empowering communication

    About Hilscher

    Hilscher – The company

    For over 35 years the name Hilscher has stood for trendsetting automation solutions. Since its founding, our family-owned company has grown to one of the world's leading suppliers of industrial communications solutions, including 12 subsidiaries in different countries, comprised of more than 450 employees.

    We support our global customers with innovative products and services for integrating their devices, machines and plants into their networks. Our solutions stand for quality, efficiency and flexibility—from PC-based Real-Time Ethernet and fieldbus networks to edge solutions and the cloud. We develop and manufacture our own products throughout the entire value chain, ensuring the highest level of professionalism and expertise, the best support and maximum availability.

    Our philosophy is to identify and implement new trends at the earliest stages while also continuously developing our industry-leading technology. This strategy has already led us to successfully support countless partners in all areas of industrial communication.

    Hilscher in numbers

    About Hilscher History

    Hans-Jürgen Hilscher: Founder
    Industrial Communication since 1986

    Founding Hilscher Gesellschaft für Systemautomation mbH in 1986 as a small engineering office in his own garage, Hans-Jürgen Hilscher successfully transformed his idea of flexible industrial communication into a multinational automation company. After more than 33 years at the helm of the company, Hans-Jürgen Hilscher handed over the reins to his son Sebastian Hilscher in 2020.

    Sebastian Hilscher on his mother's lap

    1987

    Our future CEO, Sebastian Hilscher, in the office on his mother Renate Hilscher’s lap—Commercial Head since the company’s founding.

    1989

    Technological beginnings and the first customer-specific developments: A configurable machine terminal with Bit-BUS or PROFIBUS interface.

    Hilscher Office 1989

    1989

    Hilscher has been on a continuous growth path since its founding.

    1990

    The SPS trade fair in Nuremberg in its first year—always a place to be for the automation industry, with Hilscher participating from the very beginning.

    Erstes Netzwerk wurde installiert 1991

    1991

    The first network installation—celebrated with a bottle of sparkling wine.

    1991

    A glimpse into the early production processes in Hattersheim.

    1995

    The INTERBUS master sparked great interest among visitors at the SPS/IPC/Drives trade fair.

    1995

    Hilscher Innovation Award for developing the smallest INTERBUS master in 1995.

    1997

    On December 17, 1997, Hilscher Swiss GmbH was established as a sales office for Hilscher products.

    Messe SPS/IPC/Drives 1997

    1999

    Hilscher and the SPS trade fair continue to grow together with the automation industry.

    2000

    Relocation to a newly constructed building at Rheinstrasse 15, Hattersheim—more space to grow!

    2000

    Always staying close to the market and customer needs with a pioneering spirit.

    2000

    Professionalization of trade fairs and Hilscher’s presence—with new signature red ties.

    2005

    Hilscher SoC Technology GmbH was founded as Hilscher’s SoC development office in July 2005.

    2006

    The sales unit in Shanghai, China, was established on October 1, 2006.

    A picture of a PCB.

    2006

    Launch of the first netX: A multi-protocol controller for fieldbus and real-time Ethernet technology—a groundbreaking innovation in the market. Since then, it has become the core of Hilscher products in various generations, successfully deployed in over 20 million network nodes worldwide, forming the heart of multi-network industrial communication.

    CEO Meeting 2007

    2007

    Global strategic alignment at the CEO meeting at Hilscher’s headquarters in Hattersheim—by now with additional offices worldwide.

    2009

    Due to the economic crisis, the expansion of the new company building had to be put on hold.

    2013

    The building was completed and put into operation—providing more space for future growth!

    2015

    The beginnings of IIoT—Hilscher showcased a live demo of a bottling plant at the SPS trade fair.

    2020

    Hans-Jürgen Hilscher hands over leadership of the company to his son, Sebastian Hilscher.

    2022

    Hilscher shines in a new light with a rebranding—new corporate design, new corporate identity. Transformation and development become visible in fresh shapes, colors, values, mission, and vision, driving Hilscher into a new era.

    A hologram of a cyber security writing in blue. Two people can be seen blurily behind the hologram.

    2023

    The new identity is fully embraced within the company and its technology. New challenges, such as cybersecurity, are tackled with cutting-edge netX generations—demonstrating Hilscher’s expertise, drive, and innovation. The company experiences a record-breaking year.

    Hilscher Germany Team

    2024

    Hilscher continuously grows internationally.

      Our management team

      Sebastian Hilscher –
      Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

      Chief Executive Officer Sebastian Hilscher is responsible for the strategic direction and development of Hilscher. With a background in industrial communication technology and sound experience as a software engineer, he has made a significant contribution to the development of the company in various management roles - most recently as Chief Technology Officer with a focus on innovation and technology. 

      Thomas Rauch –
      Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

      Chief Technology Officer Thomas Rauch is in charge of Hilscher's technological strategy. He has extensive experience in the development of industrial software solutions and system architectures. Before joining Hilscher, he headed the software products division at FNT GmbH and was responsible for the development of scalable IT and network management solutions. 

      Dr. Fabian Debus –
      Chief Operations Officer (COO)

      Chief Operations Officer Dr. Fabian Debus is responsible for quality, infrastructure and purchasing in addition to production. He contributes his extensive experience and expertise from over 15 years in these areas, which he has gained primarily in various functions and business areas of the Heraeus Group. 

      Christian Tepper –
      Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)

      Chief Marketing Officer Christian Tepper is responsible for marketing and product management. He has extensive experience in business and strategy development as well as in corporate management. He has built up his expertise in the automation industry over many years in leading positions within the Endress+Hauser Group, where he played a key role in market development and strategic orientation. 

      Milestones

      1986: Foundation
      • Foundation of Hilscher Gesellschaft für Systemautomation mbH in Hattersheim near Frankfurt
      • The headquarters of Hilscher
      • Combined development, production, sales, and support
      2002: USA
      • First international office in Chicago, USA
      • Expansion into the important North American market
      • Development, sales, support
      2001 – 2003: Europe
      • Offices in Italy, France and Switzerland
      • Expansion of the sales and support network in Europe
      • Further expansion of development operations
      2005 & 2007: Development and Research
      • New location in Berlin
        • Dedicated business unit for SoC design
      • New location in Varna, Bulgaria
        • Testing and software development
      2005 – 2009: Asia
      • Expansion to China, Japan, India and South Korea
      • Emerging Asian markets are becoming increasingly important
      • Development of new sales and support channels
      2021: Austria and CIIT
      • Strategic research partnership with Hilscher's own location at CENTER FOR INDUSTRIAL IT in Lemgo, Germany
      • New sales location in Linz
      • Hilscher's own site in each country of the D-A-CH region (Germany-Austria-Switzerland)

        Hilscher facts

        With netX, Hilscher's embedded modules are compatible with all protocols.
        Everything for your communication

        5 network controllers, 5 different embedded modules, PC cards in 10 form factors, 6 gateway categories as well as numerous other solutions and services related to industrial communication—Our netX technology for fieldbuses and Real-Time Ethernet is an absolute unique selling point in the automation market.

        Two Hilscher software developers discussing a project.
        Deployed around the world

        12 locations in 10 countries on 3 continents—Hilscher is well-represented in all major markets with its own subsidiaries. This allows us to provide our customers with on-site service to meet their specific needs.

        Certified according to recognized international standards

        ISO 9001 and ISO 14001—Our business practices are compliant with recognized quality and sustainability standards. This is demonstrated by our integrated management system.

        Two employees talking in front of the main entrance of the Hilscher company building.
        Decades of experience

        1986 – Our extensive expertise is based on more than three decades of setting industry standards and trends.

        Hilscher is committed to open standards and flexible solutions in leading associations such as the OI4.
        Ready for the future

        Industry 4.0 – Our comprehensive netFIELD ecosystem sets the course for smart edge and cloud solutions, laying the foundation for the smart factory of tomorrow.

        Generation Change
        Family – our core values

        2. Generation – Hilscher is a second-generation family business. After more than 33 years, company founder Hans-Jürgen Hilscher handed over the overall responsibility to his son Sebastian, in 2020.

          Mission and vision

          Expertise – Our foundation

          Our products are known throughout the world for their uncompromising quality and unsurpassed functionality. We know every detail in the development of industrial communication because we have shaped it with ideas, products and solutions from its beginnings until today. Thanks to our many years of experience and extensive expertise, we main the “enablers” of technological progress and lead the way as a driving force. We are continuously expanding our knowledge and want to share it with others as equal partners in order to accompany them into the future. We focus on establishing long-term relationships that have a good feel to them and in which both parties can rely on each other.

          Inspiration – A new level

          We are driven by the idea that only open technology and inter-company collaboration can help Industry 4.0 achieve a breakthrough. We are curious about what is possible when we use our ideas to gradually improve the interaction of machines. We want to raise industrial communication to a new level, and this is only possible if we present ourselves in a comprehensible way and invite people to exchange ideas. Together with the best minds, we inspire companies worldwide and make them fit for the future. Our energy and flexibility benefit our clients and partners. This is how we remain the indispensable driving force in the industrial communication market.

          Drive – Our engine for success

          We really get things moving. Our ideas and solutions make things feasible that previously seemed impossible. We want to change the world of industrial communication and create new opportunities. With our commitment throughout the globe in the leading committees and alliances, we act as a comprehensively networked pioneer. Our influence goes far beyond the development of ideas. Our products are defining components of industrial communication. It is our ambition to further develop and expand this leading position. We go forward with confidence, always remaining open to changes that will further advance our performance.

          Certificates

          Related Links

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