As automated machines become more capable, the amount of decentralised I/O required increases. Conventional approaches often rely on multiple dedicated input and output modules, increasing hardware, commissioning and the number of additional components that machine builders and system integrators must engineer, stock and support.

Festo has introduced GripperAI, an AI-powered software solution that enables robots to handle mixed, unfamiliar and randomly positioned products without the need for extensive programming, template loading or specialist vision integration. Designed for manufacturers seeking greater flexibility from automated handling systems, GripperAI automatically identifies the optimum gripping point for each item and selects the most appropriate gripper for the task from the end-of-arm tools available. The software enables robots to adapt to changing...

Automation engineers are under increasing pressure to keep production running while managing ever more complex systems. Every minute of downtime counts, but critical technical information is often spread across multiple tools, manuals and data sources, slowing down troubleshooting and impacting productivity. Festo has introduced its new AI-powered Virtual Assistant to give engineers and maintenance teams immediate access to reliable technical answers, helping them resolve issues faster and keep operations moving.

Festo has introduced the HPSX Universal Adaptive Gripper, a pneumatic soft gripper engineered to improve speed, hygiene and flexibility in demanding food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics applications. Combining robust design, food-safe materials and adaptive silicone fingers, the HPSX directly addresses long-standing automation challenges where rapid, precise and gentle product handling is essential.