Transformation Program for sustainable Growth and Competitiveness
Far-reaching changes in global markets, growing competition from Asia and geopolitical crises are currently also challenging Festo significantly – all over the world, but especially in Germany. Against the background of increasingly difficult market conditions, the company is implementing a global transformation program designed to boost both growth and efficiency.
Thomas Böck, Chairman of the Management Board: “We need this transformation program now, while we can still act from a position of strength. Our goal is to consolidate our global position so that we can further expand our leading role in automation technology and technical education. To this end, we are streamlining our structures and optimizing our cost base responsibly to ensure we have the capacity to invest and operate with a long-term focus.”
Position cut in Germany
To create the financial flexibility needed for the transformation, Festo plans to optimize its structures in Germany. This will involve cutting 1,300 positions across all areas. During the ongoing consultations, the Company and the German Works Council are discussing how to implement this position cut in the most responsible and socially responsible manner possible. Details have not yet been finalized.
Festo is undertaking this step in the strong conviction that it will secure its competitiveness in the long term.
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 €3.33 billion in 2025. 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.
