Highlights 2024/25 Interview 6 – 7 » Festo and pneumatics – for many people, the connection between the two goes back a long way. Which association would you prefer to hear? Frank Notz: We are an all-round automation partner with an extensive portfolio for generating and controlling motion. In addition to pneumatics, we have expanded electric automation and digital products into important business areas with a broad portfolio. We are therefore very well positioned when it comes to intelligent and extensively networked systems. The aim of our sales experts is to consistently demonstrate to our customers that we are “motion experts” – and that goes far beyond pneumatics. But, of course, pneumatics is very much part of our DNA. We are constantly setting new standards in this area, for example by digitizing pneumatics. With “controlled pneumatics”, we have achieved huge improvements in performance, which in turn translates into considerable improvements in precision and energy efficiency, among other things. » What are the benefits of having such a broad portfolio? Frank Notz: Of course, having a broad portfolio alone is not a guarantee of success: seamless connectivity is the key. Let’s stick with the example of digital products: Data – whether from electric or pneumatic systems – is transformed into a usable format throughout the entire automation pyramid in a hardware-neutral way. This opens up new opportunities, especially, of course, when combined with AI. Good examples of this are predictive maintenance, or smart energy and quality management. These are all important factors when it comes to taking our customers’ productivity to a new level. » Is there a rule of thumb: Which solution is the right one for which application? Frank Notz: It always depends on the specific production task. Efficient and optimized automation often depends on the right mix. But how do you discover it? What sets us apart is our high level of consulting expertise. It is impressive to see how deeply our application engineers immerse themselves in the needs of our customers. Their premise is to precisely understand the requirements of the various industries, as well as the individual customer needs, in order to find the best customer-specific solution. Thanks to our broad portfolio, our application engineers can approach the consultation phase without any preconceived ideas and just focus completely on individual customer benefits. It is ultimately all about increasing productivity! » So, the question of the perfect solution is not an “either/or” decision? Frank Notz: Exactly! I believe that we should never draw a line between electric automation and classic pneumatics or controlled pneumatics. On the contrary, our systems are so smart, networked, and compatible that it often takes a mix of technologies to find the best solution for an application. And not only is it all completely seamless, everything is from a single source, because our extensive portfolio covers the entire automation spectrum. » How do you guide the customer to the ideal solution? Frank Notz: Our Festo Experience Centers *, which we have established in many regions around the world, are a prime example of how we work with our customers to find the best solution without any preconceived ideas. What’s special about this is our very practical approach to finding solutions on site together with our customers. In a “sandbox environment”, various applications can be set up, tested, evaluated, and adapted directly on site using a wide selection of components from our portfolio. The end result is always the best possible solution for an individual automation task, whether pneumatic, electric, or even a suitable combination of both drive technologies. In many cases, however, our customers can also make the right choice quickly and easily online. We are “Motion Experts” For Frank Notz, Member of the Management Board Sales, Festo is still too often associated purely with the topic of “pneumatics”. Yet electric automation solutions and digital products have long been important areas of business too. Dr. Ansgar Kriwet, Member of the Management Board Research and Development, talks about challenges, milestones, and trends. * The interview took place in the newly opened Festo Engineering Center (FEC) in Esslingen, Germany.
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