Festo Introduces VTUX Manifold Automation Platform: Innovating to Break Industry Bottlenecks

In today’s industrial automation sector, market competition is becoming increasingly intense. Companies are seeking breakthroughs through price wars, talent acquisition, sales strategy adjustments, or technological innovation. In response to these challenges, Festo unveiled its latest VTUX manifold automation control platform at the 2024 Shanghai AMTS Automotive Manufacturing Technology & Equipment Exhibition, positioning innovation as the key to overcoming market saturation and leading industry transformation.

Forty Years of Technological Expertise Driving Industry Innovation

Since launching the world’s first manifold in 1987, Festo has been deeply engaged in industrial pneumatic technology for four decades, continuously expanding its presence in electrical automation to establish a dual-drive strategy of “pneumatics + electrics.” However, as market demands grow increasingly diverse, a single technological approach is no longer sufficient. To address this, Festo has introduced a new strategy of “pneumatic-electric integration,” leveraging its technological strengths to create the VTUX manifold automation platform, delivering smarter, more efficient, and more flexible solutions to the industry.

VTUX: Modular Design Leading the Era of Pneumatic-Electric Integration

Festo Vice President Wang Rui highlighted that as customers accelerate their digital transformation efforts, they also demand more cost-effective solutions. VTUX was developed precisely to meet these needs by offering flexible configuration options and localized delivery capabilities.

1. Pneumatic Section: High-Performance Materials and Innovative Structural Design

• Utilizes lightweight materials and a unique pneumatic tube connection design, ensuring all tubes face the same direction, reducing manifold width and optimizing machine layout.
• Features a modular valve configuration, allowing adaptation to various application needs using a combination of 10mm and 12mm air circuit base plates.

2. Electrical Section: Strong Communication Compatibility and Intelligent Integration

• Supports Profinet, EtherCAT, EthernetIP, and other mainstream industrial Ethernet protocols, ensuring seamless integration into existing control architectures.
• Compatible with IO-LINK interfaces, enabling communication with sensors and electrical components to enhance data transmission and system integration.
• Supports Festo’s 200M/s AP communication protocol, allowing for remote monitoring and efficient control.

Four Product Configurations to Meet Diverse Needs

Festo offers standard and enhanced versions of the VTUX, with interchangeable electrical and pneumatic components. These configurations result in four distinct product variations, covering a wide range of automation applications. Its high integration not only reduces customer procurement and maintenance costs but also simplifies installation, optimizes debugging processes, and enhances equipment lightweighting and future scalability.

Localized Production for Rapid Delivery

VTUX entered full-scale production at Festo’s Jinan factory in May 2024, ensuring stable supply chain operations and providing efficient local delivery and service support for the domestic market. This innovative platform is set to become a core product for Festo’s future development and offers a new direction for the entire automation industry.

The launch of VTUX is not only a testament to Festo’s commitment to technological innovation but also a significant step towards a smarter, more integrated future in industrial automation. With its superior performance, VTUX is poised to make a substantial impact across various industries, delivering more intelligent and efficient automation solutions.