German Chancellor Olaf Scholz Commends Festo on 100 Years of Innovation at HANNOVER MESSE 2025

During a recent visit to the HANNOVER MESSE trade fair, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stopped by the Festo stand to personally congratulate the company on its centenary. As a global leader in automation technology, Festo used the occasion to showcase how it is embracing the future with the same innovative spirit that has shaped its past 100 years.

Chancellor Scholz was welcomed by Thomas Böck, CEO of Festo, who guided the Chancellor through the company’s exhibition and highlighted its unwavering commitment to progress. At the centre of the display was Festo’s latest creation — the ‘Incredible Machine’ — a spectacular kinetic installation inspired by the whimsical complexity of a Rube Goldberg machine. Rather than manufacturing a physical product, the installation narrates the evolution and essence of movement in automation technology, which has been central to Festo’s legacy.

The machine is set in motion by an ‘eMotion Butterfly’, a delicate yet technologically advanced flying robot that symbolizes Festo’s pioneering efforts in bionics and lightweight design. The butterfly triggers a cascading sequence of mechanical and pneumatic actions — a captivating representation of the company’s broad expertise across automation systems, control technology, and motion solutions.

CEO Thomas Böck explained to the Chancellor and his delegation: “The ‘Incredible Machine’ is not just an artistic display — it represents Festo’s wide-ranging capabilities and deep technical knowledge in automation. Innovation is part of our DNA, and we are committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.”

Böck also shared a confident outlook for the company’s future: “Festo is optimistic about the current financial year and the next 100 years. We are continuing to focus on innovation by investing heavily in research and development — consistently above the industry average. This focus has been the cornerstone of our enduring success.”

Festo’s showcase at HANNOVER MESSE clearly demonstrated its readiness to lead in the next century of industrial transformation. With a continued emphasis on sustainable automation, digitalisation, and lifelong learning, the company remains firmly committed to shaping the factories of the future while staying true to the inventive roots that made it a trusted name in global automation.