Festo invests $90M to nearly triple its Mason facility

Apr. 16, 2018 – Advanced automation technology provider Festo plans to expand its Regional Service and Manufacturing Center in Mason, Ohio, by approximately 350,000 square feet, nearly tripling the company’s capacity in logistics, production and industrial training solutions offered through its Festo Didactic Learning Center. The company says the new US$90-million investment is a next step in maximizing the 47-acre campus to meet growing demands in the North American market. 

Construction will be conducted in two phases and is expected to be completed by 2024. The company plans to add 350 jobs in the fields of engineering, mechatronics, purchasing and material management, as well as production and logistics operations, over the next five years.

“Strong market growth in the U.S. and other North American countries requires us to expand our capacity in logistics and production to ensure product and service excellence for our customers,” said Oliver Ring, Festo’s global senior vice president of supply chain and logistics. “We are pleased and proud to announce this substantial expansion here in Mason, where our team feels welcome and at home. We look forward to a long future of collaboration and success with our customers and partners.”

“Digitalization trends around Industry 4.0 are driving fast-paced changes in the automation industry,” added Rich Huss, president and CEO, Festo U.S. “To keep up with and meet our customers’ high expectations, this investment will allow us to increase local production and strengthen our regional supply chain long term.”

The City of Mason, REDI Cincinnati and JobsOhio are collaborating on incentives for Festo.

Festo, which maintains United States and North American regional headquarters in New York, first announced its move to Mason in 2013, opening doors in 2015 to a US$50-million, 150,000-square-foot facility located along the I-71 Innovation Corridor.

The German company also announced a leadership transition at its Mason campus. Yannick Schilly, the chief operating officer and vice president of product supply for North America who successfully relocated and established Festo’s Regional Service and Manufacturing Center in Mason, will step down. Dr. Nikolas Gebhard was announced as Schilly’s successor at the company’s recent town hall meeting. Gebhard has served since 2012 in various positions at Festo in engineering and with the supply chain division. Schilly will stay on through June to ensure a smooth transition.

“After four successful years, I have decided to establish my own business venture here,” said Schilly. “Mason has become the perfect home to my Festo family, as well as my own family.”

“Having worked in Italy and Germany, I am excited about this investment and my new professional and personal challenge here in the U.S.,” said Gebhard. “After several months of close collaboration with the local Festo team in Mason, I now look forward to taking the Mason campus to the next level and to fostering the wonderful partnerships Festo has forged here.”