strong>, from 2.20 to 2.40 p.m.</p> <p>Thursday the 11th of April 2013: focal point: <strong>“The Water City”</strong>, from 11.40 to 12.00 a.m.</p>301080http://www.festo.com/net/en_corp/SupportPortal/Press.aspx?documentId=301080Festo is showcasing the potential of superconductor technology for automation technology at the Hanover Trade Fair 2013Fri, 05 Apr 2013 09:00:00 +02002013-04-05T09:00:00+02:00<p><strong>Superconductors for resource-efficient industrial automation </strong></p> <p>Festo is currently conducting research on superconductor technology and is presenting applications for automation technology for the first time in Hanover</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Superconductors work by hovering, are resistance-free and energy efficient. While they have been used in medical technology for two decades and are currently making their mark in large-scale systems with high power density, Festo is looking into how the technology can be applied to sustainable production of the future. Smaller-scale applications in the field of frictionless, hovering bearing systems are interesting for production systems. Festo is showcasing the potential of superconductor technology and the research topics for automation technology at the Hanover Trade Fair 2013 with three exhibits developed in cooperation with evico and other partners from research and academia. </strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Superconductors are metals, metal compounds or ceramic materials which abruptly enter a superconducting state below a certain transition temperature. When this happens, they lose their electrical resistance. “Once the transition temperature is reached, mutually repulsive electrons bind to form what are called Cooper pairs. Once paired, they can no longer interact with the atomic lattice that surrounds them, and as a result conduct the electrical current without any resistance,” explains Prof Dr Werner Hanke from the University of Würzburg. “Once the electrical current is put into motion in the superconducting material below the transition temperature, it flows in a closed circuit without any losses,” adds Prof Dr Hanke.</p> <p> </p> <p>The superconductor technology is still in the research stage but has great potential in material development and cooling systems. The cost of cooling the material to extremely low temperatures stood in the way of widespread industrial applications for a long time. “High-temperature superconductors whose transition temperature is above 100 Kelvin were discovered in 1986. These superconductors are ceramic materials. Since then, it has become possible to cool materials directly using liquid nitrogen or electrically, which is much cheaper and more practical,” explains Prof Dr Ludwig Schultz from the Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research (IFW Dresden).</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Superconducting magnetic bearings in automation</strong></p> <p>If a superconductor is cooled to below the transition temperature under the influence of the external magnetic field of a permanent magnet, not only does it lose its electrical resistance but it also changes its characteristics: the superconductor can store the magnetic field of the permanent magnet at a predefined distance and enable a stable hovering condition. The superconductor responds to any attempt to move it by returning to the stored position. The three research projects demonstrate this characteristic of frictionless, stable bearing without the need for complex measurement and control technology.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>SupraLinearMotion – hovering thanks to superconductivity</strong></p> <p>SupraLinearMotion, a rocker with a seat for one person, brings superconductor technology to life for the trade fair visitors. To make the rocker hover, the superconducting material on the bottom of the slide is passively cooled to a constant temperature between 63 and 77 Kelvin using liquid nitrogen. It is then placed approx. 15 millimetres above a rail, a simple magnetic guideway made of permanent magnets. The material stores and maintains the defined position parallel to the rail. To move the slide, the rocker is taken off balance. As soon as the downward movement starts and the rocker tips over, gravity takes over. The passenger floats on the rocker, carried by superconductance.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>SupraHandling – frictionless movement in a level plane</strong></p> <p>This principle has been transferred to an X/Y-table for moving objects in a level plane. Two drives attached beneath the table tilt the base plate in the X and Y direction independently from each other. By doing so they set two slides that hover on magnetic rails in motion without touching them. This means that for the first time, the slides of an X/Y-table are moving on superconducting bearings. As with SupraLinearMotion, the superconductor in this handling system is passively cooled using liquid nitrogen. The distance and position relative to the magnetic rail is maintained and stable hovering becomes feasible. There are many possible applications of this technology in automation. For example, characteristics such as freedom from noise, freedom from wear and the ability to maintain a defined distance open up new applications for automation technology. The soft suspension and the low energy expenditure enables gentle movements without any additional expenditure.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>SupraPicker – handling system in an hermetically sealed room</strong></p> <p>The SupraPicker exhibit shows a magnetic gripper with superconducting bearing system which completes a two-part handling operation, first outside an hermetically sealed room and then inside this room. The gripper, which hovers thanks to superconductivity, picks up a vial magnetically, conveys it through a lock into an hermetically sealed room and places it in the designated position. The exhibit showcases the benefits of the non-contacting, stable, superconducting bearing system, which opens up new opportunities for handling applications. Once the magnetic field is stored, the magnet that performs the gripping function and the superconductor can be physically separated without any problems – for example, by a plexiglass wall as in the exhibit. In this application, the superconducting material is actively cooled by a small, electric cooling unit. This does away with the need for auxiliary units for cooling, transporting and storing liquid nitrogen, which makes potential industrial use much easier.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>You will find Future Concepts exhibits from Festo at stand D07 in hall 15.</strong></p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>Further information can be found at: </strong><strong>www.festo.com/bionics</strong><strong></strong></p> <p><strong>Full article with pictures: </strong><strong>www.festo.com/press</strong> </p> <p><strong> </strong><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>For queries, please contact:</strong></p> <p>Festo AG & Co. KG</p> <p>Julia Duwe, head of Corporate Communication – Technology</p> <p>Tel.: +49 (0) 711-347-4078, E-mail: duju@de.festo.com</p>301081http://www.festo.com/net/en_corp/SupportPortal/Press.aspx?documentId=301081Each year, Festo’s Bionic Learning Network provides new inspiration for automation technology at the Hanover Trade Fair.Fri, 05 Apr 2013 09:00:00 +02002013-04-05T09:00:00+02:00<p><strong>Festo presents current projects from the Bionic Learning Network </strong></p> <p>Inspired by nature</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>Each year, Festo’s Bionic Learning Network provides new inspiration for automation technology at the Hanover Trade Fair – and this year is no different. The emerging fields include research in the areas of function integration, lightweight construction, self-configuration and machine learning. With the “BionicOpter”, the “WaveHandling” system and the “LearningGripper”, Festo shows how principles from nature can be applied in automation technology. </strong></p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p>As a global manufacturer of pneumatic and electric automation technology, Festo’s core business is helping to shape the production and working environments of the future and offering its customers innovative solutions for the production systems of tomorrow and beyond. “This is essential for our long-term reputation as a competent partner with a high level of problem-solving skills,” emphasises Dr.-Ing. Heinrich Frontzek, Head of Corporate Communication and Future Concepts. “What we need to do is simplify the challenges involved in production sequences and guarantee intuitive control of machines and plants. The current projects from Festo’s Bionic Learning Network provide visonary approaches on how to do this,” says Mr. Frontzek.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Inspired by dragonfly flight</strong></p> <p>After bird flight had been deciphered with the SmartBird in 2010, the developers took on their next-biggest challenge in the Bionic Learning Network: modelling the dragonfly at a technical level. The BionicOpter is an ultralight flying object. Just like its model in nature, the BionicOpter can fly in all directions and execute the most complicated flight manoeuvres. The BionicOpter’s ability to move each of its wings independently enables it to slow down and turn abruptly, to accelerate swiftly and even to fly backwards. This means that for the first time there is a model that can master all the flight conditions of a helicopter, plane and even a glider. Despite its complexity, the highly integrated system can be operated easily and intuitively via a smartphone.</p> <p> </p> <p>This unique way of flying is made possible by lightweight construction and the integration of functions: components such as sensors, actuators and mechanical components as well as open- and closed-loop control systems are installed in a very tight space and adapted to one another.</p> <p>The flapping frequency, amplitude and angle of incidence are controlled by software and electronics; the pilot just has to steer the dragonfly – there is no need to coordinate the complex motion sequences.</p> <p> </p> <p>The principles of ultra-lightweight construction are applied throughout the flying object. With a wingspan of 63 cm and a body length of 44 cm, the model dragonfly weighs just 175 grams. The wings consist of a carbon-fibre frame and a thin foil covering. The intelligent kinematics correct any vibrations during flight and ensure flight stability. In order to stabilise the flying object, data on the position and the twisting of the wings is continuously recorded and evaluated in real time during the flight of the dragonfly.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Modular conveyor: conveying and sorting in one</strong></p> <p>With the WaveHandling pneumatic conveyor, engineers from Festo’s Bionic Learning Network have developed a modular system that can move a surface in such a way that objects are transported and sorted purposefully. Thanks to the integration of a sorting function, an additional handling unit is no longer required for this process. The conveyor consists of numerous bellows modules that deform the surface creating a wave motion that transports the objects in a targeted manner.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p>Inspiration for this principle was provided by waves in nature. The movement of the wind over the smooth surface of the water produces small ripples, which grow as the wind pushes against them. However, what is being moved by the waves is energy, not water. The water molecules within a wave move up and down in a circular motion, but remain in roughly the same place. Yet the energy produced causes the wave to roll over the surface of the sea. The WaveHandling system behaves in a similar way: while each individual bellows advances and retracts in the same spot, a wave moves over the surface of the conveyor.</p> <p> </p> <p>The individual modules are self-configuring. This means that the system can be started up quickly and without programming, no matter what the layout is. A potential application of the platform is in the food industry, for automatically transporting delicate items like fruit and vegetables and sorting them for the next process step. With the WaveHandling transport system, Festo is already demonstrating how the configuration of a system will be handled by the individual modules themselves in the future.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>Self-learning gripper: LearningGripper</strong></p> <p>The LearningGripper is a four-fingered gripper that looks like an abstract form of the human hand. The four fingers of the gripper are actuated pneumatically by 12 bellows actuators with low-level pressurisation. What makes this bionic gripper so special is its learning ability. This is thanks to learning algorithms which take the place of highly complex programming.</p> <p> </p> <p>Thanks to machine learning, an offshoot of artificial intelligence, the gripper can teach itself to carry out complex tasks such as gripping and positioning a ball. In concrete terms, the gripper assigns itself the task of turning a ball so that a particular point of the ball points upwards. It picks up the corresponding motion sequences through learning by reinforcement.</p> <p> </p> <p>With this principle, self-learning systems like the LearningGripper could be built into future production lines and autonomously optimise their own performance.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>Festo at a glance </strong></p> <p>Festo is a global leader in automation technology, and the world market leader in industrial training and education. Festo’s pneumatic and electric drive technology stands for innovation in industrial and process automation – from individual products to ready-to-install solutions. Innovation for the best possible productivity of our customers, global presence and close, long-term partnerships with our customers are the hallmarks of Festo. 16,200 employees work worldwide in 61 national companies of Festo. Festo’s turnover for 2012 was 2.2 billion euros.</p> <p>www.festo.com</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>About the Bionic Learning Network </strong></p> <p>The Bionic Learning Network is a network linking Festo to well-known universities, institutes and development companies. The objective of this initiative is to transfer biological principles to industrial technology and to produce innovative solutions and visions for industrial applications, all through bionics. Automated motion sequences can be made even more energy-efficient and productive using bionics, potentially providing industry with completely new solutions for practical problems.<strong></strong></p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>You will find Future Concepts exhibits from Festo at stand D07 in hall 15.</strong></p> <p><strong>Further information can be found at: </strong><strong>www.festo.com/bionics</strong><strong></strong></p> <p><strong>Full article with pictures: </strong><strong>www.festo.com/press</strong> </p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>For queries, please contact:</strong></p> <p>Festo AG & Co. KG</p> <p>Simone Schmid, Corporate Communication – Technology</p> <p>Tel.: +49 (0) 711-347-57489, E-mail: smns@de.festo.com</p>295770http://www.festo.com/net/en_corp/SupportPortal/Press.aspx?documentId=295770In the production operations of the future, networking will be everywhereThu, 04 Apr 2013 14:00:00 +02002013-04-04T14:00:00+02:00<p><strong>Networked and intelligent: production systems of the future</strong></p> <p>Festo takes a holistic approach to the topic of "Integrated Industry"</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>Decentralised system intelligence, a high degree of flexibility, easy system engineering and commissioning for machines - in the production operations of the future, networking will be everywhere, as the real and virtual worlds merge together. Festo, the global supplier of automation technology, is using the topic of "Integrated Industry" to illustrate various themed developments at the Hanover Fair 2013 from various points of view. Core questions are dealt with not only as technological developments but also in a social context. </strong><strong></strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Fundamental changes are taking place in the world of production and are being discussed under the heading of "Industry 4.0". The Hanover Fair has taken up this theme under the slogan of "Integrated Industry". The forecast is that modern information and communication technologies will in the future merge with classical industrial processes. "We are meeting  these changes by working together with partners from industry and science to deal with the associated challenges and play an active role in shaping new technologies," says Professor Dr. Peter Post, Head of Research and Programme Strategy at Festo AG. The Festo company considers the development of production systems holistically and from various different perspectives, paying attention not only to technology but also other factors such as cooperation between human beings and machines and questions of training. </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>A glimpse of the future: Bionics and Future Concepts</strong></p> <p>A particularly important aspect for Festo is to look into the future. With its Bionics projects and Future Concepts, the company is researching into and constantly discovering new ideas for future production environments. Models in nature inspire Festo developers to come up with unusual solutions. Once again at this year's Hanover Fair, there will be presentations on the Festo stand of new projects dealing with major topics ranging from function integration through to adaptive systems and intuitively operated machines. </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Intelligent components</strong></p> <p>The basis for the production systems of the future is intelligent components - discrete autonomously operating mechatronic modules. There will of course continue to be evolutionary further development in centralised factory control systems, but at the same time there will be ever more frequent use of the principle of decentralised self-organisation of components to allow these to execute tasks assigned by a higher-level  control system. In order to make networked overall systems of this kind possible, Festo is undertaking intensive further development of technologies such as precision engineering and microsystems technology.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>Cooperation between human beings and machines</strong></p> <p>However, Festo does not focus on technology alone. One of the core questions with which the company is concerned is the cooperation between human beings and machines. For example, in the future robots will actively assist human workers in manual activities. Humans are highly flexible and can master a large number of tasks within a very short time. Present-day machines, on the other hand, are often static but are able to work quickly, precisely and powerfully. The challenge is to combine these two worlds: technology must be able in the future to adjust to changing parameters and to human interventions. Examples of this development even today are Festo's prize-winning Bionic Handling Assistant (German Future Prize 2010) and ExoHand (nominated for Hermes Award 2012).</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Future-oriented teaching in a training factory</strong></p> <p>Festo's activities are not confined to production operations - it is also concerned with the training of the new generation of skilled personnel for the production environments of the future. With turnkey training factories and laboratory solutions, Festo Didactic offers the necessary tools for future-oriented instruction in mechatronics and automation technology. This will be demonstrated clearly at the Hanover Fair by a training factory based on the Festo Modular Production System MPS®. This allows topics of current interest such as RFID technology, intelligent networking, energy efficiency and condition monitoring to be taught in an easily understandable way.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Development progresses continuously</strong></p> <p>Machines, components and workpieces will be in the future be closely networked and will communicate with one another. Many of the necessary functions are already in use in automation technology today, for example vacuum grippers with diagnostic functions or valve terminals with integrated programmable logic controllers, while others are currently still at the research stage. Professor Post emphasises: "'Industry 4.0' for us is a highly interdisciplinary future project on which we are working continuously."</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>You will learn more on the subject of "Industry 4.0" at the Festo online press conference on 21st March 2013</strong>, <strong>5:30 to 6 p.m. (CET)</strong><strong> >> </strong> <strong>Access</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Festo at a glance</strong></p> <p>Festo is a global leader in automation technology and the market leader in basic and further technical training. Festo's pneumatic and electric drive technology stands for innovation and quality in industrial and process automation – from individual products to ready-to-install solutions. Worldwide Festo employs 15,500 staff in 59 independent companies.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Festo and "Industry 4.0"</strong></p> <p>As part of the future project "Industry 4.0" led by Acatech, the German Academy of Technical Sciences, Festo is participating in two working groups - "Smart Factory" and "The Human Factor".</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>Further information can be found at: </strong><strong>www.festo.com/research</strong> <strong></strong></p> <p><strong>Full article with pictures: </strong><strong>www.festo.com/press</strong> </p> <p><strong>Contact: </strong></p> <p>Festo AG & Co. KG</p> <p>Julia Duwe,</p> <p>Head of Corporate Communication – Technology</p> <p>Tel.: +49-711-347-4078</p> <p>E-Mail: duju@de.festo.com </p>302098http://www.festo.com/net/en_corp/SupportPortal/Press.aspx?documentId=302098Festo Didactic will be presenting key learning and research areas from the field of Integrated Automation at the Hanover Trade FairThu, 28 Mar 2013 11:14:14 +01002013-03-28T11:14:14+01:00<p>The Transfer Factory was developed to teach students about mechatronics and automation technology. It features individual cells that can be configured for a wide range of production scenarios. The version being exhibited at the Hanover Trade Fair will focus on the following:</p> <p> </p> <p>-          Energy monitoring using the latest wireless sensors</p> <p>-          Robot diagnostics via smartphone</p> <p>-          Integrated spare parts ordering by the machine</p> <p>-          RFID: the workpiece carries a record of its production history</p> <p>-          Asset management: QR code links components with their service information</p> <p> </p> <p>The MPS® Transfer Factory can be reconfigured in minutes as required for the learning situation, making it a convertible factory. The cells in the Transfer Factory can be used individually or in combination without any additional expense thanks to the patented passive workpiece carrier diverter, the only solution of its kind on the market.</p> <p>The double-sided construction of the cells enables different scenarios for group work, with students able to work independently on both sides of each belt section. All the cells in the learning factory are on rollers, which enables them to be freely positioned in the laboratory without tools or pallet trucks. The cells are supplied by a special system cable. Rewiring, fitting new tubing or additional installations are not required when changing the layout. This saves valuable training time and the laboratory remains free of additional supply ducts and trip hazards.</p> <p> </p> <p>The cells and functional modules in the MPS® Transfer Factory are equipped with the very latest industrial technology. The Festo Didactic project consultants carry out a competent needs analysis, which is followed up with customised solutions for training courses in production and automation technology, robotics, and mechatronics. Experienced technicians and engineers from Festo design learning factories precisely tailored to the customers' needs using PLC and robot programming systems, simulation systems, CAD and EPLAN. Festo Didactic cooperates with a number of notable partners in the manufacture of the MPS® Transfer Factory. Festo is a Siemens Automation solution partner.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>Courses</strong></p> <p>Festo Didactic also offers individual training courses in connection with the MPS® Transfer Factory: communication, robotics, simulation, image processing, PLC programming, fieldbus, RFID technology, plant simulation, troubleshooting</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Festo Didactic</strong> is the world-leading equipment and solution provider for industrial education.<strong> </strong>We design and implement learning laboratories, educational equipment and programs that train people to perform in highly dynamic and complex industrial environments. Our goal is to maximize the learning success in educational institutions and industrial companies around the globe.<strong> </strong></p>