Festo Automation Platform: One Backplane for Electric and Pneumatic Motion | Doskee Automation

Festo Automation Platform (AP): Unifying Electric and Pneumatic Motion on One Backplane

With the recent introduction of its distributed I/O solution CPX-AP-A, along with its established CPX-AP-I decentralized I/O, Festo now offers a range of electric and pneumatic automation solutions that is unmatched in North America in terms of performance, flexibility, cost savings, and engineering productivity. AP stands for Automation Platform, and this backplane-based remote I/O system has been in development for a decade.

“The Festo AP backplane communications platform, which provides a central communication and data transfer I/O interface, is a combination of everything we’ve learned over the past 25 years of doing electric and pneumatic linear automation solutions,” said Tim Sharkey, Director of Electric Automation, Festo North America. “AP backplane communications brings together enormous functionality and creates a higher level of integration among our devices than we’ve ever had.”

CPX-AP-A and CPX-AP-I: Two Distributed Architectures

CPX-AP-A is the new line of distributed I/O where modules are attached within a terminal. CPX-AP-I is Festo’s decentralized I/O, where modules are connected via cable at distances of up to 164 ft (50 m) between modules. AP modules, whether on-terminal or individual, are IP65/67 rated and can be located in cabinets, in clusters around the cell, individually placed, and separated at great distances. Every AP module features a high-performance real-time backplane transmission rate of 200 Mbps full duplex.

Extreme Topology Flexibility Under a Single IP Address

AP provides the utmost in topology flexibility, giving machine builders the freedom to optimize the machine or cell by adding I/O where they need it and in ways that best boost performance and diagnostics. The AP ecosystem makes it efficient for end-user customers to add functionality as needs arise. Whether physically attached on-terminal or connected via cable, all components such as PLCs, valves, motors, drives, and I/O appear to the programmer as one smart terminal under a single IP address. Having the entire distributed and decentralized I/O topology under a single IP address significantly reduces hardware and installation costs while lowering system complexity. Since many PLCs come with a limited number of IP addresses, the Festo solution means more capabilities are possible per PLC.

With all components appearing to the programmer as resident in a single smart terminal, addressing becomes straightforward, programming time shrinks, and engineering productivity rises. As the functionality and capabilities of the system climb with the addition of modules, the overall distributed and decentralized I/O system becomes simpler to create and maintain.

A Forward-Looking Product Roadmap

Festo’s multi-year product roadmap calls for the continued rollout of AP-based PLCs, valves, linear actuators, motors, and drives. For OEMs and end-user customers wanting extended AP capabilities today, Festo support teams can make much of that happen. “There are many companies with distributed I/O,” said Eric Rice, Product Market Manager, Festo North America. “On the other side there are suppliers for electric or pneumatic linear motion. Not one North American supplier on either side comes close to offering the same level of performance, capabilities, and support that stems from the integration of the AP platform with the breadth of Festo motion solutions.”

Doskee Automation specializes in industrial automation and pneumatic components, offering selection and sourcing support for Festo CPX-AP-A / CPX-AP-I remote I/O, the AP backplane communication platform, valve terminals, and related pneumatic products. If you’re planning distributed I/O, unifying electric and pneumatic motion control, or cabinet reduction, please contact us for selection guidance and a quote tailored to your architecture.

Reference: Adapted from PneumaticTips “Festo’s Automation Platform integrates electric and pneumatic motion solutions” by Rachael Pasini (2023-08-25)