Hilscher showcases secure and multiprotocol industrial communication at SPS 2025
Hattersheim, 10 December 2025 – Hilscher has presented its 2025 industrial communication portfolio at SPS and demonstrated how cybersecure, multiprotocol-capable communication will shape the next generation of automation systems.
Modern factories are becoming more connected, which makes cybersecurity a fundamental requirement. Functional safety is also growing in importance.
At the same time, bandwidth, protocol diversity and IIoT integration place new demands on every device and system.
Hilscher addressed these trends with a portfolio that spans from highly integrated network controllers to industrial communication components to device management and data acquisition at the IT/OT edge.
Highlights from the Hilscher booth
netX 900 – The platform for what’s next
Hilscher offered a preview of sample products based on the new netX 900 generation. The first product to be unveiled was the netX 902-based netRAPID 902. The SoC family is made for upcoming gigabit-applications and will supports all major industrial communication protocols.
With the new netX generation, Hilscher also addresses security regulations such as the CRA, IEC 62443 and ISO 27001. netX 900 follows the same platform approach as the previous netX generations. This includes an integrated development ecosystem consisting of hardware, protocol stacks, configuration tools, support as well as services – all from a single source. The official product launch is planned for 2026.
netX 90 – Proven communication with extended safety and motion control
Live demos at the Hilscher booth gathered a lot of attention from trade fair visitors. Together with market leading safety specialist HIMA, Hilscher showed the easiest way to integrate functional safety up to SIL 3 into products.
Another demonstrator showcased a motion control drive demo for PROFIDRIVE and CiA 402 for EtherCAT using netX 90. The netX 90 functioned as a single-chip drive controller supporting either drive profile while simultaneously communicating over a network.
netFIELD – Enterprise-wide device management made simple
With netFIELD, Hilscher showcased the company’s secure and scalable platform for device management and data acquisition — cloud- and device-agnostic and also available for on-premise solutions. netFIELD drives the future of connected machines with enterprise-wide device and container management – intuitive, efficient, and secure.
From data aggregation, scalable fleet management and smart remote services to patch management for CRA-compliant solutions, it empowers OEMs to unlock data-driven business models and long-term competitiveness.
At the SPS booth, Hilscher showcased the company’s EtherCAT Tap App together with drive specialist Elecgator to enable real-time access to EtherCAT networks without modification to a PLC.
Open discussion on CRA, NIS-2 and RED at SPS 2025
Hilscher also hosted an open discussion on existing and upcoming cybersecurity directives such as CRA, NIS-2, and RED at the trade fair’s congress centrum NCC East. Visitors were able to ask the Hilscher experts their most pressing questions about regulations and their implementation at the hardware and software level, as well as in the operational use of machines and systems. Hilscher Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sebastian Hilscher highlighted the urgency of the issue and Hilscher's willingness to help everyone with the complicated implementation of the regulations in his keynote speech during the event.
SPS 2025 – Strong growth in visitor count
SPS 2025 took place from 25. to 27. Nov. 2025 in Nuremberg, Germany and brought together the international automation community across 15 halls. With 1,175 exhibitors and around 56,000 visitors, the event recorded a strong growth compared to last year’s fair and confirmed its position as one of the leading trade fairs for smart and digital automation.
A central theme of SPS this year was the increasing influence of AI in industrial automation. Exhibitors presented practical AI applications ranging from intelligent quality inspection to adaptive control and maintenance solutions, showing how AI is reshaping production processes.
SPS also strengthened its role as a knowledge and networking platform through expert forums, the “Automation meets IT” areas, start-up zones and talent formats such as the Young Talents Day. These offerings highlighted the fair’s importance as an innovation driver for the automation industry.
Hilscher would like to thank all SPS visitors for an exceptional trade fair and is already looking forward to SPS 2026 next year!
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