Festo has inaugurated its first Automation Experience Centre (FEC) in India, establishing a dedicated facility in Noida to help manufacturers, OEMs, system integrators and educational institutions evaluate advanced automation technologies and accelerate their transition toward smart manufacturing.
Located in Noida’s Phase II industrial area, the new centre serves as a collaborative hub where visitors can experience live demonstrations and application-based solutions spanning factory automation, electric automation, pneumatics, motion technologies, digital engineering and Industry 4.0. The facility has been designed to enable manufacturers to assess automation technologies before deployment, helping them improve productivity, operational efficiency and sustainability.
The launch coincides with Festo India’s 40th anniversary and underlines the company’s commitment to supporting India’s rapidly evolving manufacturing sector. As manufacturers increasingly invest in digitalisation and smart factory initiatives, the company aims to provide a platform that combines technology evaluation, technical expertise and workforce development.
Commenting on the inauguration, Frank Notz, Member of the Management Board, Sales at Festo SE, said the new experience centre reflects the company’s commitment to working closely with customers as they embrace smarter and more sustainable manufacturing practices. He noted that the facility has been created as a space where customers can experience innovation firsthand, collaborate with experts and accelerate the adoption of future-ready automation solutions.
The centre will also facilitate collaboration with OEMs, system integrators and academic institutions by offering access to Festo’s latest automation technologies and engineering capabilities. Through practical demonstrations and technical discussions, visitors will be able to explore real-world industrial applications and identify solutions tailored to their manufacturing requirements.
Highlighting the significance of the initiative, Ravi Sastry, Managing Director of Festo India, said the experience centre comes at a time when manufacturers are seeking to strengthen their competitiveness through automation. He added that the company aims to help customers enhance operational performance while supporting their long-term digital transformation strategies.
Beyond industrial automation, the facility also features solutions from Festo Didactic, the company’s technical education and workforce development division. It will host training programmes, workshops, technology demonstrations and industry engagement activities to help bridge the growing skills gap in advanced manufacturing. By integrating technology demonstrations with workforce development, the centre seeks to equip organisations with both the technical knowledge and practical expertise needed to implement modern automation systems effectively.
According to Vikas Makhija, Senior Director – Sales and Marketing at Festo India, the experience centre is designed to demonstrate how automation technologies can deliver measurable business outcomes. Through live demonstrations and application-focused solutions, the company aims to help industries improve efficiency, flexibility and sustainable growth.
Festo selected Noida for its first Indian experience centre owing to North India’s growing importance as a manufacturing hub. Ranajay Sarkar, Head of Market Management at Festo India, said the facility will strengthen collaboration with customers, OEMs, system integrators and educational institutions while fostering innovation across the region.
The investment comes as India’s manufacturing sector continues to witness increasing adoption of automation, digital manufacturing and Industry 4.0 technologies. Festo said it will continue to explore opportunities to expand its technology footprint across the country in line with customer demand and evolving industry requirements.
