Festo Officially Joins ctrlX World: Redefining the Future of Industrial Automation with an Open Ecosystem— A Powerful Partnership Unlocking New Potentials for Smart Manufacturing

On February 11, 2025, Bosch Rexroth announced that Festo, a global leader in automation technology, has officially joined its open industrial automation ecosystem, ctrlX World. This collaboration marks a significant milestone for the ctrlX AUTOMATION platform in cross-sectoral innovation, as the two companies will jointly push the application boundaries of the Linux-based real-time operating system, ctrlX OS, providing more efficient, flexible, and secure automation solutions for industries such as automotive, packaging, and processing.

I. Technology Integration: End-to-End Innovation from Hardware to Software

As a benchmark enterprise in pneumatic technology and industrial automation, Festo’s core products (such as valve islands and remote I/O systems) seamlessly integrate with ctrlX OS, bringing three key technological upgrades for users:

Seamless Automation Architecture

Festo’s valve islands and I/O systems, through ctrlX OS, enable end-to-end connections with PLCs, sensors, actuators, and IO-Link devices, eliminating traditional data silos across automation layers. For instance, ctrlX OS supports high-performance data exchange and standardized toolchains, quickly integrating Festo’s pneumatic actuators for full-chain collaboration from device control to cloud management.

Lightweight and Efficient Deployment

The modular design of ctrlX OS, combined with Festo’s compact hardware, creates plug-and-play solutions. Users can quickly download pre-configured applications from the ctrlX Store, significantly shortening system deployment time while reducing integration complexity.

Security and Flexibility Combined

With optional safety modules, Festo devices can meet SIL3/PLe functional safety requirements. Together with ctrlX OS’s embedded cybersecurity mechanisms (such as enhanced software stack protection), this dual-layer security is suitable for industries with stringent safety requirements, such as automotive manufacturing and food packaging.

II. Industry Empowerment: Cross-Sector Applications from Automotive to New Energy

Festo’s extensive experience in multiple vertical sectors will further enrich ctrlX World’s industry application scenarios:

Automotive Manufacturing

The synergy between Festo’s cylinders and ctrlX OS enables optimized precision and response speed on production lines. For example, in electric vehicle battery assembly, high-precision cylinders combined with real-time motion control algorithms can improve the yield rate to over 99.5%.

Packaging Machinery

By integrating Festo’s intelligent valve islands with ctrlX OS’s edge computing capabilities, packaging lines can dynamically adjust operations and optimize energy consumption, helping businesses reduce overall operational costs by 30%.

Processing Industry

Festo’s remote I/O systems, paired with ctrlX OS’s open programming environment (such as CODESYS and Python), support customer-defined logic control, providing flexible solutions for small-batch, multi-variety production demands.

III. Ecosystem Co-Development: Open Collaboration Driving a New Paradigm for Smart Manufacturing

The core goal of the ctrlX World ecosystem is to break down the silos in automation systems. Festo’s participation marks the ecosystem’s coverage of key areas such as pneumatic technology, electrical control, and edge computing, with over 100 partners now onboard. Future collaboration will focus on:

Cross-Platform Development

Leveraging ctrlX OS’s hardware-agnostic nature, Festo’s pneumatic solutions will be extended to third-party devices and even virtual environments (such as cloud and edge servers).

Industry Standardization

Through joint development of industry-specific applications (such as automotive welding solution packages), the partnership will promote the standardization of component interfaces and protocols, reducing customers’ secondary development costs.

Global Service Network

By combining Bosch Rexroth’s 180 global service centers with Festo’s localized supply chain, the collaboration will provide one-stop support for companies expanding overseas, from technical adaptation to after-sales maintenance.

Conclusion: Ushering in a New Chapter of Automation

The partnership between Festo and ctrlX World is not only a collaboration between two technological giants but also a paradigm of an open ecosystem in the era of Industry 4.0. With the technological philosophy of “Efficiency, Openness, and Connectivity”, the two companies will continue to empower the global manufacturing industry, helping enterprises respond to market changes with lower costs and greater agility.

#ctrlXAUTOMATION #IndustrialAutomation #SmartManufacturing