Hilscher: Hilscher China wins Intelligent Solution Award for netX-based PROFIdrive motion control

Shanghai, 19 November 2025 – Hilscher Systemautomation (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Hilscher’s subsidiary in China, has won the “Intelligent Solution Award” in the category “Mechanical Industry Pioneer” at the 2025 MM Modern Manufacturing – New Automation Forum and Mechanical Industry Pioneer Awards Ceremony.

The event, which was held for the 20th time, was hosted by the China Machinery Industry Information Institute and Vogel Modern Manufacturing magazine. The award ceremony took place on 22. Sep. 2025, recognizing Hilscher China’s contribution to intelligent automation and industrial communication.

The award-winning solution combines Hilscher’s netX 90 communication controller with PROFIdrive AC1 and AC4 profiles. These integrations enable precise, high-performance drive control for industrial applications, while simultaneously ensuring secure and efficient data exchange in PROFINET networks on a single chip. netX 90’s support of PROFINET IRT makes it a key component for advanced motion systems that require fast, reliable and deterministic communication.

Hilscher’s netX 90 network controller is able to efficiently address the PROFIdrive application classes (AC) AC 1 and AC4. PROFIdrive AC1 and AC4 are popular in the market for PROFINET-based networks.

PROFIdrive AC1 is applied in inverters controlling the speed of electric motors used in pumps, fans and compressors.
PROFIdrive AC4 includes the capability to drive servomotors with isochronous speed control and positioning by the Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC). These include, for instance, multiple network-connected motors and axes in robotic systems, logistics and pharmaceuticals.

By combining real-time communication with motor control, Hilscher has established a motion control solution with a single-chip approach. This offers a range of technical and economic benefits:

Lower latency and increased reliability
Higher efficiency with less power dissipation
Fewer external components reducing cost and complexity
Faster time to market

The netX 90 network controller serves as the core of Hilscher’s netMOTION platform for drive applications. The network controller is particularly well suited for space-constrained applications in harsh industrial environments, enabling users to directly embed a multi-protocol network interface into electric motors or encoders.

The advantages of such a solution are particularly evident in systems or machines with a centralized motion control approach. In such applications, drive-specific data and parameters are exchanged in real-time over the network with the communication unit of the drive that controls the motor. Over the years, various application profiles have emerged for the respective communication standards that focus on drives, encoders, motors, and their applications. Besides PROFIdrive AC1 and AC4, the netX 90 supports the CiA 402 drive profile for EtherCAT SubDevices as well.