Festo opens first India automation experience centre in Noida to support Industry 4.0 adoption
The facility will help manufacturers, OEMs and system integrators evaluate automation technologies, develop skills and accelerate smart factory deployments.
German industrial automation company Festo has opened its first Automation Experience Centre (FEC) in India, establishing a dedicated facility in Noida to help manufacturers evaluate automation technologies as investments in digitalisation and smart factories continue to grow.
The centre marks Festo's expansion into North India's manufacturing corridor and will serve as a hub for technology demonstrations, customer collaboration, skills development and industry engagement.
Located in Noida's Phase II industrial area, the facility enables customers to experience live demonstrations and application-based use cases across factory automation, electric automation, pneumatics, motion technologies, digital engineering and Industry 4.0 solutions.
The launch coincides with Festo India's 40th anniversary and reflects increasing demand for automation technologies across India's manufacturing sector.
According to the company, the experience centre will allow manufacturers to evaluate technologies before deployment, helping them identify opportunities to improve productivity, operational efficiency and sustainability.
Supporting customer evaluation and partner engagement
Beyond showcasing products, the centre will help customers explore practical automation applications through demonstrations and technical discussions.
It will also support collaboration with OEMs, system integrators and educational institutions, giving them direct access to Festo's automation technologies and engineering expertise.
Frank Notz, member of the Management Board, Sales, at Festo SE, said the experience centre reflects the company's strategy of working closely with customers as manufacturing becomes increasingly digital.
"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," Notz said.
"By creating a space where innovation can be experienced firsthand, we are enabling meaningful collaboration and accelerating the adoption of future-ready automation solutions."
Festo India’s managing director, Ravi Sastry, said the initiative comes at a time when manufacturers are looking to strengthen their competitiveness through automation.
He said the company aims to help customers improve operational performance while supporting their long-term transformation initiatives.
Training and workforce development
In addition to industrial automation technologies, the centre also showcases solutions from Festo Didactic, the company's technical education and workforce development division.
The facility will host training programmes, workshops, technology demonstrations and industry engagement initiatives to help address the growing demand for skilled talent in advanced manufacturing.
According to the company, the centre combines technology evaluation with workforce development, enabling organisations to build both technical capabilities and operational expertise as they adopt new automation systems.
Festo India’s senior director of sales and marketing, Vikas Makhija, said the experience centre is intended to help customers understand how automation can deliver measurable business outcomes.
"Through live demonstrations, expert interactions and application-focused solutions, we aim to help industries unlock new opportunities for efficiency, flexibility and sustainable growth," Makhija said.
North India identified as a growth market
Festo said north India continues to be an important manufacturing region, making Noida a strategic location for the company's first experience centre in the country.
Festo India’s head of market management, Ranajay Sarkar, said the facility will provide customers, OEMs, system integrators and educational institutions with access to the company's latest automation technologies.
He said the company expects the centre to strengthen industry collaboration while supporting innovation across the region.
The investment comes as India's manufacturing sector continues to expand, driven by growing adoption of automation, digital manufacturing and Industry 4.0 technologies.
According to India's Economic Survey 2026, manufacturing contributes around 16-17 percent of the country's GDP and employs more than 27 million people. The government expects the sector to play a central role in India's long-term economic growth, with manufacturing's share of GDP targeted to increase to at least 25 percent by 2047.
Festo said it will continue evaluating opportunities to expand its technology footprint across India based on customer demand, industry growth and strategic priorities.