Page 33 - trends in automation

40 years in the USA
Festo has been making a significant contribution to ­
the success of US companies for more than 40 years. In
1972, the Festo Corporation based in Port Washington,
New York State, was already providing service and parts
for pneumatic automation systems. The strong growth
in the 1970s was facilitated by the relocation of the
company headquarters to Hauppauge, remaining close
to New York City. This is where, in 1983, Festo produced
the first pneumatic cylinder on North American soil. In
the same year, the first Festo Expotainer hit the road.
Given the long distances to be covered to reach US com-
panies, this represented an important step towards the
sharing of automation expertise on a large scale. In
1996, as existing production capacities reached their
limits due to growing demand for Festo products, a new
production and logistic plant was built in Hauppauge.
Since 1997, the Regional Logistics Center has acted as
the service provider for ­product logistics. To meet the
specific requirements of key ­industries, the Festo
­Corporation opened the new Design and Customer
­Solutions Manufacturing Facility in Livermore, California,
in 2000.
Knowledge promotes growth
Throughout its 40-year history, the Festo Corporation
has helped to drive growth in various sectors of industry
by developing key applications. This includes, for
­example, piezo valves for medical technology, which are
used in devices for long-term oxygen therapy. Innovative
handling solutions such as the ‘Sliding Fork’ support
the production of solar cells.
The Festo Corporation has also been providing training
for the employees of its customers for many years. The
company is committed to promoting the development of
new technical and scientific talent. In 2012, Festo took
part in the World Science Festival, a week-long event
­celebrating the worlds of science and technology, with
exhibitions and events at various locations in New York
City. AquaJelly, AirPenguin and SmartBird proved to be a
big hit with the thousands of visitors, including many
young people. This first-hand experience of state-of-the-
art and future technologies form the basis for tomorrow’s
qualified employees.
2.2013 trends in automation
Synergies 32 – 33