Festo’s new CPX-E: Compact automation control with great design flexibility

Festo’s new compact, economical CPX-E modular control system is a high performance, highly flexible choice for automation system I/O and motion control.

Mississauga, ON, August 2018 – With its compact size and flexible configuration possibilities, Festo’s new high performance CPX-E modular control system provides engineers and machine builders with a powerful yet economical option for automation systems’ I/O and motion control.

Designed as an EtherCAT master controller and motion controller, the CPX-E provides a standardized platform for stepper and servo motor motion control for parts handling, assembly systems, palletizing, gluing and dispensing. The CPX-E also is ideal for controlling automation systems, like packaging machine palletizing units as well as selective soldering and water handling systems. Its scalable motion control functions include linear and multi-axis movements like slides and gantries, contour applications and robotics.

The CPX-E system consists of individual function modules that can be combined to create an application-optimized automation platform. The choice of components includes control units, bus modules, digital and analog input and output modules. Depending on the module combination, the CPX-E can be deployed strictly as a remote I/O system with bus module or as a centralized or decentralized control system using a control unit. The powerful CPX-E controllers with Codesys V3 software have comprehensive PLC programming functions.

A CPX-E system can be easily integrated into the most popular fieldbus networks, EtherCAT, PROFINET, and EtherNet/IP. OPC UA client and server functions ensure it is Industry 4.0 ready, allowing for easy integration and interoperability into cloud-based host environments.

Festo at a glance

Festo, the world’s leading supplier of automation technology and technical education, is deploying its products and services to meet the challenges of digitization and smart production. Established in 1925, the independent, family-owned company based in Esslingen, Germany, has been a driving force in automation for over 60 years. Some 300,000 customers worldwide in factory and process automation put their trust in the company’s pneumatic and electric drive solutions. In addition, Festo Didactic provides state-of-the-art training solutions for industrial companies and educational institutions.  The Festo Group registered sales of around €3.1 billion in the 2017 financial year and is represented worldwide at 250 locations with a total of 20,100 employees. About 8% of its annual turnover is invested in research and development.

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