09/02/2026
In Class I, Division 2 hazardous locations, pneumatic actuators have traditionally been controlled from control cabinets in distant, safe locations. Long wiring runs increase installation and commissioning time, complicate maintenance and troubleshooting and make future system expansion difficult.
Festo addresses this challenge with its VTUG-EX valve terminal, which extends fieldbus connectivity into Class I, Division 2 areas. Fieldbus Ethernet connects the VTUG-EX directly to a PLC and eliminates the need to wire individual actuators over long distances.
Festo’s VTUG-EX valve terminal
The VTUG-EX valve terminal now supports EtherNet/IP, PROFINET and PROFIBUS communication using interchangeable bus nodes. It also connects directly to an IO-Link master for added flexibility. The space-saving VTUG-EX accommodates up to 24 valve stations (up to 48 solenoid coils) with flow rates up to 630 l/min (22 cfm). Hot-swap valve replacement, multiple pressure zones and panel-mounted installation simplify maintenance and system design, while global certifications, including UL Class I, Division 2 and IECEx, enable deployment in hazardous locations worldwide.
Bringing intelligent automation into hazardous locations is only part of the solution. Machine builders, engineering firms and system integrators must also safely distribute power, communication and control through certified control cabinets built for hazardous environments. Festo designs, builds, assembles, tests and certifies complete control cabinets for hazardous and non-hazardous areas, then delivers finished units ready for installation.
Unlike a traditional panel shop, the company also manufactures most of the automation products installed in these control cabinets, including valve terminals, air preparation, emergency shutdown and I/O. Because the engineers designing the cabinet understand the capabilities and integration of those components, customers reduce engineering risk, simplify procurement and receive a fully integrated solution from a single source. This expertise helps ensure the control cabinet and its automation components function together as one certified system rather than as individually selected products. The company’s customers have reduced control cabinet costs by up to 50%.
About Festo
Festo is a leading manufacturer of pneumatic and electromechanical systems, components and controls for process and industrial automation. For 100 years, with more than 50 years in the U.S., the company has continuously elevated the state of manufacturing with innovations and optimized motion control solutions delivering higher performing, more profitable automated manufacturing and processing equipment. Through advanced technical and industrial education, Festo Didactic Learning Systems and its partners prepare workers for current and future manufacturing technologies. For more information, visit https://www.festo.com.
