Festo Launches System Configurator, a Free Engineering Tool to Speed Machine Design
January 21, 2026
Festo introduces System Configurator, a free online tool that enables OEMs, system integrators and distributors to design complete automation systems – including pneumatic and electric motion, remote I/O, and IO-Link devices – in one workflow.
The tool brings sizing, configuration, and commissioning together to help teams work faster and reduce design time. It is ideal for packaging, material handling, assembly, and custom machine builders.
The launch comes as machine builders face increasing pressure to develop systems faster with fewer engineering resources and less tolerance for rework. Today’s automation projects often combine pneumatic and electric motion, which not only adds complexity but brings together different disciplines. System Configurator supports these real-world requirements by allowing teams to lay out a complete architecture, specify components, and confirm compatibility before hardware is ordered or commissioning begins.
Engineers can expect a process that follows the typical machine design workflow:
- Select the PLC and fieldbus to define the control architecture
- Drag and drop servo drives, remote I/O, valve terminals, and IO-Link devices, including third-party IO-Link components
- Size axes, configure components, and select cables and accessories in the same interface
- Organize components into cabinet and machine modules for efficient control-panel layouts and smaller cabinets
- Validate compatibility and generate a complete, accurate bill of materials (BOM)
- Save and share projects across sales and engineering teams to maintain a single design reference from concept through commissioning
System Configurator ensures that pneumatic, electric, and I/O decisions made early in a project carry through consistently as designs move from specification to engineering and commissioning.
Until now, sizing, configuration, and documentation lived in separate tools and had to be stitched together manually. System Configurator brings these steps into one environment, so engineers stay in a single model and move faster with fewer chances for error.
Festo has integrated three of its core sizing and selection tools directly into the System Configurator, including Handling Guide Online, Electric Motion Sizing, and Pneumatic Sizing. This creates a seamless transition as engineers move from electric to pneumatic design decisions, keeping everything inside one unified model and delivering faster results with a lower risk of error.
Festo is one of the few automation suppliers that offers a complete one-stop shop for pneumatic, motion, and remote I/O components that are all designed to work together. With sizing and configuration now native to the workflow, teams gain faster, more accurate designs with far less risk of mismatch or rework.
Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iaQ2X9aaN8
About Festo
Festo, the world’s leading supplier of automation technology and technical education, is deploying its products and services to meet the challenges of digitalization and smart production. Founded in 1925, the family-owned company based in Esslingen, Germany, supports a wide range of needs for advanced solutions in factory and process automation. In Canada, Festo has been supporting Canadian industry for 50 years, continuously elevating the state of manufacturing in this country with innovative products, optimized motion control solutions and unrivalled support.
Globally, some 300,000 customers put their trust in the company’s pneumatic and electric drive products and technology. In addition, Festo Didactic provides state-of-the-art training equipment and educational programs for industrial companies and educational institutions – about 56,000 customers worldwide. The Festo Group registered sales of €3.45 billion in the 2024 financial year and is represented worldwide at 250 locations with over 20,600 employees. About 8.8% of its annual turnover is invested in research and development.
More Information
For more information on the Festo System Configurator, view this YouTube video or speak with a Festo sales representative or distributor.
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