This article introduces machine innovations announced in the second half of 2025. We hope you can find machinery or supporting services to accelerate your manufacturing capability.
Company Showcase
Exro Technologies: Pioneering Electric Machinery Innovation Amid Strategic Restructuring
Exro Technologies Inc. (TSX: EXRO), a Canadian clean technology company based in Calgary, has been a key innovator in advanced electric drive systems for mobility and industrial machinery. The company is best known for its Coil Driver™ technology, an intelligent controller that dynamically optimizes electric motor performance—enabling motors to deliver both high torque at low speeds and high efficiency at high speeds without mechanical gearboxes. This breakthrough innovation has positioned Exro as a disruptive force in the transition toward electrified machinery and transportation systems.
In September 2025, Exro announced a major strategic restructuring, confirming the discontinuation of its U.S. operations and a reduction of non-essential staff. The decision follows extensive consultation with advisors and stakeholders as the company focuses resources on its core technologies and Canadian operations. Exro’s board also anticipates that the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) will place the company under delisting review—a reflection of the financial and operational challenges currently facing the firm.
Despite these transitions, Exro’s technological legacy remains influential across the machinery and mobility sectors. The company’s innovations in motor control systems, battery energy management, and power electronics have paved the way for greater energy efficiency and system integration in next-generation electric machines. Its adaptive software solutions continue to attract interest from manufacturers seeking to reduce energy waste and mechanical complexity.
As Exro refocuses on stabilizing and restructuring its operations, its foundational technologies—rooted in the optimization of electric motion systems—are expected to continue shaping advancements in smart manufacturing, sustainable mobility, and high-performance machinery design.
Website: https://www.exro.com/
CODI Manufacturing and Festo: Redefining Palletizing Efficiency with the Flex Stack Series
At Pack Expo 2025 in Las Vegas, CODI Manufacturing introduced the Flex Stack series, a new generation of gantry palletizers and depalletizers that deliver high performance at a competitive price point—outperforming collaborative robot (cobot) palletizers in every major metric. Developed in collaboration with Festo Corporation, a global leader in pneumatic and electromechanical automation, the Flex Stack lineup showcases the next evolution of smart, efficient machinery for packaging and logistics operations.
Built on Festo’s mechatronic platform, the Flex Stack series offers superior payload handling (44 to 110 lbs), faster cycle rates, and smaller footprints compared to cobot solutions. Its simple linear mechanics reduce wear, maintenance, and spare-part costs while ensuring high-speed, high-precision operation. The system can handle 4 to 10 boxes per minute and supports both single- and twin-pallet configurations for continuous operation. Designed for versatility, it can also be adapted for mixed-product palletizing or de-palletizing across industries including 3PL logistics, food, beverage, and consumer goods.
A key innovation is the integration of Festo AX Motion Insights, a subscription-based predictive analytics platform that monitors motor, drive, and cylinder performance in real time to optimize uptime and preventive maintenance. Operators can visualize component health, plan service intervals, and order parts before failure—reducing downtime and inventory costs.
The Flex Stack’s software suite features a browser-based interface with auto-generated pack patterns, 3D visualization, and intuitive drag-and-drop controls—requiring no programming expertise. Combined with Festo’s CPX-AP-A digital I/O system and vacuum technology, the Flex Stack delivers a robust, future-ready palletizing solution.
For CODI Manufacturing, headquartered in Littleton, Colorado, the launch represents more than a product—it’s a milestone in democratizing automation. By making high-speed, intelligent palletizing accessible to mid-market operations, CODI and Festo are reshaping how machinery drives productivity and sustainability in modern manufacturing.
Website: https://www.codimfg.com/