Ohio Pen - The Festo North American Regional Service Center Embraces Clean Energy

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MASON, Ohio, July 11, 2025 ~ Mason, Ohio - Festo, a global leader in industrial automation controls and systems and industrial training systems, has made a significant step towards sustainability with the inauguration of their new rooftop solar power generating system. The Festo North American Regional Service Center, located along I-71, is now home to the largest rooftop solar power installation in Mason.

The new solar panels cover two of the three rooftops and the entryway carport at the Festo North American Regional Service Center. This impressive installation will generate 48% of the facility's electricity needs on-site. With 3,929 solar panels covering 85,180 square feet of rooftop, this system has an annual generating capacity of 2.602GWh. To put that into perspective, it is equivalent to the annual electricity consumed by 393 homes. Not only does this solar power installation provide significant energy savings for Festo, but it also reduces annual CO2 emissions equivalent to the carbon sequestration of a 2,300-acre forest.

The project began in November 2024 and was completed in May with Kokosing Solar Power from Athens, Ohio as the general contractor. The solar panels are installed on two of the three connected buildings' rooftops and on the entryway's carport. Additionally, eight solar-powered electric vehicle charging stations have been installed as part of this initiative.

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The Festo Regional Service Center was built in 2015 and has undergone several expansions since then. It serves as the North American distribution hub for Festo's globally manufactured automation products and employs over 350 people. The facility also assembles custom orders and builds unique products for North American customers. In addition to their industrial operations, Festo Didactic - the learning division of Festo - builds hands-on systems used by community colleges to train future manufacturing and processing technicians.

Mason's Mayor Diana Nelson praised Festo's commitment to sustainability during her speech at the inauguration ceremony. "The Festo Regional Service Center's solar project does more than save energy - it is a model of resilience and forward thinking that reflects this city's economic and environmental goals," she said. "It aligns with Mason initiatives that help local businesses invest in sustainable growth."

Festo, headquartered in Esslingen, Germany, is a family-owned business with a global presence. With over 20,000 employees in 60 countries, the company celebrates its 100th anniversary this year and has been operating in the United States for over 50 years. Members of the founding Stoll family joined local and state dignitaries for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour of the Center. The solar power initiative was made possible in part by a grant from the Stoll family.

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Sustainability is a key focus for Festo, as evidenced by their corporate strategy. In 2024, the company joined the World Resources Institute Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Paris Climate Agreement. Additionally, Festo has achieved CO2 neutrality for indirect emissions and offset 100% of its direct carbon emissions through global operations in 2024. Looking towards the future, Festo plans to generate 25% of its electricity through solar power by 2030.

The Festo North American Regional Service Center's rooftop solar power installation is not only an impressive feat of engineering but also a testament to Festo's commitment to sustainability and their role as a leader in industrial automation controls and systems. With this new system in place, Festo is setting an example for other businesses to follow towards a more sustainable future.

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