Fluid Power News Bites: Festo Redesigns Semiconductor Valve Terminal and Emerson Adds Physical AI Capabilities
Welcome to Fluid Power News Bites, where I bring you a collection of recent news relevant to the hydraulics and pneumatics industry. Through the brief synopses contained in this piece I aim to help you stay on top of what is going on in the fluid power industry as well as other technological areas of interest that may aid your own work in a quick and easily digestible manner. Like what you see or have your own news to share? Email me at [email protected] to let me know!
Festo Redesigns Valve Terminal for Semiconductor Production
Festo recently undertook a redesign of its VTOC valve terminal to meet evolving production requirements in the semiconductor industry. Gas boxes used as part of the production process are incorporating more process line and control points, requiring the use of more pneumatic pilot valves to manage gas delivery.
This may require an OEM to use multiple valve terminals as they can sometimes be limited on capacity for control points. However, this takes up more space — which is at a premium in many operations — while also adding wiring complexity, build time and system cost.
So to overcome this challenge, Festo redesigned its VTOC terminal to integrate more control points. To do so, the company integrated two compact rows of valves instead of extending the terminal lengthwise. This allows it to deliver higher control capacity while maintaining a compact form factor.
The VTOC features 48 valve stations, twice the standard VTOC capacity. Each valve slice controls two processes, enabling up to 96 process control points per unit.
Efforts like this demonstrate how companies such as Festo continue to adapt their technologies to fit the needs of not just specific customers but entire industries to help make them more productive and efficient.
Registration Open for NFPA Economic Conference
Registration is now open for the National Fluid Power Association’s (NFPA) 2026 Industry & Economic Outlook Conference (IEOC). Taking place August 17–19, 2026, at the Oak Brook Hills Hilton in Oak Brook, IL, this annual event provides economic insights and market forecasts geared specifically toward those in the fluid power industry.
Presentations from leading economists will dive into hydraulic and pneumatic industry trends as well as those for the various markets fluid power serves.
Visit our Market Trends page for technology and economic market information related to the hydraulics and pneumatics industry as well as electric motion control sector.
Some of the sessions planned for the 2026 IEOC event include:
- US Forecast for Key Markets and Fluid Power – Taylor St. Germain, ITR Economics
- Expectations and Practical Strategies for Trade and Tariff Environment – Nathaniel Bolin, K&L Gates
- Construction Machinery Forecast – Interact Analysis
- Agriculture Machinery Forecast – Georg Stieler, STM Stieler
- Outlook for Major In-Plant Sectors – Scott Hazelton, S&P Global Insights
In addition to the presentations, IEOC also opportunities for members of the fluid power industry to network with one another. Additional details on the event and how to register can be found on the NFPA’s website.
Also taking place the week of the IEOC is the iVT Off-Highway Vehicle Technology Expo (iVT Expo), during which the NFPA is hosting a Hydraulics Technology Conference. Due to its partnership with this event and its proximity to the IEOC, the association will provide a shuttle to transport members to iVT Expo.
Thomson Supplying Actuation Technology for Liquid-Fueled Rocket
Thomson, the linear motion solutions brand of Regal Rexnord, is supporting an academic initiative to develop a liquid-fueled Methalox rocket. Elara Aerospace, an academically led initiative founded at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), is seeking to become the first student group worldwide to develop a liquid-propelled rocket capable of exceeding 100 km in altitude while being fully reusable and have space for up to 100 kg of scientific experiments.
Thomson, alongside other Regal Rexnord brands Boston Gear and Kollmorgen, is providing the group with actuation components to support active engine positioning and critical flight control functions. These include two Thomson PC Series precision linear actuators integrated with Kollmorgen AKM13D servo motors and dual-axis drive systems, along with Boston Gear Micron NemaTRUE planetary gearheads.
In the Elara rocket, the actuators will support engine gimbaling, enabling controlled movement within a narrow ±5 degree operating range. Thomson stated in its press release announcing the partnership that its PC Series actuators were selected for their compact design, ball screw based construction and ability to deliver accurate, repeatable motion in space-constrained applications.
“For us, the value of this partnership is not only in supplying components but in helping Elara build confidence in the actuation approach before the system moves into flight use. Working closely with the team helped us ensure the motion package fits cleanly within the overall engine control architecture,” said Anders Karlsson, Business Development Manager for Regal Rexnord’s Linear Motion Division.
Although Thomson’s technology is electric, it demonstrates how various linear actuation technologies are being used and the support companies are offering to the next generation of engineers.
Emerson Partnering with SiMa.ai to Bring Physical AI to Industrial PCs
Emerson has formed a partnership with Physical AI (artificial intelligence) technology developer SiMa.ai to bring advanced AI capabilities to its industrial PCs.
Incorporation of SiMa.ai's MLSoC (Machine Learning System on Chip) will provide the higher computing power necessary to enable Emerson’s industrial PCs to support Physical AI workloads in real time. This so-called AI at the edge allows data analysis to be done locally instead of being sent to the cloud which can cause delays. Doing so improves problem detection, quality optimization and more to help make industrial operations more productive, efficient and safer.
Emerson explains in its press release announcing the partnership that by moving AI workloads from cloud-based data centers to on-premise edge systems, manufacturers achieve low latency, enhanced data security, lower costs and autonomous decision making — improving safety, productivity, predictive maintenance and operational reliability across global industrial operations.
“As operations teams leverage Physical AI at the edge, they move beyond simple monitoring to closed-loop autonomy where they can adjust processes in real time – minimizing product defects early in the production phase, reducing waste and increasing production efficiency,” said Krishna Rangasayee, SiMa.ai chief executive officer.
Use of AI and machine learning continue to grow and find use cases within fluid power and the industries it serves. And partnerships such as this are helping companies like Emerson adapt the technology to the needs of its customers and ensure it meets their needs.
Read the below articles to learn more about the use of AI and machine learning in fluid power applications.
About the Author
Sara Jensen
Executive Editor, Power & Motion
Sara Jensen is executive editor of Power & Motion, directing expanded coverage into the modern fluid power space, as well as mechatronic and smart technologies. She has over 15 years of publishing experience. Prior to Power & Motion she spent 11 years with a trade publication for engineers of heavy-duty equipment, the last 3 of which were as the editor and brand lead. Over the course of her time in the B2B industry, Sara has gained an extensive knowledge of various heavy-duty equipment industries — including construction, agriculture, mining and on-road trucks —along with the systems and market trends which impact them such as fluid power and electronic motion control technologies.
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