Hilscher … great since 1986

Hans-Jürgen Hilscher founds Hilscher as a small engineering company in Hattersheim. What begins with one developer’s vision becomes a clear mission: making industrial communication more flexible, open and customer-focused.

The early years are shaped by technical courage, short decision paths and strong personal commitment. Hans-Jürgen and Renate Hilscher lay the foundation for a company built on technology, customer focus and entrepreneurial drive.

Hilscher grows by staying close to real customer needs. Instead of offering standard answers, the company focuses on practical, individual industrial communication solutions that help machines, systems and people work together.

With a customer-specific machine terminal featuring a Bit-BUS or PROFIBUS interface, Hilscher demonstrates what will define the company for decades: understand the challenge, develop the technology and deliver the solution.

Hilscher exhibits at HANNOVER MESSE Industrie (HMI) for the first time. As a new player with its own network interface and an attractive solution approach, the company gains attention in the heart of the automation industry.

The first network installation is completed and celebrated with a bottle of sparkling wine. A small moment with a big meaning: the technology works, the idea is proven and Hilscher is ready for more. 

Individual developments begin to form a broader system understanding. Hilscher turns recurring factory automation needs into scalable solutions, configuration tools and product ideas, including the MS-DOS-based parameterization tool “Compro”.

The development of the RCS operating system begins, creating an important foundation for future Hilscher technologies. At the same time, the Protocol Converter PKV20 opens the path toward gateway solutions.

The INTERBUS Master attracts strong interest at SPS/IPC/Drives. With the smallest INTERBUS Master, Hilscher shows that industrial communication can be powerful, compact and closely aligned with customer needs, while winning an Innovation Award, launching the INTERBUS Slave Board and the first SyCon Configuration Software.

With the PROFIBUS-DP firmware for the Opel Bochum project, Hilscher proves its technology in a demanding industrial environment. Reliability, precision and robust communication become part of the company’s promise.

SyCon for PROFIBUS-DP and KPO/CIF product lines strengthens Hilscher’s configuration expertise. At the same time, the first distributor in Switzerland shows an early commitment to supporting customers beyond the company’s headquarters.

With PC cards for CANopen and DeviceNet Controller networks, Hilscher’s multi-network strategy takes shape. The company creates solutions that give customers more flexibility in an increasingly connected automation world.

Hilscher and SPS continue to grow alongside the automation industry. The trade fair becomes an important stage for technology, partnership and direct exchange with customers.

The move into the new building at Rheinstraße 15 creates room for growth. Hilscher professionalizes its structures and market presence while staying close to customers, applications and the factory floor.

With Hilscher Italia, the company strengthens its presence in Europe. The goal remains clear: bring consulting, support, sales and delivery closer to customers and their industrial applications.
 

With Hilscher North America, the company expands its international footprint. At the same time, netLINK-MPI marks the beginning of a successful product story, making existing automation systems easier to connect.

The early market presence in Switzerland becomes an official subsidiary. Hilscher continues to build a global network that supports customers locally and connects them through technology.

The product world expands and customer requirements become more complex. Hilscher continues its development from project specialist to portfolio provider for industrial communication.

With Hilscher SoC Technology, the company creates a dedicated development unit for chip technology. At the same time, the new presence in Japan reflects both technological depth and international ambition.

With the netX 500, Hilscher launches a multi-protocol controller for fieldbus and Real-Time Ethernet. In the same year, the new sales office in Shanghai strengthens Hilscher’s presence in China — bringing industrial communication expertise, consulting and local support closer to customers in one of the world’s key automation markets.

With the Development and Research Center in Varna and the global CEO meeting in Hattersheim, Hilscher becomes more internationally aligned. The shared goal: support customers worldwide with industrial communication expertise.

The international organization continues to grow together. Knowledge from development, support, sales and applications becomes more connected, helping customers benefit from Hilscher expertise wherever they are.

With new presences in India and Korea, Hilscher moves closer to important automation markets. The planned headquarters expansion in Hattersheim moves more slowly than expected due to the economic crisis — but with the stability and long-term mindset of a family-owned company, Hilscher stays the course: growing sustainably, supporting customers and preparing for the future.

The automation world continues to change. Hilscher prepares solutions and portfolios that combine proven fieldbus expertise with Industrial Ethernet, higher speeds and increasing integration density.

The cooperation with Eaton around SmartWire-DT demonstrates Hilscher’s strength as a technology partner. Communication is not seen in isolation, but as part of real machine, device and automation concepts.

The new headquarters building opens. More space means more opportunities: for development, production, collaboration and the next stage of a globally growing technology company.

The cooperation with Advantech highlights Hilscher’s role in a multi-network world. Together with partners, industrial PCs and automation systems become more flexible, connected and customer-oriented.

At SPS, Hilscher presents netIOT, the origins of netFIELD, with a live bottling plant demo. A new chapter begins: industrial communication becomes the bridge between machines, data and the cloud.

netIOT continues to grow, visible at SPS together with IBM and SAP. Hilscher shows that IIoT only works when OT expertise, data infrastructure and real industrial practice come together.

The role of industrial communication expands. It is no longer only about connecting devices, but about making data usable — securely, clearly and with real value for the factory.

With netX 90, Hilscher introduces the next generation of network controllers: compact, powerful and designed for high integration density in industrial devices. The same year, Hilscher is recognized with the TOP 100 Award and Hilscher Korea receives the 2018 Industry Award Korea.

Hilscher continues to strengthen its portfolio based on the new generation of network controllers, organization and international market presence. The company enters the next decade with proven technology, strong customer trust and a clear focus on the future of industrial communication.

Hans-Jürgen Hilscher hands over company leadership to Sebastian Hilscher. Having known the company since childhood and having worked deeply in areas such as chip development and support, Sebastian brings both continuity and a fresh perspective to lead Hilscher into its next chapter.

With Hilscher Austria, the company moves closer to customers in the European market — bringing consulting, support and industrial communication expertise closer to where solutions are built. At the same time, the first product portfolios based on netX 90 begin to roll out, including miniaturized PC cards in M.2 format for flexible, high-performance network integration in smaller spaces.

Hilscher realigns its brand, design and corporate identity. Expertise, drive and inspiration become visible as a clear attitude toward technology, collaboration and the future of industrial communication. In the same year, the partnership with Siemens underlines this positioning: by integrating Hilscher’s cifX PC card technology into SIMATIC IPCs, customers gain flexible access to major fieldbus and real-time Ethernet systems.

The new brand identity becomes visible externally. At SPS, Hilscher shows how technology, portfolio and identity work together — from netX and netFIELD to new cybersecurity requirements.

With a first glimpse into the next generation of netX technology, Hilscher is opening the door to the Gigabit era of industrial communication. Fieldbus, Industrial Ethernet, TSN, and cybersecurity come together in a future-oriented concept for the next generation of automation.

The netTAP 151 wins the User Trusted Product Award from the Chinese Association of Automation. The recognition reflects what has driven Hilscher for decades: reliable multi-network solutions for real customer challenges.

40 years of Hilscher stand for bold ideas, countless technological steps, strong partnerships and people with drive. Industrial communication is our identity — from fieldbus and Industrial Ethernet to gigabit Ethernet, TSN, cybersecurity, functional safety and whatever comes next. Our mission remains clear: to help customers make their devices, machines and factories communicate securely, safely and reliably — today and in the future.