Festo's AX controls is redefining smart production

Industrial automation is at a crossroads: traditional engineering and lengthy setup processes no longer match the speed and flexibility modern production demands. Recognizing this, Festo has launched AX Controls, a real-time automation platform designed to rethink how machines are controlled and connected across the factory floor.

At its core, AX Controls blends multiple technologies—control, motion, AI, data integration, and predictive maintenance—into a platform that supports both small installations and large-scale systems with ease. Rather than forcing companies to juggle multiple incompatible tools, Festo’s solution offers a flexible, scalable architecture that adapts to varied industrial needs. 

One of the standout innovations in this platform is the CEPE edge controller, Festo’s first controller with an integrated operating system. Its open architecture allows software apps to be added before or after installation, making it easier to customize automation solutions over time. With high computing power and support for synchronized motor and drive control, the CEPE controller opens the door to complex, high-performance automation tasks. 

AX Controls also leverages PLCnext Technology from Phoenix Contact as its foundational operating system. This brings modern programming languages, cloud connectivity, and containerized software modules into the mix—features that support real-time applications and pave the way for greater use of AI in industrial workflows. The partnership with PLCnext accelerates innovation cycles while tackling digital transformation and cybersecurity challenges head-on. 

For Festo, the release of AX Controls signals a deeper shift toward software-driven automation. In the words of Dr. Wolfgang Sperling, Head of Festo’s Electric Automation Business Unit, the platform enables faster integration, easier programming, and quicker commissioning—benefits that are critical in today’s competitive manufacturing landscape. 

As factories evolve and AI-supported systems become more central to production optimization, platforms like AX Controls could help companies bridge the gap between legacy setups and agile, intelligent automation strategies. From smaller machines to complex production lines, this new approach aims to make automation more adaptable, efficient, and future-ready for a wide range of industrial challenges.