"Incredible Machine" inspires German Chancellor
During a tour of the Hannover Messe at the Festo stand, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz congratulated the company on its 100-year success story: In the anniversary year, Festo welcomed the Federal Chancellor accompanied by Stéphane Dion, Special Envoy of the partner country Canada to the European Union, and Stephan Weil, Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, with a special exhibit, the "Festo Incredible Machine".
In the midst of a highly dynamic period in terms of economic policy, Festo was able to demonstrate how the global player is making an optimistic start to the next century of the company's history with a focus on innovation and a focus on the future: Festo recorded a positive result – a message that also visibly pleased the Federal Chancellor. The delegation around the Federal Chancellor was enthusiastic about the innovative strength of the company – summed up by the "Incredible Machine". It shows the fascinating world of movement set in motion by an eMotion Butterfly.
Inventive spirit from the very beginning
Based on the principle of a Rube Goldberg machine, the "Incredible Machine" does not produce a specific product, but tells the story of the movement in automation technology that has had a significant influence on the family-owned company Festo. "The machine demonstrates Festo's diverse competencies and comprehensive expertise in automation technology, because inventiveness has been part of the company's DNA from the very beginning," explained Thomas Böck, CEO of Festo.
Innovations can solve specific problems and have the potential to transform entire industries and create new industries. The journey through the individual stations of the "Incredible Machine" touches on applications ranging from battery production for electric cars, laboratory automation in the life sciences, to intralogistics and the semiconductor industry. It dives into the company's history and ends with insights into the actuators of the future. At the end of the day, the message is: Festo is represented in almost all industries, constantly delivers innovations and the impetus continues!
Thomas Böck gave the political representatives the following advice: "Festo is optimistic about the current financial year and the next 100 years. In doing so, we continue to focus on innovation and invest an above-average amount in research and development. This was and is the recipe for success in our successful company history."
Festo is a global player and an independent family-owned company with headquarters in Esslingen am Neckar, Germany. Festo has set standards in industrial automation technology and technical education ever since its establishment, thereby making a contribution to sustainable development of the environment, the economy and society. The company supplies pneumatic and electrical automation technology to 300,000 customers of factory and process automation in over 35 industries. Digitalization, AI and the LifeTech sector with medical technology and laboratory automation are becoming increasingly important. The products and services are available in 176 countries. With about 20,600 employees in over 250 branch offices in around 60 countries worldwide, Festo achieved a turnover of around €3.45 billion in 2024. More than 8% of this turnover is invested in research and development. In this learning company, 1.5 % of turnover is invested in basic and further training. Festo Didactic SE is a leading provider of technical education and training and offers its customers worldwide comprehensive digital and physical learning solutions in the industrial environment.
