Festo at CIIF 2025: “Injecting New Momentum into the World with Automation”
2025-09-27From September 23 to 27, 2025, the 24th China International Industry Fair (CIIF) was held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). As a global leader in automation technology and technical education, Festo celebrated its centenary with the theme “Injecting New Momentum into the World with Automation” at booth 5.1H B105, showcasing cutting-edge innovations that blend pneumatic and electric automation, digitalization, and lifelong learning.
A Century of Innovation Driving the Future of Manufacturing
The year 2025 marks Festo’s 100th anniversary. At this milestone event, Festo unveiled numerous global premieres and presented its holistic approach of “Pneumatic-Electric Integration” to demonstrate its strength in electrical automation, intelligent manufacturing, and digital transformation—empowering China’s manufacturing industry to upgrade with higher efficiency and quality.
Precision Motion Control: Safety Meets Efficiency
Making its debut at CIIF, Festo’s advanced safety motion control solution provides end-to-end monitoring from electromechanical cylinders to servo systems. It continuously tracks position and speed and, upon detecting anomalies, immediately triggers rail locking and safety braking functions (SBC, SLS), certified to Cat 3 PL d/e standards, delivering the highest level of protection for automation equipment.
Also on display was the multi-axis synchronized motion control solution powered by the next-generation CEPE high-performance edge controller. With outstanding computing capacity and an open architecture supporting multiple industrial Ethernet protocols, CEPE integrates seamlessly with servo and low-voltage servo motors, ideal for advanced motion control and IIoT applications.
Pneumatic-Electric Integration: Comprehensive End-of-Arm Solutions
Festo highlighted its complete End-of-Arm (EoA) portfolio, covering both pneumatic and electric actuators:
- Robust pneumatic grippers for heavy-load, high-force gripping tasks.
- Compact HExC electric grippers tailored for electronics and life sciences applications.
- Next-generation VTUX valve terminal, enabling flexible control and intelligent data analysis of pneumatic and electric actuators, fulfilling stringent requirements for robotics and smart manufacturing.
Additionally, Festo presented a full IP69K stainless steel motion control solution, featuring EPRF-BS cylinders, EMMH-AS servo motors, and couplings—all FDA- and EU1935/2004-compliant, fully sealed, hygienic, and washdown-ready for food, beverage, and life sciences industries.
Life Sciences: Precision at Microliter Scale
For life science applications, Festo showcased a large-volume pipetting system, integrating ELGD high-performance cylinders, EGSC compact slides, EMMT series servo motors, and pipette syringes. It supports liquid handling from 100µl to 50ml, significantly reducing manual errors and enhancing laboratory automation.
Digital Transformation: Festo AX and Smart Engineering Tools
At CIIF, Festo emphasized digitalization and AI-driven automation:
- Festo AX software enables real-time monitoring of machine status and energy consumption, supporting predictive maintenance and OEE optimization. It is vendor-independent, simplifying digital transformation.
- Predictive maintenance demos: AX for pneumatic cylinders, electric cylinders, vacuum systems, plus AX energy-saving applications and Smartenance maintenance platform.
- Festo FluidDraw engineering tool: combining design, schematics, and ordering in one workflow, with automated BOM export and direct connection to Festo’s eShop.
In 2025, Festo’s My Festo digital platform and AI assistant further enhance the customer experience, enabling order tracking, after-sales requests, engineering tool access, and personalized solutions.
Localized Services and E-Commerce Expansion
To better serve the Chinese market, Festo launched official flagship stores on JD.com and Tmall in September 2025. Together with its nationwide direct sales team, authorized distributor network, and online shop, Festo delivers multi-channel services to diverse customer groups.
Talent Development and Lifelong Learning
Committed to sustainable development, Festo showcased its Electeo electronics training system, combining lab equipment, digital courseware, and virtual instruments to cultivate high-quality technical talent. As the first industrial partner of WorldSkills, Festo has now become a Global Premium Partner and will fully support the 2026 WorldSkills competition in Shanghai.
Bionics: Learning from Nature
Nature and technology go hand in hand. At CIIF, Festo introduced the BionicBee, the company’s smallest bio-inspired flying system to date. Using generative design, engineers created ultra-light yet stable structures, demonstrating how biological intelligence translates into groundbreaking industrial technology.
Conclusion
Celebrating its 100th anniversary, Festo continues to drive breakthroughs in automation technology and industry applications. At CIIF 2025, Festo once again demonstrated how innovation injects fresh momentum into global manufacturing—building a smarter, more efficient, and more reliable future for industry.