German industrial automation player Festo inaugurated its first Automation Experience Centre (FEC) in Noida, marking a significant milestone in the company’s expansion strategy for Northern India’s rapidly growing manufacturing sector. Located in Block A, Phase-2, Noida, the facility will serve as an innovation and collaboration hub, enabling manufacturers to explore cutting-edge automation technologies through live demonstrations and application-based solutions. The launch comes as Indian industries accelerate investments in factory automation, digitalisation, smart manufacturing, and Industry 4.0 technologies to improve productivity, operational efficiency, and sustainability.
A Strategic Launch During Festo India’s 40th Anniversary
The inauguration coincides with Festo India’s 40th anniversary, underscoring the company’s long-term commitment to supporting India’s evolving manufacturing landscape. The Automation Experience Centre allows customers to evaluate automation technologies in real-world industrial scenarios before deployment. Consequently, manufacturers can make informed investment decisions while identifying opportunities to enhance production efficiency, reduce operational costs, and improve sustainability. The facility showcases Festo’s latest innovations across multiple automation domains, including Factory Automation, Electric Automation, Pneumatics, Motion Technologies, Digital Engineering and Industry 4.0 Solutions. By bringing these technologies together under one roof, Festo aims to accelerate the adoption of next-generation manufacturing solutions across diverse industrial sectors.
Festo Reinforces Customer-Centric Innovation
Frank Notz, Member of the Management Board, Sales, Festo SE, highlighted the company’s commitment to customer collaboration. “The opening of the FEC in Noida reflects our commitment to staying close to our customers and supporting their transformation towards smarter and more sustainable manufacturing. By creating a space where innovation can be experienced firsthand, we are enabling meaningful collaboration and accelerating the adoption of future-ready automation solutions.” His remarks reinforce Festo’s strategy of helping manufacturers embrace intelligent automation through practical demonstrations and collaborative technology engagement.
Celebrating Four Decades of Growth in India
Highlighting the significance of the occasion, Ravi Sastry, Managing Director, Festo India, described the inauguration as an important milestone in the company’s four-decade journey in India. He noted that customer success remains central to Festo’s business philosophy and emphasized that the new Experience Centre arrives at an ideal time, enabling industries to strengthen their competitive advantage through advanced automation solutions. According to Sastry, the initiative further positions Festo India to deliver world-class automation technologies while preparing customers for the future of manufacturing.
Driving Business Value Through Automation
Explaining the purpose of the new facility, Vikas Makhija, Senior Director – Sales & Marketing, Festo India, said the Experience Centre has been designed to help customers understand how automation can generate measurable business value. Through live product demonstrations, expert consultations, and application-focused solutions, manufacturers can explore practical ways to improve operational flexibility, efficiency, and long-term sustainability. The centre also strengthens Festo India’s position as a trusted automation partner for businesses seeking digital transformation.
Supporting Manufacturing Growth in North India
Ranajay Sarkar, Head of Market Management, Festo India, highlighted North India’s increasing importance as a manufacturing destination. According to him, the Noida Experience Centre will provide customers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), system integrators, and educational institutions with direct access to Festo’s latest automation technologies and technical expertise. The company also expects the centre to strengthen partnerships across industries while encouraging innovation and technology adoption throughout the region.
Bridging the Industrial Skills Gap
In addition to industrial automation solutions, the facility features offerings from Festo Didactic, the company’s technical education and workforce development division. The centre will conduct: Technical training programmes, Hands-on workshops, Technology demonstrations, Industry engagement initiatives and Skill development sessions. These programmes are designed to address India’s growing demand for highly skilled professionals capable of supporting advanced manufacturing and smart factory operations.
Expansion Plans Across Manufacturing Hubs
Festo plans to evaluate opportunities for establishing similar Automation Experience Centres in other manufacturing regions across India. Future expansion will depend on customer demand, industrial growth, and the company’s strategic priorities, enabling Festo to strengthen customer engagement while expanding its technology footprint nationwide.
Supporting India’s Manufacturing Vision
The launch aligns with India’s broader ambition of becoming a global manufacturing powerhouse. According to the Economic Survey 2026, manufacturing contributes approximately 16–17% of India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and provides employment to more than 27 million people. As the country aims to transform from a US$3.7 trillion economy into a US$30–35 trillion economy by 2047, the manufacturing sector is expected to play an increasingly vital role, with its contribution to GDP projected to rise to 25% or more. Against this backdrop, advanced automation, digital engineering, and smart factory technologies are expected to become critical drivers of industrial competitiveness and sustainable growth.
As per the press release, with the launch of its first Automation Experience Centre in Noida, Festo has strengthened its commitment to enabling India’s manufacturing sector through innovation, knowledge sharing, and advanced automation technologies. As industries continue their digital transformation journey, the new facility is expected to serve as a catalyst for smarter, more efficient, and future-ready manufacturing across the country.
