A Shift Toward Electric Motion

In modern manufacturing environments, speed, precision, and flexibility aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re essential. As manufacturers embrace smart factories, Industry 4.0, and digital transformation, the choice of motion technology has a direct impact on competitiveness. While pneumatics remain a cornerstone in many plants, electric automation is growing rapidly due to its programmability, energy efficiency, and scalability.

Festo, a global leader in automation technology, has invested heavily in electric motion solutions that deliver repeatable accuracy, seamless integration, and modular scalability. At Power/mation, we see this product line as a critical enabler for our OEM and end-user customers who want smarter machines, more reliable production, and a faster path from design to deployment.

Why Electric Automation Matters for Modern Manufacturing

Electric motion control isn’t new, but what’s changed is accessibility. In the past, implementing servo-driven or stepper-driven motion meant significant engineering overhead and specialized expertise. Festo has changed that by delivering:

  • Modular design – Components that work together without complex setup.
  • Simplified commissioning – With auto-tuning drives and intuitive software.
  • Energy efficiency – Lower operating costs compared to compressed air.
  • Scalability – From single-axis pick-and-place to multi-axis gantry systems.
  • Precision and repeatability – Micron-level positioning for quality-critical applications.

As labor shortages, reshoring, and demand for flexible production accelerate, manufacturers in the Midwest and beyond are seeking solutions that can scale with their operations. Festo’s electric automation portfolio provides exactly that.

Festo Electric Automation Portfolio Overview

Electric Actuators

Festo offers a wide range of actuators—linear, rotary, and gantry—that transform motor power into controlled motion.

  • ELGA & ELGC Series Linear Axes – Belt- and screw-driven actuators designed for high speed or high precision depending on the application. Perfect for pick-and-place or palletizing systems.
  • EGC Ball Screw Drives – For applications requiring high rigidity and positioning accuracy, such as electronics assembly or medical device production.
  • Rotary Modules – Compact solutions for rotating, orienting, or indexing tasks.
  • Handling Systems – Configurable gantries that can move parts in three dimensions with precision and speed.

These actuators can be combined to create scalable systems—whether you need a simple single-axis slide or a complete Cartesian robot.

Servo Motors and Stepper Motors

Festo’s EMMS servo motor family and EMMT-ST stepper motors provide the muscle for electric motion. Designed for seamless integration with Festo drives, they offer:

  • High torque density in compact housings.
  • Wide speed range for both fast moves and controlled creep.
  • Encoder feedback for accurate closed-loop positioning.
  • Energy efficiency compared to older motor designs.

Because they’re optimized for Festo’s ecosystem, sizing and integration are straightforward which is a major time-saver for OEM machine builders.

Servo Drives and Controllers

The brains behind electric motion are the drives and controllers. Festo delivers plug-and-play performance with:

  • CMMT-AS Servo Drives – Compact, versatile drives supporting EtherCAT, PROFINET, and Ethernet/IP. Commissioning is simplified with preconfigured profiles.
  • CMMT-ST Stepper/Servo Drives – Cost-effective for smaller axes or lighter loads.
  • CPX-E Controller Platform – A modular control system designed for motion tasks, programmable via CODESYS and fully compatible with PLC standards.

These products enable centralized or decentralized control architectures, giving end users flexibility in system design.

Electric Grippers

Festo’s EHPS and other electric grippers provide programmable gripping force, speed, and stroke. Unlike pneumatic grippers, they allow for:

  • Force-controlled gripping – Preventing part damage.
  • Position feedback – Critical for quality inspection.
  • Energy savings – No constant air consumption.

For industries like electronics, medical, and precision assembly, electric grippers open new doors for process reliability.

The Advantage of Festo’s Digital Engineering Tools

While products are the building blocks of automation, the real value is unlocked when engineers can design and deploy solutions faster. Festo’s digital engineering tools stand out as some of the best in the industry:

  • Handling Guide Online (HGO) – Enables engineers to design a Cartesian handling system in under 20 minutes. The tool automatically sizes actuators, selects motors, and generates CAD models that drop directly into your machine design.
  • Festo Design Tool 3D (FDT 3D) – Allows users to assemble multi-axis systems virtually, ensuring accuracy and avoiding collisions before a single component is ordered.
  • Automation Suite – Provides a single interface for drive configuration, parameterization, and commissioning. Users can connect multiple axes and see instant feedback on performance.
  • Digital Twin Integration – By creating a virtual representation of the motion system, customers can test, validate, and optimize their production processes before going live.

Why This Matters

For OEMs, it means shorter design cycles and fewer engineering hours. For end users, it means faster machine delivery and smoother startup. And for maintenance teams, digital twins and parameter libraries ensure quick troubleshooting and minimal downtime.

Power/mation customers who leverage these digital tools alongside our application expertise gain a distinct advantage: they can move from concept to production with speed, confidence, and lower total cost.

Application Examples: Where Festo Electric Automation Excels

Packaging and Material Handling

  • High-speed pick-and-place with linear actuators.
  • Precision carton loading with servo drives.
  • Programmable grippers that handle delicate packaging without damage.

Electronics and Semiconductor Manufacturing

  • Micron-level accuracy for PCB assembly.
  • Multi-axis gantries for automated inspection systems.
  • Force-controlled gripping for fragile components.

Medical Device and Life Sciences

  • Electric actuators for laboratory automation.
  • Sterile-friendly motion systems with precise repeatability.
  • Energy-efficient alternatives where cleanroom standards matter.

General Industrial Automation

  • Palletizing and depalletizing systems.
  • Automated machine tending.
  • Modular gantry robots for high-mix, low-volume production.

Energy Savings and Sustainability

Many manufacturers are under pressure to reduce energy consumption. Electric automation helps achieve sustainability goals by:

  • Eliminating continuous air consumption found in pneumatic systems.
  • Offering regenerative braking in servo systems.
  • Reducing CO₂ footprint over the lifecycle of equipment.

When paired with Festo’s energy-efficient pneumatics, manufacturers gain a balanced approach, using pneumatics where it makes sense, and electrics where precision and efficiency matter most.

Looking Ahead: Smart Factories and AI Integration

Festo’s electric automation line is built for the future. With native support for IoT protocols (OPC UA, MQTT) and compatibility with AI-driven analytics, these products fit seamlessly into digital factories.

Imagine a multi-axis gantry system that not only moves parts but also reports predictive maintenance data, optimizes cycle time through machine learning, and scales up production when demand spikes. That’s the roadmap Festo is paving, and Power/mation is here to help customers make it a reality.

Why Power/mation?

At Power/mation, we don’t just provide components, we deliver complete automation solutions. Partnering with Festo allows us to offer:

  • Local technical expertise – Our engineers help with sizing, commissioning, and integration.
  • Cross-portfolio solutions – Combine Festo electric automation with Power/mation’s safety, controls, and enclosure offerings from suppliers like ABB, Phoenix Contact, Rittal, and Turck.
  • Regional stock and fast delivery – Reduce downtime with readily available parts.
  • Training and support – Power/mation provides training sessions and hands-on workshops to keep teams confident in deploying electric motion solutions.

The move toward electric automation is accelerating across industries, and Festo is leading the way with a portfolio that combines innovation, practicality, and scalability. At Power/mation, we see Festo’s electric automation line as more than a set of products, it’s a toolkit for manufacturers who want to stay competitive in a fast-changing world.

Whether you’re an OEM designing the next generation of equipment or an end user upgrading a production line, Festo’s electric automation solutions, backed by Power/mation’s expertise, can help you build smarter, faster, and more efficient systems.

Ready to explore what electric automation can do for your operation? Contact your Power/mation representative today to discuss Festo solutions and schedule a consultation.