Festo Didactic Brings Workforce Training Focus to MODEX 2026
Islandia, N.Y., April 9, 2026 — As automation accelerates across intralogistics and warehouse operations, many companies face a growing challenge: deploying increasingly advanced systems without enough skilled technicians to install, operate, and maintain them.
Festo Didactic addresses the workforce challenge at MODEX 2026 by featuring training solutions designed to build the automation skills needed to keep material-handling systems running. Experts at the booth will demonstrate training technologies and discuss workforce development strategies with attendees. Festo Booth # B9127 at MODEX 2026, Atlanta, April 13–16.
A featured system at the booth is the Festo Didactic MecLab, a compact training platform for operating and maintaining conveyors, sorting operations, sensors, pneumatics, and PLC-controlled automation. MecLab replicates industrial material-handling processes. This training tool allows learners to understand how the mechanical, electrical, and control technologies behind automated logistics systems integrate, operate, and are maintained in support of uptime and throughput.
Festo Didactic assesses workforce skill levels and develops training programs tailored to each facility’s automation environment. This type of mechatronics training delivers actionable understanding and skills. Didactic solutions can include installing learning systems within the plant’s training area, conducting instructor-led courses, and customizing courses to align training with the specific technologies used in a plant.
Didactic also partners with community colleges and technical institutions to build automation training labs and apprenticeship programs. The result is a local workforce pipeline for careers in maintaining and operating advanced manufacturing and warehouse automation systems.
As many as 2.1 million manufacturing jobs in the United States could go unfilled by 2030 if the skills gap is not addressed, increasing the urgency for this type of workforce development and training.
“Every technology, from AI to autonomous guided vehicles, depends on people well versed in the fundamentals of technologies and controls,” said Karolyn Ellingson, Head of Industrial Workforce Development, Festo Didactic. “We work with companies and educators to build those fundamental skills so that warehouses and manufacturing plants operate at peak productivity.”
Visitors to MODEX 2026 can learn more about closing the skills gap at a plant and in their communities by speaking with Festo Didactic representatives. Visit the technical education section of the Festo website, http://www.festo.com/ to become acquainted with the wide range of Didactic solutions.
