Festo opens first global development centre, in Boston, for life science market

FestoLabAuto pd24

December 13, 2018

Recognizing that North America is at the forefront of the global life sciences market, Festo made Boston the site for its first development centre for innovations for that sector. The newly opened Boston Technical Engineering Centre (TEC) will develop advanced products by partnering with renowned medical and laboratory equipment manufacturers, many of which are located in and around that city. TEC Boston is focussing on developing components and systems for performing liquid handling functions such as pipetting, aspiration and dispensing. The marketplace wants process technology with high throughput and reproducible and accurate results – plus, of course, an attractive price tag.

Festo is applying its great expertise in factory and process automation to this fast growing field of laboratory automation. For example, they have launched the unique, compact EHMD rotary gripper module, which can grip and rotate sample vials and easily open even the smallest sample vials up to 15 millilitres in volume. The company also has developed the VTOE dispense head especially for handling liquids. It meets the most stringent requirements of sample analysis: high precision even with the smallest dosing volumes as well as a high degree of reliability and reproducibility. With up to eight independent dosing channels, the VTOE dispense head enables a wide range of applications.

Festo in laboratory automation and medical technology

Festo entered the field of medical laboratory automation in 2004, and it has been so strong a market, with annual double-digit growth, that in 2015 the company made it a separate division to facilitate further expansion. In laboratory automation, the focus is on the development of intelligent, tested products and subsystems for the automation of liquid and sample handling. In medical technology, Festo develops products and subsystems for medical devices, focussing on the efficient regulation and control of process and medical gases.

Related Articles


Changing Scene

  • Intralec Announces Leadership Transition in Northern GTA Sales Region

    Intralec Announces Leadership Transition in Northern GTA Sales Region

    Intralec has announced an upcoming leadership transition as Cameron Slade, currently Warehouse Supervisor, steps into the role of Outside Sales Representative for the Northern GTA region and North Ontario. Cameron will be filling in for Beverly Pisco, who will be beginning her maternity leave this June. Cameron brings a strong foundation in the electrical industry,… Read More…

  • Specialized Power Solutions Welcomes Jonathan Udy as New Sales Manager

    Specialized Power Solutions Welcomes Jonathan Udy as New Sales Manager

    Specialized Power Solutions is excited to welcome Jonathan Udy to their team! Jonathan joins Specialized Power Solutions with over a decade of experience in the electrical industry, beginning his career as a Journeyman Electrician working across commercial and industrial projects. He later transitioned into power distribution sales with ABB, where he spent over six years… Read More…


Sponsored Content
The Easy Way to the Industrial IoT

The way to the Industrial IoT does not have to be complicated. Whether access to valuable data is required or new, data-driven services are to be generated, Weidmuller enables its customers to go from data to value the easy way. Weidmuller’s comprehensive and cutting-edge IIoT portfolio applies to greenfield and brownfield applications. Weidmuller offers components and solutions from data acquisition, data pre-processing, data communication and data analysis.

Visit Weidmuller’s Industrial IoT Portfolio.


ADVANCED Motion Controls Takes Servo Drives to New Heights (and Depths) with FlexPro Extended Environment Product Line

Advanced Motion Controls is proud to announce the addition of six new CANopen servo drives with Extended Environment capabilities to their FlexPro line. These new drives join AMC’s existing EtherCAT Extended Environment FlexPro drives, making the FlexPro line the go-to solution for motion control applications in harsh environments.

Many motion control applications take place in conditions that are less than ideal, such as extreme temperatures, high and low pressures, shocks and vibrations, and contamination. Electronics, including servo drives, can malfunction or sustain permanent damage in these conditions.

Read More


Service Wire Co. Announces New Titles for Key Executives

Bruce Kesler and Mark Gatewood have been given new titles and responsibilities for Service Wire Co.

Bruce Kesler has assumed the role of Senior Director – Business Development. Bruce will be responsible for Service Wire’s largest strategic accounts and our growing Strategic Accounts Team.

Mark Gatewood has been promoted to the role of Vice President – Sales & Marketing. In this role, Gatewood will lead the efforts of Service Wire Company’s entire sales and marketing organization in all market verticals.

Read More


Tri-Mach Announces the Purchase of an Additional 45,000 sq ft. Facility

Tri-Mach Elmira Facility

Recently, Tri-Mach Inc. was thrilled to announce the addition of a new 45,000 sq ft. facility. Located at 285 Union St., Elmira, ON, this facility expands Tri-Mach’s capabilities, allowing them to better serve the growing needs of their customers.

Positioning for growth, this additional facility will allow Tri-Mach to continue taking on large-scale projects, enhance product performance testing, and provide equipment storage for their customers. The building will also be the new home to their Skilled Trades Centre of Excellence.

Read More


JMP Parent Company, CONVERGIX Acquires AGR Automation, Expanding Global Reach

Convergix Automation Solutions has completed the acquisition of AGR Automation (“AGR”), a UK-based provider of custom, high-performance automation design and systems integration primarily to the life sciences industry.

Following Convergix’s acquisitions of JMP Solutions in August 2021 and Classic Design in February 2022, AGR marks the third investment in Crestview’s strategy to build Convergix into a diversified automation solutions provider targeting the global $500+ billion market, with a particular focus on the $70 billion global systems integration and connectivity segments. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Read More


Latest Articles

  • Festo: Machine Safety – Why It Matters & How to Achieve It

    Festo: Machine Safety – Why It Matters & How to Achieve It

    For OEMs, machine builders, engineers, and plant managers, machine safety is more than regulatory compliance; it’s a responsibility to workers, a commitment to customers, and a strategic advantage. Every machine on the factory floor has two sides: its potential to drive productivity, and its potential to cause harm. Striking the right balance between performance and… Read More…

  • What Does Being a Gold Level Rockwell System Integrator Mean for Actemium Canada Clients?

    What Does Being a Gold Level Rockwell System Integrator Mean for Actemium Canada Clients?

    What does being a Gold Level Rockwell System Integrator mean to Actemium Canada clients? The obvious answer is that Actemium Canada brings a high level of expertise, knowledge, and experience to every project. But it also means added value in ways many people may not realize, including cost savings on hardware and an extended 3-year… Read More…